2 Rabbits For Mac, 1 Pigeon For Vislauk And I Got A Duck….

[Daz39 962]

I’d arranged to meet Bigmac and Vislauk up at the farm last night, it was a full moon, so we knew Vislauk would be out (not seen him for weeks). The thing is, at lunch time I had also had an email from my new golf permission saying that I could go down anytime I liked now. I have to be honest and say I was in half a mind to sack off the farm and just go to the course, BUT, I hadn’t seen Vislauk in a while, plus I had made plans and well, every hour with “the top dog” is experience banked. So farm it was, though I had told the wife I’d likely pull an all nighter so not to expect me home before 8am.

 

I met Mac at 6pm at the farm and after zeroing the guns (with my new scope – thanks Denbell) we set off together. The farmer in the field next to us was turning over the soil and the number of crows just sat there was incredible…sadly, not our permission so we just sat like a pair of dogs outside a butchers shop…if only.

 

There was very little out at all and we saw nothing for 45 mins. I said we should split and take the next two fields separately and meet up on the other side. Neither of us saw any rabbits, but as I walked through near the mortuary, I heard a noise in the bushes 10 feet to my left. I stood still and was quickly confronted with a young buck dear, absolutely stumbling like a toddler through the bushes, he was about 4 feet toe to the top of his head, maybe 20cm long antler growth (Sorry not a dear expert), my reaction was to raise the rifle, only to stop and think that 1) Not a target I can shoot at, 2) Not going to do much with a sub 12ftlb. The dear did crap himself and legged it back the way he came. I’m just glad it was daylight, I’d have needed new pants had that been at night, with a full moon, next to the mortuary…..and hey, I must have been damn quiet for him to almost bump into me!!

 

I crossed the road and walked up a bank where I spotted a big gray furry rock in the field below. As I looked through the scope the rock moved and grew ears, so I knew I was onto something. The path down the bank into the field is covered in growth so impossible to walk down silently. I took note that the rock had now also hopped into some cover about 60 yards away. I walked to about 30 yards from where he went in and lay up. 10 mins later, top dog turned up and lay up next to me, he’d seen nothing. We decided to get up and walk on and after 2 paces, the bloody rabbit came back out, then quickly back in. We took 5 more steps and a little kit came out, went “oh cr@p” and went back in. We both layup, but I thought sod it, top dogs taking this one so I went to the bottom field.

 

I scoped the field and saw 2 sets of rabbits. The field is about 200 yrds long and the first set were half way down, the second set were around the 180-200 yrd distance. I stalked up to around 45 yards from the first set, knelt and saw 3 sets of ears. I wanted to get a little closer as the grass was quite long and from where I was at 45 yrd, there was no clear shot. Before I had stood back up, the 3 rabbits went to the hedge row so I walked to 30 yards from where they were and went prone. As I waited I could see at least 10 or more rabbits playing and eating, at this point around 100 -130 yards away. It was like having a few sweets in your hand, but someone waving a huge chocolate bar at you from down the street. I was struck with a dilemma, do I stay here and wait on these 3 rabbits, or do I walk down and see if I can get any of the ones at the bottom of the field. I gave it 20 mins and decided to go for the mass at the bottom, when I reached the point the 3 rabbits had run in to, there they were in thick undergrowth, running off. Arrrgh, 5 more mins and they would have been out. Kicking myself I got to within 45 yards of the other rabbits and went prone. I wanted to be closer, but they started heading for cover.

 

I lined up one of the rabbits and took a shot, but had the hold over wrong and watched the pellet clear the rabbits head by a cm or 2. I was greeted by the sight of 12 white ar$e$ running to cover. I stayed layed up, watched 4 more young bucks run 200 yards up the field, over the next and into some trees, man for an FAC. After 20-30 mins watched the rabbits come back out, first at 100 yrd, then , then 60 etc. At this point the light was fading fast and I knew I had 5 mins left before the scope would be useless. I also noticed that gauging distances stood up is far easier than at ground level when prone. I made a mental note for next time to pick a few landmarks and get the distances BEFORE I go prone. Finally I knew it was time to shoot or go, the rabbits were getting closer and I took a shot at one which looked around 40 yards and missed. When I stood and paced it, it was actually closer to 60 yards, the dim light and me being at ground level was very deceiving.

