Hours of Frustration bears fruit on the paddock

[Phantom 631]

Took my bunny sniping baby out for a walk last evening.

Got to the paddock and the ponies were all near the feed bales so I headed over to where I was the previous day.

Walked out to the 30 Paces marker and unrolled my matt unslipped the gun and then placed my Zero target against the fence with the embankment behind it.

 

Walking over I noticed something on the floor. Looks like I have some competition for the bunnies on the paddock.

Here's what was left of one of the younger bunnies!

 

And next to it was a copious quantity of speckeled feathers!

Anyways I got back to my gun and laid down, cocked and loaded the S200 with her favorite treat of AAF slug meat in 5.52 and took aim at my zero card.

Normally in the cemy I have her zeroed for 30 'normal' paces but I had set this marker at 30 long strides.

 

Fired my 1st round and it went low, fired a second and same thing. Adjusted the elevation turret by a fair few clicks and let go of another slug.

Bang on centre of the 15mm circle. Fired again and the pellet scuttled the other right up the rear. I heard myself saying out loud "That'll do pig" and it sounded uncanily like it did in the flick

 

I went and retrieved my zero card from the fence. As I bent over to pick it off the fence I saw a young kit at the entrance to the the warren that was behind the target. Startled it turned round and vanished down the hole.

 

Ummm..... me thinks your going to get it in the noggin when you next stick your head out buddy

 

I went back to my rollmat and laid in wait. About 20 minutes later, as its getting really dark I turn on the gun lamp for a few seconds as the batteries aint at their best charge.

Sure enough I see a pair of eyes and some ears inside the hole.

Again bunny turned around and gave it legs back into the safety of the warren.

Bugger, this aint going to plan and I'm beginning to get very cold.

 

Decided a walk around the paddock to warm my cockles was in order; so off I trot. Up near the gate, I could see 7 bunnies all just waiting for me to pick em off, the problem being that they were well illuminated by the street lamp outside the entrance and this of course meant that I too would be lit up.

 

Keeping myself as close to the fence that borders my usual haunting ground ( get it?..... ) as I could I made my way forwards to spoil the pre-xmas party

 

SQUELSH!!! my left foot went into a pile of horse yuk! Bunnies all sat up and I froze to the spot. At that point a woman out walking her mutt passed the gate, the dog barked and the party goers went their seperate ways.

 

Breaking the shadows of the fence and bushes I wandered over to the caravan and got myself nicley placed behind it as I knew the party would restart shortly.

 

Sure enough, a few bunnies came hopping out of the hedgerow and began running back and fore. I waited till one settled down to munch and then another.

As I shouldered my baby a tractor pulling a trailor and a flashing orange light on top passed on the road and again the bunnies vanished. :realmad:

 

I was freezing my nuts off and having a decidedly frustrating time and not a single kill

I decided to call it a night and made my way past the feed bales and nags to the far end. Just as I passed the sloppy bit of mud and crap I flicked the lamp on for a looksee, right in front of me a pair of ears and glowing jewel's was staring right at me.

I estimated it was about 40 yards away and no way was I gonna take that shot; front on standing and hit the little creature and it did indeed look small.

 

All of a sudden the ears and jewels began moving in my direction, weaving left and right, but deffinately heading towards the lamp. It looked evil!

It got within range but would not stop, eventually it got very blured in my scope and I looked with my free eye and I reckon it got to within 12 yards before it stopped.

 

I still had my right eye to the scope and as it looked to my right I saw a single Jewel. I made my choice and placed the crosshair right behind the eye and squeezed of a round.

 

Crack! bunny rolled over kicking wildly.:clapping:

 

Making my way over I could see that the bunny was breathing so I picked it up and finished the job quickly with my hands.

Upon looking I saw that the pellet had gone in exactly where I had intended but it had left just behind the bunnies left eye and leaving some of the whitish grey of the the brain hanging out of the exit wound.

 

Pleased I had not blanked and the adreneline pumping now I figured I was going to have another go at an ambush behind the caravan.

I got my gear together and headed back. On arrival at the van, I placed my gear and slain bunny on the bench then hid behind the van with just my rifle and scope showing. I only had to wait about 25 minutes when out pops a 3/4 grown bunny, then a second then a third.

