Ninja-Jedi Hunter Training Stage 2 Starts.

[Daz39 962]

**WARNING**

This post contains info all experience hunters take for granted, or do as second nature. For the newbies or 1^st time hunters like me, there MIGHT be some helpful tips in here.

 

After 4-5 trips out with Bigmac and Vislauk, last night Bigmac took me off the leash and let me do a bit of SWS (Stalking without supervision). I’d mark myself 7 for effort but 1 for achievement….I came home last night with many lessons learned, but an empty bag.

 

I’m still trying to get my eye in when stalking, to start the night I walked around with Bigmac but I was managing to spot the odd rabbit before or just after he said “there’s one”. I spotted my first and whispered to Bigmac “shhh, there”…he promptly walked in front of me, stalked it and took a shot.

 

Tip #1 – If you see a rabbit, YOU stalk it and YOU shoot it…..don’t go GIVING them away J I figure I owe Bigmac at least 10 more, so I won’t hold that against him.

 

We walked on and then Bigmac suggested splitting up, as we turned away from each other I had taken no more than 2 steps when a pair of rabbits appeared in a clearing, the first thing I did was to turn around and “ppsssssssttttt” at Bigmac to get his attention. He didn’t hear, but the rabbits did and rapidly “did one”. So 2 steps into my solo hunt, I turned round and tried to get Bigmac back over to help. Genius.

 

Tip #2 – GO SOLO, relying on a hunting partner is great to start, but you will never improve if someone else is spotting and ranging the rabbits for you. Fly the nest!!

 

Angry with myself I walked a little further near the mortuary to a large field. On first inspection I couldn’t see anything. The field is the size of a football pitch and bordered on all sides by trees. I picked up the rifle and had another look through the scope and sure enough spotted a rabbit about 60 yards away.

 

Tip #3 – Use your scope, it can see further than you and Christ, that is what it is for!! Scanning with your eyes only will see you miss many rabbits.

 

I started to climb over the gate to get closer and when I did the rabbit got spooked. It must have been the noise as he actually ran towards me. I knelt down and rested the HW100 on the metal gate (I know not to rest springers but PCP should be OK). At about 40 yards he sat up and I felt confident in taking a shot. Only the top half of his head was visible through the grass but I lined up and “TWANG” – The tiny noise the HW100 makes on firing was amplified massively through the hollow metal tubing of the gate. I’d like to think it was the noise that startled the bunny and not my crap shot that caused me to miss.

 

Tip #4 – Don’t rest even a PCP on hollow metallic objects. The noise of putting the rifle on them or certainly the firing could spook your pray.

 

I walked around a bit further and decided to head off to where I thought Bigmac was. I walked up a bank as quiet as I could and scanned for him, or rabbits, but could see naught of either. As I walked down the hill I almost tripped over Bigmac layed up in full camo in some long grass…. I got “the look”.

 

Tip #5 – If you are hunting in pairs, be aware of where your mate is and if he is layed up, be quite and don’t scare his rabbits away.

 

After more walking we came back to the paddock and Bigmac sat down, I scanned and spotted a huge rabbit about yards away. I turned and set off in stealth mode. There were 3-4 llamas and a wire fence between me and the rabbit so I wanted to get as close to the fence as possible to avoid trying to shoot through it. I also wanted to get the llamas out of the line of fire too. I stalked around using the llamas as cover until I got to the fence line. Here I made my mistake. Rather than going prone and shooting through the fence, I stood up to rest on the fence post. Oddly enough, as soon as I stuck my ugly mug up, the rabbit did one. I could hear Bigmac’s sigh of exasperation behind me. He had seen me stalk up and was impressed, until I stood up!

 

Tip #6 – Keep LOW, keep LOW, keep LOW. Oh and don’t miss an opportunity like that one in front of Bigmac unless you want to hear about it for the next 6 hours J

 

Annoyed and angry I told Bigmac I was taking a different route back to the cars to get some food. The light was really fading now but as I walked the hedge lines I saw what I thought was a rabbit 60 yards off in the gloom. I checked through the scope and saw ears. Right, I kept low, hugged the hedge line, go to within 30 yards and went prone. When I looked through the scope, I couldn’t see a damn thing. The light was too low at ground level and in the shadow of the hedge (both the rabbit and I shared). I dropped the scope and could just about make the rabbits head out with my eye, scope up – nothing. It wasn’t dark enough for the lamp, but too dark to see through my scope.

 

Tip #7 – Equipment it key, if you hunt in low light, make sure you have the scopes to cope with it. Sadly my Hawke sport HD 3x9-40 wasn’t good enough. Cue Bigmac “That rifle needs a decent scope on it”….

 

To make matters worse, on getting back to the car I could hear Bigmac whistling off in the distance, that could only mean one thing…..he had FINALLY got the rabbit from the Donkey paddock. He’s been after this one for months. “1-0 to me then Daz”…… grrr

As he sat prepping the rabbit I went off again. Back to the mortuary (which isn’t the nicest place at midnight) and to the field with the gate. I used the lamp and saw a pair of eyes around 40 yards away. I went to climb the gate but again it spooked the rabbit so I stood still. He ran to the hedge and stopped 2 yards away. I looked through the scope but struggled to focus. I could see his eye so took a standing shot and heard the pellet hit the grass.