 

I went back to the car for a brew and to let darkness set in, Bigmac had seen nothing at all in the last 2 hours or so, Vislauk had arrived but was off on his hunt. Mac and I set out together to see if we could find anything. Before too long Mac saw 2 sets of eyes in the red lamp and started to stalk them. I was following him to about 30 yards and stopped as not to spook the rabbit. Also to watch him close in. He was doing nothing that I didn’t do, and he was lucky enough to have a rabbit that wasn’t lamp shy. He must have got to within 15-20 MAX when he went prone and took the rabbit with a textbook head shot. As I walked over, he says “how man, I was gonna let ye take that ‘un”…..He probably was too.

 

We spotted Vislauk’s lamp off on another field so decided to walk back to catch up with him. He’d picked up a pigeon and we had a bit chat before he left for home. Mac and I decided to have another walk. The first pair of rabbits were very lamp shy and ran when we were still yards off. Mac then spotted some eyes where I had seen them (between the horses) the other day. The rabbit was behind a slatted fence, but the slats had a 2cm gap. Mac could see literally the eye and a little behind it. He took a kneeling shot and again, perfect head shot from about 20 yards. Well that did it for me haha. He was kind enough to show me what a rabbit looked like up close, showed me where to aim for them “should I ever see one again” and even offered to let me gut and skin it “in case you forget how”….funny bast@rd.

 

At around 11 we decided to call it quits. Mac was sniffling like an old codger and to be honest, my mind was away on a golf course. A short night, with very few rabbits. I was kicking myself that I didn’t go back down the bottom field but I wanted to see my new permission.

 

I drove 25 mins back to my house, right past it and on another 30 mins to the golf course. I had phoned in to the police and had my papers in the car and a copy on me so off I went. The course is a lincs course, so very open and little cover. I decided to use the white lamp on the first walk just to find out where the rabbits were (knowing I’d likely scare them off, but I’d know where they were).

 

To cut a long 2.5 mile walk short, the course is ringed on 3 sides by a 5 foot high stone wall, and a 6 foot high wooden fence on the 4^th side. There was nothing, not a warren, not a burrow, not a single dottle of rabbit cr@p. No signs of ANYTHING. I must have the only golf course in the UK without rabbits on. Man, all that lush green grass….

 

I was in bed by 1:15..grumpy as feck and annoyed I’d walked off the farm for nothing. I’ll go back with a red lamp to the course, but the exaltation of yesterday has paved way for a far more subdued and miserable me today…need a good red lamp and to go back to the farm.

 

Oh the DUCK? Think cricket.

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

TOP DOGS PHOTOS and vislauk,s pigeon

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

Two more

[Daz39 962]

Good stalking and shooting last night Mac, have to hand it to you.

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

You will be doing the same before long you just need to stop trying to hard atvbmac :thumbs:

[DenBell 149]

Do you ever come back empty handed mac? two every trip! (unless they're the same two)

 

I dont think there is such a thing of a course void of life? might be worth asking someone though. the course manager might know where is best. and i dont think they would get someone up if they didnt have a problem. unless they're cruel b@st@rds.

[Daz39 962]

Yeah, full moon etc etc, I'm going back down, but the thing that was disconcerting was there were no signs of life. I mean, do they go sweep the rabbit cr@p up each morning?

 

There are a couple of nice looking fields either side of the course...might have to knock on a few more doors.

[dbm 49]

Well done lads and a great write up

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

Do you ever come back empty handed mac? two every trip! (unless they're the same two)

 

I dont think there is such a thing of a course void of life? might be worth asking someone though. the course manager might know where is best. and i dont think they would get someone up if they didnt have a problem. unless they're cruel b@st@rds.

Some times but not very often and these kills were witnessed by daz its a hard life being TOP DOG :laugh: atvbmac :thumbs:

[DenBell 149]

 

Do you ever come back empty handed mac? two every trip! (unless they're the same two)

 

I dont think there is such a thing of a course void of life? might be worth asking someone though. the course manager might know where is best. and i dont think they would get someone up if they didnt have a problem. unless they're cruel b@st@rds.