 

The third one made its way down the fence and then came into the paddock by about 5 or 6 feet.

Placing my eye at the scope I waited for my eyes to adjust to the reduction in light. I didn't want to turn on the lamp as these little feckers came from out the cemetery and they are very lamp shy. As my eye got used to the lower light level, I placed the crosshair bang on the sweet spot and took up the 1st stage of trigger. The adreneline was pumping and I had to concentrate on both my breathing and trying to control my now shivering freezing body.

I kept telling myself to "Wait, your not ready yet! Easy does it, breathe hold fire" I ran through this self talk until I was steady enough and then gently clicked the last stage.

 

Phut from the muzzle, CRACK from the head of the bunny as the lead impacted the skull. Bunny rolled over instantly like it was frozen with its back leg in the air.

I walked over to collect my prize.

On examination it had been a shot with surgical precision and I decided to call it a night!

All the hours of frustration had climaxed with 2 bunnies in the space of 30 minutes.

I went home a very happy hunter

 

 

Phantom

 

[ferretville 69]

Hell of a write up PHANT its allways the same when you`ve been out for hours no action then it all kicks off

[davyt63 1,845]

nice read that tony

you got it too easy! putting a mat down to shoot prone

and theres me crawling about 30yds through horse shit and nettles to get to my quarry last night well done buddy

regards

 

davy

[wabbit slayer 16]

Sounds like a perfect end to your day I have seen a couple of those wabbits like the one in you first photo near me quite rare they are not a lot of meat on them though but never seen em with speckled feathers before :crazy:

I'm looking forward to getting my s410 out soon, just got it back from air arms I decided to treat it to a service so needs setting up again. Then I will be out whenever I have chance Going to look around for some more land to shoot on too! and that ain't easy these days but will try.

[zini 1,939]

Great write up as always Tony.

 

Thats some nice pin point accuracy shooting going on there mate

 

You need to get some wheels sorted mate and get yourself and the Bunny Sniping Baby up to Catterick to sort out some squizzers and corvids followed by many, many bunnies

 

Reggaeman and Wuzzy are popping up again tomorrow for a session of bunny and squizzer bashing.

 

Wuzzy has his new toy to try out. I think that he will really like it. Its a .177 calibre BSA Super 10 mark 2

 

Role on tomorrow

 

The Verminator is also coming out for a play

 

Zini

[Lizard 0]

Well done Phantom. Really enjoyed the write up

[stealthy1 3,964]

Well done Phantom, your starting to become good at this airgunning lark

[Phantom 631]

Thank you gentlemen,

 

I'm beggining to find my feet now when shooting in the dark, but it has been a steep learning curve for me.

I have no problems in daylight. I've charged my batteries up last night for the lamp and I hope to get back there and knock some more over this evening.

 

The second bunny is now coated in Tandoori Spices and will be going in the oven for a nice slow roasting.

The small one is in a bag outside awaiting the rain to stop so I can use it as Corvid bait tomorrow (weather permitting) on the paddock.

 

Phantom

[bedrock 16]

By the looks of the dead rabbit I would say that old Brock is wandering around you permission. They usually grab them turn them inside out eat the meat and leave the head and skin there and I think the birds have had a peck of it to and eaten the eyes. atb John

[Lee85 44]

well done phantom, good read!

[RiffRaff 5]

nice going tony this time you got some outta the padock,,was at Roos the other night an dint even get a sniff the min i put the lamp on they all orf,that or they are all wearing sheep suits ,,i think some bugger has been on there without permission, but thinking it an seeing them at it is another story deffo need to get outta town an do some proper shooting, mind you been talking to a few more people with land so you never know

take it easy will catch up sometime

 

Niel

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Hi Phantom.

 

Brilliant write up and shooting.

Enjoyed the read.

[jackinbox99 41]

Nice write up there mate. Its always the same way tho isnt, it? I too sometimes have hours of frustration, then other times I get 2 or 3 bunnys in the space of 30mins!

[zak-s410 0]

Nice write up bud your write ups should be in air gunner or airgun world,

 

Atb Zak

[Phantom 631]

Cheers guy's

 

Hmmm Zak, you got me thinking now, I've had pix and stories printed in other mags, I may just submit an article to airgunner, thanks for the idea!

 

Phantom