 

Tip #8 – Ranging is tough in daylight, it’s even harder at night. Practice practice practice. If you are walking around in the dark, estimate the distance between some objects and the count your paces. It will help in these situations.

 

I went in to one more field and shone the lamp down the hedge line, a big fat rabbit lazily hopped right into my beam. Before I’d even chance to kneel down, he just turned around and hopped back in to the hedge. That pretty much summed up my night!

 

I came home empty handed but not empty headed. I didn’t realise just how much I had come to rely on Bigmac, literally walking in his footsteps and hanging on every word, him taking all the decisions. When it came to going solo, I was lost without him. I made some dumbass errors, but ones I will not make again. Next time.

 

To top the night off, I had to come home a different way due to a road closure, I drove past a farmer’s field with an open gate and thought I saw something. I stopped, backed up and pointed the headlights through the gate, there, slap bang in the head lights, was the biggest damn rabbit I have ever seen - 15 yards away. I sat there for a minute, him just eating away happily, looking at me as if to say “HA! This isn’t your permission mate, you can’t touch me!”.

 

Rub it in thumper, rub it in.

[bigmac 97kt 13,812]

We still had a good night but you still have a bit to learn 1.you still have to learn to walk quietly as you sound like a troop of soldiers in hob nailed boots 2,i was impressed with your staking until you stuck your head up and you side stepped to the fence so you did not have full view of your pray as the rabbit in question ran but stopped but you could not see it if you had ,had full view you could of got a shot away3,use the cover that is around you and you went past your zero,d range when you should of taken the shot then lern the distance that you have zero,d your rifle in at and store it in your head i do and it works for me .You are going to be sent off the next time we are up by your self for most of the hunt but i will be there some where watching you as if you had been by your self last night you would of taken the shots at the rabbits your self instead of trying to get my attention so i could tell you what to do i told you last night if you don't take the shot i will.You are more than capable of taken your pray down cleanly as you have proven more than once 4,Silence is one of the most important things when hunting ,rabbits have not got those big ears for nothing they will hear you long before you will see them.So going solo is the next step iv shown you what you have to do and know you have to learn by your own mistakes see you tomorrow morning where the next lesson starts GOING SOLO atvbmac :thumbs: PS YOU STILL NEED A BETTER SCOPE ON THAT GUN :tongue2: :laugh:

[Daz39 962]

Yes Obi-one . I'll hover like a butterfly .

 

....and start saving for a better scope

 

See you in the AM

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

excellent write up Daz, one thing I will say..before someone else does..

 

everywhere I look online about rifle safety, it always says don't point your rifle at anything that isn't a safe target..

 

as in your TIP#3 where you say to scan round using the rifle scope or you will miss seing rabbits that the naked eye wouldn't have seen.

 

sorry mate just thought id point it out. safety is the most important thing

[Daz39 962]

excellent write up Daz, one thing I will say..before someone else does..

 

everywhere I look online about rifle safety, it always says don't point your rifle at anything that isn't a safe target..

 

as in your TIP#3 where you say to scan round using the rifle scope or you will miss seing rabbits that the naked eye wouldn't have seen.

 

sorry mate just thought id point it out. safety is the most important thing

Very good point mate! I guess it should say, "scan with your eyes, once you know there are no people/non-target animals, THEN use your scope to check for Rabbits etc"

 

That'd work right?

 

I also walk around with my safety ON at all points, only take it off just before I shoot...

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

 

excellent write up Daz, one thing I will say..before someone else does..

 

everywhere I look online about rifle safety, it always says don't point your rifle at anything that isn't a safe target..

 

as in your TIP#3 where you say to scan round using the rifle scope or you will miss seing rabbits that the naked eye wouldn't have seen.

 

sorry mate just thought id point it out. safety is the most important thing

Very good point mate! I guess it should say, "scan with your eyes, once you know there are no people/non-target animals, THEN use your scope to check for Rabbits etc"

 

That'd work right?

 

I also walk around with my safety ON at all points, only take it off just before I shoot...

 

I must admit I do it, but only if the gun is on safe, or unloaded/cocked

its bad practice yeah and maybe not as safe as using a spotting scope or binoculars..

 

but that's just extra gear to lug around and spend money on! lol

 

 

just stay safe and you should be fine.

 

 

loads of times I think 'ooh is that a brick or a rabbit, 150 yds away, then look through the scope lol

[Daz39 962]

Oh I know, I have stalked everything from clumps of grass, rocks and last night, under a red lamp, I crept up 40 yards on a bloody big daisy thing that looked just like a rabbits eye from yards.....

 

It is a good point. Safety first and all that. But you are right, as I am trying to give tips based on what I am learning, it would be wrong to tell people to do something daft.

 

The experienced guys on here already have their technique and these blogs are not aimed at them, but any newbie like me should be pointed in the right (safe) direction.

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

theres a million and one little things you will learn along the way your hunting journey

 

you learn something new everyday mate!

sounds like you have an excellent teacher tho in Bigmac he seems a great guy and obviously he can hunt with all the posts he puts on here!

