zini 1,939 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) Hi lads, I decided to go for a shoot yesterday late afternoon and evening time as the sun was shining nicely and the weather was very warm. Due to this fact I knew from watching the different species of birds a few days before that the feathered air rifle quarry species would be coming to the large pond on the permission to have a drink of water before departing to their roost to sleep. Arriving and parking on the drive way to the permission at around 1630 hrs I quickly put a sign in my car window saying “Vermin Control” and my name and mobile number just in case any one wanted to know why a new and strange car was parked in the driveway and got out my shooting equipment. Walking around the rear of the property I set up a 25 metre target and my pellet catcher and ensured that my zero was still bang on from 2 days before. Next a friendly man from next door and his wife that were drinking champaign or wine from a tumbler popped their heads over the fence and said “Hi there are you one of the lads that have been killing these bloody rabbits for the Maxwell’s?” I though this was a funny question as I was holding my r10 in my hands. “Yes I replied”. The man then said “can you shoot the bloody things on my garden too if you see any as they are a flipping nuisance and are destroying everyone’s gardens around here. We can’t plant any new flowers or bushes as the flipping things just eat them and kill them”. Yes was my answer with a big smile, that’s not a problem. He then went on to tell me about a war that had been going on between about 4 families in the village for about 1 year now about rabbits and where they were coming from, who owned them (yes daft I know as they are wild) and who was to blame for not having them killed. He told me about a cottage near his house that is more like a manor and is massive with its grounds and old servant quarters and high walls surrounding the property that was a 2 minute drive by car that had been empty for 3 years previously before the new owners moved in and the rabbits had bred well pardon the punt (Festa) like rabbits. He said that these rabbits were destroying gardens and even going into the near by church and digging under the grave stones causing right damage. He said if you go and speak to the owners and gave me there names, they will defo want some shooting done. While your there son can you kill them bloody crows too, there’s millions of the buggers calling all day long? I said yes I will if I get the go a head but first I want to try and get some of these rabbits on here and maybe the odd woody and crow. Just before I said bye to the man and his wife the man pointed to a rabbit that had run out of his hedge and was sat sideways on looking at me. He said “can you shoot that bugger, that’s just come out my garden”. Luckily for me I still had the Guntuff around my neck from setting up my zero and lased the rabbit. It was 32 metres. I slowly dropped onto one knee so not to frighten the bunny and aimed the r10 feeling the huge pressure of the man and woman watching me over the fence. Please don’t miss I said to myself as the second stage of the r10s trigger slipped. The r10 barked out a RWS Super Field with its normal utter precision and the bunny did a half summersault before doing the obligery back leg wave as it died on its side. (Pressure off phewwww). This made the man very happy and he congratulated me on the shot. Next I said my good byes and went to hide under a willow tree next to the pond to see if any bunnies or feathered species would be about. This photo is from last week when it was windy but shows the pond and the willow tree anyway. The first thing to show was a collared dove about 10 minutes after I had put on my gloves and face veil. These birds are one of the tastiest birds there is and I wanted it to eat the following day with spring onions and wraps. It was sat in a another willow tree about 25 metres from me and was a simple shot due to there being no wind at all. The bird landed in the nettles and was dead before impact after being hit with a clean heart shot. The next quarry species to arrive for a drink of water was a jackdaw from one of the cottage roosts. It landed on top of a sign on the other side of the pond before swooping down and hopping to the waters edge. I slowly lased it at 39 metres at the waters edge and aimed the r10 at its head only to miss just right and the bird fly off. Umm I though was this a bad pellet or do I need to maybe move a click or 2 left? Maybe it was the pellet as I’m bang on at 25 metres but them again being on at 25 doesn’t always guarantee being on at 40 metres and 9 times out of 10 you will need to fine adjust your windage a click or 2 at a further distance after you have zeroed to ensure pure accuracy at distance. Next another jackdaw landed and drank from the same spot at 39 metres. This time I was even steadier than normal aiming and released the shot perfectly to miss again taking the feathers off the side of the birds head. That was it I knew that it wasn’t a bad pellet anymore and so got up and set my pellet catcher up at 40 lased metres to fine adjust my zero. Shooting with no wind what so ever I noted that the pellet was impacting about 1cm right of the drawing pin bulls eye size and needed 2 clicks left to put it bang on the bull. Job done. After what seemed like 30 minutes a woody flew into the willow tree before swooping down to the waters side in the same spot as the jackdaws for a drink. I placed the scopes reticule with 3 mildots of hold over on its neck hoping to sever its spinal cord before releasing the trigger. Twack the woody went straight over with a perfect shot, those 2 clicks left made all the difference at that range so it just proves time spent on a good zero makes all the difference when longer range shooting. Next 2 more doves appeared in quick succession and landed on some power cables at around 22 metres from my hidden position and at a steep angle. The slightest bit of hold under was applied to compensate for my trajectory and gravity to zero difference and both fell to the floor within 2 minutes of each other, one with a head shot and one with a heart shot. More meat now for my meal. and Time was now starting to get on and I wanted to go and see the new owners of the cottage and try and get a new permission to shoot on so I started to pack up my gear. As I did though this rabbit ran out a warren at the top of the field near the house and ran straight down towards the pond. 64 metres, 61 metres, 53 metres as it kept stopping for a pause and then finally 44 metres. The r10 by now was locked onto its brain with 4 mildots of hold over and the Super field was sent towards its head. A split second later and I heard the usual and distinct sound of lead smashing skull before the rabbit rolled over dead. On inspecting the rabbit later I found the entry wound to be exactly where I aimed so I was well happy with the rifles performance. Here is a group photo of the mixed and varied bag. Next I packed the entire lot of dead quarry into my car and drove around to the cottage to speak to the new owners. The cottage is surrounded by a huge 20 foot wall with a castle type battlement on certain parts of the wall making it look like an old fort; it also has big iron gates at the entrance and is absolutely lovely. 2 or 3 millions pounds worth of property easily. The woman a lady in her late 40’s was very nice and after my introduction to her and me telling her a little about myself gave me full permission to shoot as many rabbits as possible. She even showed me what damage they have been doing on her large premises and gave me her mobile number to text her when I was shooting so she could expect me and not worry about someone walking about with a gun on the estate. Jackpot and job done, I couldn’t believe my luck, the lady even told me to try another person who needed help with killing rabbits in the village. I’ll be going there on Sunday for a chat too so fingers crossed I’ll get that job and permission to. This village is under siege from bunnies they are everywhere and while the families are at war I will try and get as much permission as possible. This permission along with LJ’s new work place is now my second new permission in 3 weeks. Andy (rossy08) you are more than welcome to come and have a shoot with me pal in return for your kindness and letting me shoot on your permission with you. Just give us a call mate, Ill be going there on Sunday for sure if you’re interested, same to the other regs on here if you fancy a shoot with me just give me a call there’s plenty of bunnies for everyone. Anyway next I had a walk around the grounds to see where the warrens were and the boundaries lay, plus plan my attack for the next time I go. As we say in the military, time spent on recce is seldom wasted and I was shocked by the amount of rabbits darting everywhere, right, left and centre I saw. I noted where some of the warrens were and even sat watching them playing on the grass shooting 1 before it got too dark to see and I came home as I was starving hungry. Role on Sunday ATB Si. Edited April 9, 2011 by zini 3 Quote Link to post
Karpman 44 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Bloody bell PAL cracking stuff. Your unstoppable at the minute mate will give you a well earned spa when I'm home later. Never eaten dove gave the dog one the other day. Gonna go try and bag one this very morning now lol Atb KARPMAN Quote Link to post
festa 206 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) as always a good read and thats still one of the best terms "the breed like rabbits " lol congrats on the new shoot mate as well its always good when they fall into your lap like that.. ive got some scope cam footage to put up later from last night ill do that when i get in from work atb gary ps where you living now mate ? Edited April 9, 2011 by festa Quote Link to post
zini 1,939 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi Gary, Nottingham with my mum at the moment with LJ mate. We move into our new house a week yesterday. I'll look out for your footage later then pal. That saying is nearly as good as the "that rabbit is sat at the bottom of that brown tree truck" when we were lamping in a thick wood full of trees LOL. You remember that pal? ATB Si Quote Link to post
pianoman 3,587 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) God I wish I had conversations with total strangers like this. Well done Si, seems you've got some amazing sport lined up here. Let's see more pics and write-ups. This old house sounds beautiful. And when I win the lottery.....hahaha Simon Edit to add; I was going to invite you and Laura up for shooting at mine today as it's going to be a lovely one and Andy's coming over at 12, but, seems your full on as it is this weekend. Your welcome to return whenever you want a run out mate Edited April 9, 2011 by pianoman Quote Link to post
lighthunter 81 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 top shooting as always si'looks like your going to be a busy boy top read buddy regards chaz Quote Link to post
zini 1,939 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Cheers Charlie buddy Thanks alot Simon pal We are going to visit family members today and staying over night so i wont be able to come up today pal sorry. If you fancy a drive down on Sunday and a shoot with me you are more than welcome pal, Andy (your shooting pal Andy) too Si Quote Link to post
zini 1,939 Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Cheers Karpman buddy Si Quote Link to post
boroboyoli 0 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Impressive day out seems like your in all the right places at all the right times. Well done on the permission and you'll probably have some more heading your way at the rate your going. nice bunnies and doves are lovely to eat. Atb Oli Quote Link to post
Marksman 934 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I don't know how you do it Si...... The terms " more jam Than Hartleys" and " fall in sh*t and come out smelling of roses" spring to mind. It's great news mate well done!! Darryl Quote Link to post
davyt63 1,845 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 hi Si really enjoying your days events & your luck great post buddy and nice shot placement and pics!! its great weather this week end i was out last night with nightwish we had a couple of rats at his new permission i am hoping to get out this afternoon as well! well done buddy regards Davy Quote Link to post
falcongit 242 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 great shooting si,looks like you are going to be very busy mate,great pics of the pond,and congrats on getting the new permission... symon Quote Link to post
rossy08 33 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 nice work there si,good pics.. ill drop you a call sunday morning pal. Andy ps Andy ill be there to, and i have the dragon to test. Quote Link to post
BASE JUMPER 18 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 looking forward to sunday to be down on the permission now the daystate air ranger is sorted and if your there si will be nice to meet you Quote Link to post
festa 206 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi Gary, Nottingham with my mum at the moment with LJ mate. We move into our new house a week yesterday. I'll look out for your footage later then pal. That saying is nearly as good as the "that rabbit is sat at the bottom of that brown tree truck" when we were lamping in a thick wood full of trees LOL. You remember that pal? ATB Si lol it was catterick load of tree trucks there lol atb gary Quote Link to post
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