2 Blokes, 2 Squirrels

[Jonjon79 13,358]

This morning, just before dawn, I met my shooting buddy, Mark, at our big manor house permission.

He's quite a bit older than me and, a real 1 man 1 gun type.

I keep trying to get him to come on here - he's a good 'un and, I reckon he'd fit in well.

 

He took his .177 AA S510 and, as usual, was using JSB Exacts.

 

I decided to take my .22 TX200hc and a pouch of FAPs.

 

Just as the light was breaking we had a look all around the grain silos and chicken shed to check for rats but, there was none to be seen.

 

Then as we walked back through the orchard, toward the farm shop, we saw a Rastafarian - it was really surreal. We were in the middle of the countryside in rural Wiltshire and we bump into a Rastafarian.

It turns out that he used to work in the big house and, now he just likes a wander in the early morning countryside when he's finished his night shift at the care home down the road.

 

We were chatting for a while when I saw some Magpies come in to land just past a chicken shed that was about 100yrds away.

 

I left my buddy with our new mate and made my way over, keeping the shed between me and the Magpies. I had a quick peep round - they were on the ground and in the trees. 2 of them were no more than 20yrds away

As I slowly poked the TX round for a shot, a girl on a quad came roaring through the orchard and scared the lot off. Bugger!

 

After that we decided to cross the road and head off into the wood to look for squirrels...

[Jonjon79 13,358]

Mark got his one first.....

 

He had to take the shot almost straight up, into the small branches right at the top of the trees.

 

The squirrel hung on for a second, then dropped. I thought it was going to land on him

[johonawhitness 110]

Setting the scene well. Wish I had girls on quads through my wood lol. Already have the rastas!

[Jonjon79 13,358]

By this time it was still early and quite misty so, we headed off to the other part of the woods by the lake.

...... we know there's a big drey up there

 

As we rounded a corner we saw 2 squirrels on the ground and, they saw us.

They shot up the trees and off along the branches - I followed one, Mark took the other.

 

Now, so far, I've done well with this TX on targets and I've taken a couple of easy Pigeons. This was it's first proper hunt.

 

I followed this squirrel through 4 trees until it stopped. I left my shooting stick behind when it started running.

 

It was up on a high branch and, because of the spindly lower branches that obscured my view, I had nothing to rest on. I stood out in the open, holding my rifle up, looking through the scope - the squirrel was maybe 40yrds away. It's body was down behind the big branch, leaving just it's head poking out.

 

I passed the crosshairs over it's head and brought them slowly down. Just as they came level, I squeezed the trigger.

 

The squirrel disappeared and, I thought 'Bollocks, missed'. Then, just as I was about to lower my rifle, it fell out of the tree.

 

I made my way over and found it stone dead on the ground. From the angle of the shot, the FAP had gone up and in well and brought it down clean

 

I don't know why I'm so apprehensive with this springer - it just keeps performing time after time. It never lets me down.

 

...... I love this TX

[Jonjon79 13,358]

..... The group of trees that my squirrel ran into.

 

After that test for me and the TX, I was more than happy with just the 1 for today

[Jonjon79 13,358]

Setting the scene well. Wish I had girls on quads through my wood lol. Already have the rastas!

It was a really funny situation

 

And that girl on the quad is an animal - she throws the thing around and slides close to the trees like she's indestructible

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

 

Setting the scene well. Wish I had girls on quads through my wood lol. Already have the rastas!

It was a really funny situation

 

And that girl on the quad is an animal - she throws the thing around and slides close to the trees like she's indestructible

 

Is she good looking

 

Top class as all ways JJ

 

:thumbs:

[si brown 8,486]

sounds like you've both enjoyed the day and you'll have even more confidence in yourself and the tx next time jon!

when the free roving testers hit its a right buzz!

bet the pcp's get retired for a while jon, i just pick the 95 up all the time now

i maybe miss a few more than i would have with the 510 but the ones that hit home put a right smile on me face...been out again today

 

nice work

atb si

 

ps.. I'm just off out to get some apple juice to go with me vodka

[bigmac 97kt 13,776]

sounds like you've both enjoyed the day and you'll have even more confidence in yourself and the tx next time jon!

when the free roving testers hit its a right buzz!

bet the pcp's get retired for a while jon, i just pick the 95 up all the time now

i maybe miss a few more than i would have with the 510 but the ones that hit home put a right smile on me face...been out again today

 

nice work

atb si

 

ps.. I'm just off out to get some apple juice to go with me vodka

pour me one ill just be 2hours 10 mins

 

:thumbs:

[Jonjon79 13,358]

 

 

 

Setting the scene well. Wish I had girls on quads through my wood lol. Already have the rastas!

It was a really funny situation

 

And that girl on the quad is an animal - she throws the thing around and slides close to the trees like she's indestructible

Is she good looking

 

Top class as all ways JJ

 

:thumbs:

Cheers Mac

 

She's not bad, quite a short broad farm girl. She's no supermodel but, her nice smile and her wildness does give her a certain charm.

 

..... I would

[Jonjon79 13,358]

sounds like you've both enjoyed the day and you'll have even more confidence in yourself and the tx next time jon!

when the free roving testers hit its a right buzz!

bet the pcp's get retired for a while jon, i just pick the 95 up all the time now

i maybe miss a few more than i would have with the 510 but the ones that hit home put a right smile on me face...been out again today

 

nice work

atb si

 

ps.. I'm just off out to get some apple juice to go with me vodka

I think you're right mate that was such a satisfying shot. Conference is definitely building

 

..... It's just a shame that I can't fit NV on the TX.

 

The missus is off to Sainsburys shopping tonight and, I don't have to get up tomorrow

[big napper 3,565]

great day mate by the sound of it, nice one

[Jonjon79 13,358]

great day mate by the sound of it, nice one

Cheers BN.

 

I forgot to add - having a good walk about during the day, we found a couple more places for rabbits and an old hollow tree with more squirrels living in it

[steg 609]

Nice read JJ..can barely string a couple of sentences together myself! Watch out pianoman!

 

That's a compliment lads ?

[Jonjon79 13,358]

Nice read JJ..can barely string a couple of sentences together myself! Watch out pianoman!

 

That's a compliment lads ?

Cheers Steg,

 

I'm not quite at Simons poetic level mate. I just bang on and hope for the best