 

 

then theres people who already know it all, apparently LOL

[Daz39 962]

He is a good teacher and a hell of a hunter too, mind he's getting demanding now too, doesn't suffer fools and is very serious about anyone messing around. That said, there are few people I can spend 10 hours straight with, you need a bit of craic too! Geordie boys have that in abundance tho'.

 

He has me totally hooked on this sport now, but there are plenty of lads on here too, all happy to pass on a tip or two. I'm massively impressed with the community on here, odd balls, nuts and nutters alike!

 

I'm hoping to get to the meet in Oct - work permitting.

[vizlauk 1,568]

and you should have slipped the gun out the bag and shot the rabbit on your way home ! poaching is the way forward lol - you have a lot to learn - Regards Sean

[j j m 6,561]

In shooting you learn something new every day

[Daz 7 563]

Enjoyable read bud ,

 

My Grandad taught Me many many years ago as a Boy growing up in the the Valleys of South Wales,

Using Springer Rifles, and centre fire and side by side shotguns.

I was lucky He worked for the forestry commission and did most of the Pest control for the local tenants on the forestry's

Land, His Field craft and Skill at moving silently to stalk His quarry always amazed Me, and What a shot He was ,

Wish i was half as good as Him.

His Dad taught Him everything that he was trying to pass on to Me, Honed with being a Sniper in WW 2, and a country Gent,

I will always remember My child hood and the time spent with My Grandad, Wish he was still with us .

I look forward with Your progression from Rookie to Hunter under BigMac's Tutor-ledge

 

atvb Daz

[bigmac 97kt 13,812]

Enjoyable read bud ,

 

My Grandad taught Me many many years ago as a Boy growing up in the the Valleys of South Wales,

Using Springer Rifles, and centre fire and side by side shotguns.

I was lucky He worked for the forestry commission and did most of the Pest control for the local tenants on the forestry's

Land, His Field craft and Skill at moving silently to stalk His quarry always amazed Me, and What a shot He was ,

Wish i was half as good as Him.

His Dad taught Him everything that he was trying to pass on to Me, Honed with being a Sniper in WW 2, and a country Gent,

I will always remember My child hood and the time spent with My Grandad, Wish he was still with us .

I look forward with Your progression from Rookie to Hunter under BigMac's Tutor-ledge

 

atvb Daz

Sent him off by him self this morning but he never got eny thing but i watched him from across one of the fields through the scopes of my rifle(not loaded lads) and he did ok he was learning to walk quietly by him self and was well impressed with the way he was lamping he did not know i was watching him and at one point i came out of the woods and onto the drive way into the farm and as i turned daz was walking along the road and i could not hear him he,s getting better i say,ed to my self with a smile sending him off by him self was the next step as he was relying on me to tell him what to do even to the point of trying to get my attention to tell me that there was a rabbit and by the time he turned back around it had gone that was the other night .He was making so much noise that at one point i told him that i was going to hit him with the rifle not that i would but he has to learn i sent him off twice by him self this morning once in the dark and once in day light he is learning lads he,s learning fast he is a rookie at the moment but iv got a feeling what with me and vislauk he is going to be a bloody good hunter thanks daz7 for your comment mate and you to skot and that go,s for the rest of the lads to atvbmac

[Daz39 962]

Good lord, I was under Bigmac's crosshairs!!! (probably a safe place to be haha)

 

Other than 4 hours in the rain, this morning was great! I felt more confident alone now, still wanting to go prone for every damn shot, so need to practice some standing and kneeling shots for confidence. Walking in the dark was fine too, now I know the ground I have to cover, though I went into the small field (near the mortuary field - fresh cut grass), just off the back field - and couldn't find the way out haha. I was walking round and round in the dark thinking how the hell do I get out of here?

 

I was quiet this morning, so much so I almost stood on 2 damn rabbits. One was in some thick nettles and as I walked along side them he bolted almost through my legs. I took a swing at him with the rifle butt and missed There was another one in the dark that I was stalking up on, I'd go 10 yrds, stop, check he was still there in the lamp, then go another 10 yards. I got to a point I figured was 25 yrd away and when I looked forward, he was gone, I swung the lamp 90 degrees to my left and the sod was sat there 10 yrd away! The bugger had been stalking me!

 

The kite was out again though, so the other 4-5 rabbits I saw were a good distance off and legging it before I could get closer than yrds. Mind, on one walk I had a flock of 30 freekin' sheep following me, hard to be quiet stood in the middle of all that wool.

 

Mac, if you can sort it, I'll have 18 degrees, good light and no wind next time out please sir....

[DenBell 149]

One of the best reads ive read in a while. Hopefully you can pass some of yoda's tips onto me when we sort a trip out.

 

never had some one to teach me but i imagine it is a big help to start with. Ive found being able to hit the target is a tiny part of hunting. Si Pittaways youtube channel and plinking targets did an alright job of teaching me to shoot but having a pro like bigmac to teach the rest should be compulsory. Most of my kills come from playing the waiting game.

 

By the sounds of it you'll get it and then you can help the rest of us newbies.