A Beast Of A Ratting Session

[RemyBolt 420]

Wow, it's been a long time since I was on here last. Manic life has kept me away, and I've hardly been out shooting either.

 

Over the weekend I had a play about with my little RatCatcher (I love this gun, possibly too much), and the zero was perfect. I don't know how, because I've totally neglected it for a few months and it was slightly shooting to the right before.

 

Out on my best mate's chicken farm yesterday...what a session! I was going to get photos, but we were both so hyped that only this morning I thought "Crap, I didn't get any photos!" My camera was even sat there on my passenger seat.

 

I've not been down the farm for a while, and when we started out, we did not expect it to be that crazy. I was hoping to hit double figures, but the rats down there are sly, and my home made night vision was hampered (my own fault for losing half the gear).

 

We started off at House 6.

Within a few minutes the issue was clear, lots of rats.

 

They were running between the upper and lower egg belts, which left around a 2-3cm gap, down the left line. On the other side of the egg belt, the rats were running along the side freely. Much easier pickings. So we set up and start shooting. After I get to 6 rats, they were hidden away and not giving any shots, so we move to the next 'house'. Here, I am defeated by the dog. I got a single rat, he dashed down a hole, then popped his head back up...straight into my crosshairs. Pop. However, pup brought back 4 good kills. I will note, I did not have the advantage of shooting rats at full running speed. She did.

 

We go to a total of 7 different houses, and in a few there are no rats to be seen. However, I do have a beautiful spot set up and ready for next session. I plan an all nighter, beach-director's-style-chair, loads of batteries, plenty of redbull, and a whole heap of bait. This is one of the best ratting positions I've seen...apart from it being almost directly under a chicken walkway, so I could well be crapped on. Providing I'm awake enough, I'll position the seat angled away from the poo-machines. It's basically a hole in the wall between a small boxed 'storage' area, and the main chicken scratch area. So I can shoot through this A4 sized hole, using IR, all night long! Well happy.

 

In total, I bagged at least 20 rats, if not more. There were a few on the egg belts that were non-retrievable, so I couldn't double check they were dead. If they're lay down behind the eggs, you can't always see them. Only helicopter tail lets you know for sure. Also the farm has a "Do Not Pick Up" policy, which is fine with me. Something to do with health and safety, and with me not being paid I wouldn't be covered by their insurance...apparently. I don't mind just shooting and not having to tidy up afterwards.

 

The reason the session finished, I ran out of pellets in my stock-pouch. I grabbed a few Bisley Pest Control, and put them in there. I was going to head back to the car, reload a third CO2 cartridge (burned through 2 earlier on) and restock the pellets, but it was creeping on 12:10am, and the wife is not the happiest person when woken up. So I figured, get home soon and come back another time.

 

In total...absolutely buzzing! Really great session back on the farm. There are a load of hay bails out by house 6. Come winter, I'm going to be setting up, in my car, bait in place, shooting away. They love hiding in hay in the winter months.

[paulk73 151]

good write up mate. I always remember to take pics on my phone, but cant upload them to this site. I think the mods should change the set up. ots so easy to upload photos onto the facebook site, so I cant understand why its such a pain to do it on here. anyone know why?? it just seems its difficult for difficults sake.

[Coypu Hunter 486]

Good session!

 

I agree, paulk. Every other forum I'm on allows you to upload direct from your computer, phone, whatever. If I didn't have my own website, I wouldn't be able to upload pics here. Stoopid.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Coypu Hunter

[bigmac 97kt 13,780]

First off , its nice to see you back bud and a nice wright up to and cracking shooting atvbmac :thumbs:

[paulk73 151]

is there any mods on here that can explain why its not more straight forward to upload pictures? ?

[paulk73 151]

was out at the rats myself last night with the 100 kt .177. I managed 8 before the heavens opened. the ns was getting soaked so wrapped up and called it a night. I had only been there about half an hour.

[villaman 9,983]

Nice write up and welcome back

[j j m 6,537]

nice write up and good shooting bud

[The one 8,468]

Nice going need picts though a good post always has picts

[RemyBolt 420]

On my way out again tonight. Guess what I'm taking...CAMERA!!!!

 

Next write up will include pics.

 

I'll get a load of the last session's rats as well, if they've not been cleared up yet.