Some times but not very often and these kills were witnessed by daz its a hard life being TOP DOG :laugh: atvbmac :thumbs:

 

 

sounds tough, i'd hate to be top dog! bringing home rabbit after rabbit. suppose being top dog means you have to teach the rookies though. has its downs!

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

 

 

Do you ever come back empty handed mac? two every trip! (unless they're the same two)

 

I dont think there is such a thing of a course void of life? might be worth asking someone though. the course manager might know where is best. and i dont think they would get someone up if they didnt have a problem. unless they're cruel b@st@rds.

Some times but not very often and these kills were witnessed by daz its a hard life being TOP DOG :laugh: atvbmac :thumbs:

 

 

sounds tough, i'd hate to be top dog! bringing home rabbit after rabbit. suppose being top dog means you have to teach the rookies though. has its downs!

 

I enjoy teaching the rookies and it helps our sport and shows them the right way of doing it as i said to Daz last night there is a skill to hunting but luck has a lot to do with it also if luck is not with you then its a hole lot harder as Daz has found out the hard way.One of the shots i pulled off last night as Daz has stated was a twenty yard er and i had to put the pellet through two fence lats all i could see was its bright red eye no silo-wet of its body just its eye and from a kneeling shot took it down in one know a lot of skill was put into the shot but luck was with me to atvbmac

[Daz39 962]

 

Do you ever come back empty handed mac? two every trip! (unless they're the same two)

 

I dont think there is such a thing of a course void of life? might be worth asking someone though. the course manager might know where is best. and i dont think they would get someone up if they didnt have a problem. unless they're cruel b@st@rds.

Some times but not very often and these kills were witnessed by daz its a hard life being TOP DOG :laugh: atvbmac :thumbs:

 

Lordy, someone chuck the dog a bone hahaha......

[Daz39 962]

 

 

Do you ever come back empty handed mac? two every trip! (unless they're the same two)

 

I dont think there is such a thing of a course void of life? might be worth asking someone though. the course manager might know where is best. and i dont think they would get someone up if they didnt have a problem. unless they're cruel b@st@rds.

Some times but not very often and these kills were witnessed by daz its a hard life being TOP DOG :laugh: atvbmac :thumbs:

 

 

sounds tough, i'd hate to be top dog! bringing home rabbit after rabbit. suppose being top dog means you have to teach the rookies though. has its downs!

 

He was on form last night Den, even when he can't be ar$ed he sill gets a bag. Gutted haha

[Craig Fosse 286]

Nice little write up again mate, keep plugging away,

 

I always always guesstimate a range by thinking hmmm that's about 30 away, then I do a thing called braketing, more so because in our mid whenever we are hunting we WANT to get in range, therefore I find I am trying to reason with myself that it is 30 yards away when infact realistically if u take the dipping pot holes and the slight downhill it all adds yards, that's before ur brain has even considered how far away it is.

 

If u realistically look at how far away 30 yards is, it looks like u can jump there, I always add 5 yards on anything and it services me well enough.

 

Bracket it, it's not as close as 30 but dedinantly no further away than 45, therefore aim at 40 yards and(37.5 if your being picky and have the aim point) and ur def in the kill zone

 

That or get a range finder

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

Nice little write up again mate, keep plugging away,

 

I always always guesstimate a range by thinking hmmm that's about 30 away, then I do a thing called braketing, more so because in our mid whenever we are hunting we WANT to get in range, therefore I find I am trying to reason with myself that it is 30 yards away when infact realistically if u take the dipping pot holes and the slight downhill it all adds yards, that's before ur brain has even considered how far away it is.

 

If u realistically look at how far away 30 yards is, it looks like u can jump there, I always add 5 yards on anything and it services me well enough.

 

Bracket it, it's not as close as 30 but dedinantly no further away than 45, therefore aim at 40 yards and(37.5 if your being picky and have the aim point) and ur def in the kill zone

 

That or get a range finder

I allways store the distance i zero at ie,30,40 ,50 so on and so on in my head like a mental rouler it works for me atvbmac :thumbs: