Took 2 newbies out ........

[Buster321c 1,010]

A couple of chaps i know have been nagging me for ages to let em `tag along ` with me , and Saturday i relented and let them loose . I did`nt shoot myself , just `kept an eye ` on them and tried to steer them in the right direction . Both are capable shooters , this i have witnessed , but neither have any experiance of live quarry . We went to one of my permissions thats close , i thought a couple of hours would do them . Its about a 30 acre site , with a small wood to the bottom and a good choise of rabbits , squirrels , and woodies . I `encouraged ` them to set up some targets before hand , so they could check their zero`s and i could be sure that any kills would be humane and shots would be up to scratch . As i thought , both we experianced enought for me not to worry , so i had to have a dabble myself . Like i said i did`nt shoot , so my guns were at home , but i took the opportunity to try out theirs . They both had Webley Venom Sidewinders in .22 but after a few shots , i soon settled down with the larger pellet and became quite at ease with the rifles . A nice hunting rig i must say , light enough , and very easy to shoulder .

 

I decided i would just `let em loose ` and stay at the car ( where i could see them both , and they would soon show their field craft skills without me on their shoulder ) with the flask . I must say , its funny to watch people who are less experianced , as they creep round like Elmer Fudd , seemingly on tip-toes , but going straight through the middle of the field in full view of everything and side by side as well . I left them to their own devices , and i think if the truth`s known they were quite shocked to find that they did`nt see any rabbits . As they headed to the wood , i had a giggle as the pigeons all took to the sky on their approach . So after about an hour and a half , i thought ` There`s no way they`ll do any good like this ` so we moved to a smaller site i have thats a `Static Hunt` .

 

As we arrived , the rabbits could be clearly seen out grazing , and i advised them that `stealth would be their friend ` and used correctly , they`d bag a few . Once we had the guns and and were on foot , we got to a big warren thats in the corner and has a steep bank behind it . Both were positioned about 25-30 yds away , prone position , and we played the waiting game . This time of year the youngsters are `easy prey ` and pretty stupid too , so before too long they were out playing . Over the course of the next two hours they came from the warren , the bank , and even one appeared about 5 yds from me ( i was sitting about 20 yds behind them ) . I told the lads , clean head shots only , and we collect them when were finished . As the darkness started to creep in , they were unsure of shooting in twilight so we called it a day . They collected up their bag , and had shot a respectable 13 . One strange one had been dragged to the fence line and had its chest opened and front legs skinned . Anyway , they were happy enough . Hopefully thats givem them an insight into rabbits and they will get some permission soon that they can shoot over . Oh and the flask of tea went down a treat , Buster .

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Wello Buster.

 

 

Sounds like you enjoyed the outing as much as the lads did

Its nice that you took the time to spend with them.

Brilliant read.

 

 

ATB.

 

 

 

Bill.

[lewis collins 4]

A couple of chaps i know have been nagging me for ages to let em `tag along ` with me , and Saturday i relented and let them loose . I did`nt shoot myself , just `kept an eye ` on them and tried to steer them in the right direction . Both are capable shooters , this i have witnessed , but neither have any experiance of live quarry . We went to one of my permissions thats close , i thought a couple of hours would do them . Its about a 30 acre site , with a small wood to the bottom and a good choise of rabbits , squirrels , and woodies . I `encouraged ` them to set up some targets before hand , so they could check their zero`s and i could be sure that any kills would be humane and shots would be up to scratch . As i thought , both we experianced enought for me not to worry , so i had to have a dabble myself . Like i said i did`nt shoot , so my guns were at home , but i took the opportunity to try out theirs . They both had Webley Venom Sidewinders in .22 but after a few shots , i soon settled down with the larger pellet and became quite at ease with the rifles . A nice hunting rig i must say , light enough , and very easy to shoulder .

 

I decided i would just `let em loose ` and stay at the car ( where i could see them both , and they would soon show their field craft skills without me on their shoulder ) with the flask . I must say , its funny to watch people who are less experianced , as they creep round like Elmer Fudd , seemingly on tip-toes , but going straight through the middle of the field in full view of everything and side by side as well . I left them to their own devices , and i think if the truth`s known they were quite shocked to find that they did`nt see any rabbits . As they headed to the wood , i had a giggle as the pigeons all took to the sky on their approach . So after about an hour and a half , i thought ` There`s no way they`ll do any good like this ` so we moved to a smaller site i have thats a `Static Hunt` .

 

As we arrived , the rabbits could be clearly seen out grazing , and i advised them that `stealth would be their friend ` and used correctly , they`d bag a few . Once we had the guns and and were on foot , we got to a big warren thats in the corner and has a steep bank behind it . Both were positioned about 25-30 yds away , prone position , and we played the waiting game . This time of year the youngsters are `easy prey ` and pretty stupid too , so before too long they were out playing . Over the course of the next two hours they came from the warren , the bank , and even one appeared about 5 yds from me ( i was sitting about 20 yds behind them ) . I told the lads , clean head shots only , and we collect them when were finished . As the darkness started to creep in , they were unsure of shooting in twilight so we called it a day . They collected up their bag , and had shot a respectable 13 . One strange one had been dragged to the fence line and had its chest opened and front legs skinned . Anyway , they were happy enough . Hopefully thats givem them an insight into rabbits and they will get some permission soon that they can shoot over . Oh and the flask of tea went down a treat , Buster .

Well done Buster, Hope you did'nt spoil them too much on this permission

[SEAN3513 7]

nice one craig

 

feild craft goes massively unoiticed.......its only when you see new shooters "tip toeing" as you put it it makes you realise what youv'e learned

 

and its a hell of a skill to posses....and then master

[gurtwurz 792]

excellent post buster!! well done for taking out some new guys mate

 

elmer fudd indeed lol

 

cheers, wurz

[andyfr1968 772]

Fair play to you, Craig!!

 

As has been said above, going out with newcomers to the sport can be very interesting. An old friend of mine has recently got into airgunning and I've been teaching him pretty much from scratch and it's really made me realise how much is taken for granted when we've been doing it for so long. All the little things that take no concious though that for a newbie is all, well, new!!

 

I hope they learned plenty from the experience, mate

 

Cheers.

[j j m 6,565]

glad you all had fun

[pianoman 3,587]

That was a great read Craig. You should do more write ups mate . Amazing how the actions of newcomers to fieldcraft read. Were we that inept when we started out?!

 

ATB

 

Simon

[Buster321c 1,010]

cheers chaps , just thought ide do a bit as Tony said , rightly so , there`s not much going on in here recently . Im not really one for write ups , but i guess one now and again wont hurt , cheers Buster .