Screw You Full Moon!!

[Daz39 962]

With Bigmac being laid up after his op, I didn't think I'd get out much over the next couple of weeks, so when Denbell sent me a message saying "got my first lamp, want to go test it, fancy a trip out?" I jumped at the chance!

 

I met Den at his around 8:15 and we drove off into the wilds of Northumberland to his permission. This place is a big old house, with a huge front garden and a mahooosive field out back where they keep horses. It's one hell of a slope too, 1 in 3 I bet!! Anyhow, we parked at the top of the field and took a walk down. The moon was mighty and we hardly needed the lamps, we only saw one rabbit but it was away before we could get close enough to take a shot. We had a walk though to the front garden where Den saw another which legged it into trees before he was 40 yrds away.

 

The front garden was getting a great frost on already and the grass was somewhat crunchy, on the back field the slope and mud had turned it into either a mud ski slope in places or a bog in others, so you were either Bambi on ice or a squeltching mud monster in others, not easy to be quiet like that.

 

After a bit lay up on an comfy bench under a willow tree (how romantic) we went back into the top field and on walking up along a wall, spotted a rabbit in the field. Den was lamping it and squeeked it, it stood up perfectly on a plate and I heard him say "mumble mumble take the shot". Unaware if the "mumble mumble" was "I will" or "you can" I followed Mac's advice, put the cross hairs on the rabbit and squeezed. THWACK, over and out Mr Rabbit. I then checked with Den what the "mumble mumble" bit was and he confirmed he HAD said "YOU take the shot"....phew. On walking to collect the rabbit the pellet had gone in just behind the eye and come out directly out of his other eye....mashed and no wonder he went right down, not a twitch. I didn't pace the shot, but we agreed it was around 25yrd, standing supported. Have to thank Den as this really was on a silver platter ready to be picked

 

 

We had another walk around, saw 1-2 more but distant and we had scared them off with the noise. We decided to go back to where I got my rabbit and have another look. Sure enough, a little closer this time, maybe 20 yrd, and by a fence was another rabbit. This time Den went for it, squeeked, up pops the head, shot, thwack and a flip. By the time we had got over the wall the rabbit was in thick scrub and look as we might, we just couldn't find the damn thing. The one thing about lamping and him using a 0.22 (versus my 0.177) is you can watch the 22 fly. It certainly hit the rabbits head, but as always, you hate to chalk up the kill without the rabbit.

 

There is another field that boarders his perm, and a quick lamp on there lit up 4 sets of eyes about 70- yrds away, but sadly, it isn't his land and we had to just look longingly at the ones that SHOULD have been in our bag!!

 

So, only my rabbit to show for the night, but an enjoyable evening regardless.

 

Thanks for the trip Den, will sort out a return ASAP.

[j j m 6,533]

1s better then none

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

Nice one Daz buddy

keep up the good work

 

also, when I go lamping with my mate its hard to understand what he says.. "mumble mumble'' just about sums it up

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

nice one bud me or sean would not have waited for the go a head off den it would of been down and out as soon as he lit it up :laugh: :tongue2: looks like the trips out with me and sean are paying off mate go,s to show your now becoming a good hunter give Den my best wish,s and when he gets me up there ill show him how to stork up on them even in the frost atvbmac :thumbs:

[acculead 32]

well done on a good night out , tidy write up too ...

[Geordieboy 23]

Nice read fella!

[Daz39 962]

Cheers lads. Mac for sure, I go out full of confidence that every shot is going to find its mark these days! I can hear your damn voice where ever I hunt haha. Den's gun looks great with the camo on! Pratt put it down and walked off without it at one point haha took some finding! You'll not like the perm, damn steep hill haha, you'll be laid up under the willow tree!! Hurry up and get well, I need to get back up the farm.

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

Just been sorting the s200 out for my son ,cleaning it and oiling it if i dont he wont but then again he did not pay for the thing i did plus took some photos of it for Craig fosse have a look at (foa craig fosse) my heads dun in stuck in this house atvbmac

[Daz39 962]

I can imagine mate, it'd be killing me too. Guns look great, I'd be like a kid in a sweet shop, wouldn't know which to take!!

 

Hope you are on your feet soon.

[DenBell 149]

glad you enjoyed it mate, was a good night and was glad to be out seems its been a long time. just to clear some stuff up, i told Daz take the shot because i hadn't zeroed the rifle and didn't know where the pellet would go, and i only put the gun down to hop the fence and help you look for your rabbit, i dont make a habit of walking around without i.

the noise your .177 made on impact was awesome sure i heard the pellet crack the skull.

 

get well soon mac.

[Daz39 962]

that was the pellet breaking the sound barrier haha.

 

You were a total gent mate, really appreciated the run out.

 

I'll return the favour!

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

Will have to get him up to the farm one night eh daz but he will need some walking boots :laugh: and im getting better every day atvbmac :thumbs:

[Daz39 962]

He'd love the farm, I'll take him on the long walk, not like plodding around someones back garden LOL.

 

When you're fit, lets get him up.... send him round the mortuary....

 

glad to know you're on the mend buddy.

[gosling1960 191]

Nice read that well done nice pictures to

[DenBell 149]

Cheers lads thatd be great, dont mind a long walk im a fit lad. Glad to here your getting better bud.

I cooked the rabbit mac style, bbq marinade bag in the oven was spot on.