A Few Trips Out

[chrismdd 787]

Been out on a few trips over the past couple of months. Some of these have ranged from a mere hour or two up the road in the copse to walking the fields at night with the lamp. Some on my own and others with Rik and Luke and his young lurcher. A few pigeons and a good number of rabbits plus the odd blank. Found some land where the rabbits have been right out in the open at night and where mixy has not got a hold like it has on other areas round here. As a result we've taken a few from here with the rifles and also brought the lurcher along to have some good runs.

 

Well this evening I decided to pop up and try for a few more ambush style. On arriving there a lot of baby rabbits showed promise for the coming season so I've decided to leave these alone unless crops get well beaten but most is potato and fodder crops here this year so they're less likely to be a problem.

 

 

Sat out in the hedge in a bed of stingers and found a comfortable tree to lean against. Plenty of youngsters came out but it wasn't until a good half an hour that an adult came rushing out into the field. This stopped at 30 yds and was cleanly dropped where it lay. As it was still early I decided to place it belly up for the chance of a crow. Over the next couple of hours many rabbits came out of different sizes and distances but only three shots presented themselves resulting in two more adults and a clear miss when I misjudged the range and gave too much holdover. A couple of times a crow and magpie came in to the rabbit but my concealment was just not good enough this time.

 

 

As the light was fading suffling sounds behind me alerted me to a group of young badgers. They were so unfamiliar with coming across a human that they came right up behind me in the hedge and started playing and feeding. I could reach out and grabbed them if I didn't favour my fingers. I managed to take over a dozen photos with the camera but often they were so close that many of these were out of focus. Twice one of them was so inquisitive that they would come forward and touch the camera in my hand, and only a couple of times did one of them get a bit worried and start hissing at me. Over the remaining hour they entertained me as they dashed up and down the hedge chasing one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the light was fading I put on the red lamp and had a quick scan to see what was about but now most rabbits had moved off so I decided to head home.

 

 

 

[Jonjon79 13,358]

Cracking post Chris and, good pictures

 

I'm often amazed by what I get to see when I can just stop being such a fidget arse and sit still for a couple of hours.

[si brown 8,486]

I'm with jon on this chris..

brilliant post, had badgers come close but never anything like this

[bigmac 97kt 13,806]

Top class post Chris

 

and a good read mate

 

atvbjimmy :thumbs:

[j j m 6,555]

good shooting mate

[The one 8,494]

Cracking picts of the badgers mate

[mattwhite 1,993]

Best post for ages pal!

It's amazing what you see when your hiding static. Barn owls and short ears on the hunt at dusk, charlie doing the rounds but those badgers take top spot mate????

[ftm 3,357]

thanks for sharing this post mate -love owt like this & well done on your rabbit shooting

[mark williams 7,558]

Static shooting eh ?

 

 

Great post Chris and compliments to you mate.

 

 

atb Mark

[ArchieHood 3,692]

Nice write up Chris,Thanks for leaving the traps out I set them upstream by the farm.I can then get an idea of what numbers are about.The r-10 has gone for repair so it's the air arms or Max if we get out.Speak soon.

[Rez 4,961]

My oh my. Top notch this. Great post Chris.

 

That two dead uns in the field?

[chrismdd 787]

My oh my. Top notch this. Great post Chris.

 

That two dead uns in the field?

 

All three if you look carefully along the hedgeline.

[Rez 4,961]

Yep. Spotted the 3rd one. You let the one on the left come out quite far...

[mark williams 7,558]

Camo` roof Chris - every time.

 

Again, great shooting

 

atb Mark

[philpot 5,016]

A nice read and stunning photo's which I am guessing are not from a phone camera.

 

Phil