Frozen Mole!

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Decided to take the HW and some recently acquired plastic pigeons to the permission with the idea of doing some decoying. A total muck up from start to finish. I set the pattern according to wind drift, gun range and cover. First problem, did not take the tent with me, so laying out under the trees behind the long grass, so I was not visible. Air temperature not so hot! However I did take the Ghillie Kettle, water, wood, soup etc, however I forgot to check the number of matches, 6 left in the box, that got damp in the car overnight, so strike, head falls apart, round hairy spherical objects. decide to lay and dream of hot soup instead.

 

Had a few fly overs, but I am not a good enough shot to take them out in flight. Look up the field, partridges, pheasants, pigeons, yomping about all over the field, 200 metres away. Round hairy spherical objects x 2! Walked up trying to keep in cover, failed miserably! position noted, afford better cover, will remember a brolly (in a large ditch so the fishing umbrella will provide good cover and can be easily disguised)! Got onto the top track and saw a rabbit, 50 metres away. Saw it had Mixo (eyes wide shut), got into the prone position, scope was on x11, two from the bottom post, 50 metres range and I let the Tiger roar.

 

Head shot, rabbit rolled over, kicked and expired. Lovely! Now I have a new contact that loves Mixo rabbits, well those with a decent amount of meat on. He keeps falcons and had recently had a Harris Hawk fly off. I continued on the walk, trying to get warm and I saw some pigeons in the bottom beet field, but on the edge was a brown bird of prey, sitting on a pigeon! I tried to get a look at it and the flock lifted, as did the Hawk, it appeared to have jesses on. So on the phone to him. He comes down whilst I am back in the decoy position, and goes down to have a look at the area.

 

he finds loads of evidence and gets her on the tracker. Gets led on a 4 mile run round in wellies trying to get her back, but at least he knows where she is roosting. He gets back to his 4x4 and I present him with the rabbit, which he is more than happy to receive. One nice head shot means it is easier to clean up and will keep his birds entertained... Anyway have a photo...

 

[falcongit 242]

good shooting bud,you will have to get your thermals on bud....

 

symon

[Guest long-tail]

lot to be said for taking a flask eh mate,one line that caught my eye

 

Had a few fly overs, but I am not a good enough shot to take them out in flight

 

iv never met a man yet that could,do they really exist without the going down the humane or not route i just wondered if there many out there can confidently hit a moving target with an air-rifle,good right up though

[paulus 26]

lot to be said for taking a flask eh mate,one line that caught my eye

 

Had a few fly overs, but I am not a good enough shot to take them out in flight

 

iv never met a man yet that could,do they really exist without the going down the humane or not route i just wondered if there many out there can confidently hit a moving target with an air-rifle,good right up though

through a scope not many if any, i did it once with a seagull but they fly slower than a tourtose, should think it would be easier with open sights.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

I am getting a couple of everlasting matches so that does not happen again, trust me!

[paulus 26]

I am getting a couple of everlasting matches so that does not happen again, trust me!

zippo lighter

[Guest long-tail]

lot to be said for taking a flask eh mate,one line that caught my eye

 

Had a few fly overs, but I am not a good enough shot to take them out in flight

 

iv never met a man yet that could,do they really exist without the going down the humane or not route i just wondered if there many out there can confidently hit a moving target with an air-rifle,good right up though

through a scope not many if any, i did it once with a seagull but they fly slower than a tourtose, should think it would be easier with open sights.

 

your prob right still difficult shot by anyones standard

[paulus 26]

lot to be said for taking a flask eh mate,one line that caught my eye

 

Had a few fly overs, but I am not a good enough shot to take them out in flight

 

iv never met a man yet that could,do they really exist without the going down the humane or not route i just wondered if there many out there can confidently hit a moving target with an air-rifle,good right up though

through a scope not many if any, i did it once with a seagull but they fly slower than a tourtose, should think it would be easier with open sights.

 

your prob right still difficult shot by anyones standard

i knew a bloke once that used a rugger 10/22 rimmy with a 50 shot mag and open sights to shoot bolting rabbits its was a very scary expeirence i can tell you the man was nutts

[Guest long-tail]

lot to be said for taking a flask eh mate,one line that caught my eye

 

Had a few fly overs, but I am not a good enough shot to take them out in flight

 

iv never met a man yet that could,do they really exist without the going down the humane or not route i just wondered if there many out there can confidently hit a moving target with an air-rifle,good right up though

through a scope not many if any, i did it once with a seagull but they fly slower than a tourtose, should think it would be easier with open sights.

 

your prob right still difficult shot by anyones standard

i knew a bloke once that used a rugger 10/22 rimmy with a 50 shot mag and open sights to shoot bolting rabbits its was a very scary expeirence i can tell you the man was nutts

id say he was

[secretagentmole 1,701]

I am getting a couple of everlasting matches so that does not happen again, trust me!

zippo lighter

 

Would not have been so bad but I did leave my cigarette lighter at home as well! So no smokes, no hot drinks and static position shooting, not a good day lol! At least I helped find the birdie!

[zini 1,939]

Nice long range shooting Mike.

 

Normally though when i see a mixy rabbit in a state like the one you mentioned i walk as close to the bunny as possible and shoot it.

 

You can get to within 10 metres of them or even closer some times so a easier shot and more priecise shot is on instead of aiming off for various things and hitting it.

 

No point in taking a 50 metre shot when a 10 metre one is on especially when the poor bugger as already suffered long enough.

 

If you would of missed and wounded it that would of been terrible Mike.

 

Si

[J Darcy 5,871]

At least you didn't blank......

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Si, it was ideal shooting conditions, windless, the trouble was that the track I was on is noisy, cant get good footfall on the track without sounding like a legion of soldiers on the march. The photo was taken near the static shooting location. I have shot further than that (with the .177 admittedly, but I have practised shooting to 50 metres with the HW .22). Nice sized rabbit, shame about the mixo, It went to a good home though, a Steppe Eagle I think....

[davyt63 1,845]

hi mike

well done on a good day out mike,and shot

would also agree with Si,make up the distance next time clean kill,no more suffering

its not worth the risk ! at least its out of its misery now!

 

nice going on the find of the bird too

 

 

well done

 

Davy

[rossi_j 99]

I think mixy is hard to judge, some still run like feck, others you can pick up and chin,

 

if it was the only one of the day i wouldent want it sliping away either