Bonus squirrel day

[Mark_mjs93 164]

Afternoon All, 

Today I was lucky enough to spend the day with THL member Rabid. He invited me over to shoot some targets and have a chat. I had a cracking time, we spent some good time on the targets and whilst i shot okay towards the end my form was WAY off to start with, so much so that when Rabid actually looked through some binos at the target he said "Bloody hell..." I don't think he quite knew what he'd got himself into. As I say, I got progressively better towards the end of the day and I put the bad shooting down to the wind and the fact it was my first time shooting somewhere new and I was a bit nervous. haha. 

All in all I had a cracking day and getting the chance to see a few of Rabids PCPs was brilliant. I would try to tell you how good his groupings were but he managed to shoot the targets clean off the panel. 

After shooting plenty of targets and getting to meet his wicked dogs I was just packing up to head off when one of the dogs alerted him to a squirrel in the orchard (That makes him sound like Lassie but it was a more that we heard him barking in the orchard and Rabid said "he's probably found another squirrel"). We went for a look and i still had my rifle over my shoulder as I was just leaving and low and behold we see a squirrel up the tree, tormenting the dog. In what was a split second the squirrel did a leap of faith and jumped from the top of the tree, landing in the grass and bolting for another tree. It made it to the other tree before the dog could get him and i was kindly informed by Rabid that there were no holes in the new tree for it to hide in. Gun comes off the shoulder, Cocked it, Lined up my shot and down comes mr Squirrel. 

That probably makes it sound a lot better than it was... The squirrel then fell and got wedged between the trunk and a branch in the tree and we had to use drain rods to poke it out haha. 

Oh well. 

It was an absolutely cracking day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, thanks to Rabid for hosting me and giving me the opportunity to shoot with him, and for the chance at the bonus squirrel, hope it keeps the ferrets happy for a little while haha. 

 

Cheers All 

 

[Rez 4,961]

No pictures mukka? Sounded like a mint day.

[Mark_mjs93 164]

Unfortunately no. Well, I have a picture of a very chuffed looking Bruno the dog showing off the squirrel he found us, but its a touch blurry to say the least haha. It was however... my first ever squirrel! Which I was chuffed with, really happy with the shot as my freehand shots aren't normally too good. I haven't the slightest clue why the Taxidermist laughed when I asked for a shoulder mount of it? He said something about mounting it on a tea coaster?

 

[mattwhite 1,993]

A memorable day in good company pal. You cant ask for more??

[j j m 6,564]

very good mate

[Mark_mjs93 164]

Cheers guys, it was indeed! Especially after the debacle last night when my gun sprang a leak and had me wondering if today would even be a possibility and Rabid talking me through sorting it all out as well! Funnily enough, 10 minutes after I arrived and we started shooting Rabid's Daystate developed a near identical fault and began leaking air from the filling port haha. Unlike me Rabid had another gun to hand haha. 

 

[si brown 8,486]

19 minutes ago, Mark_mjs93 said:

Cheers guys, it was indeed! Especially after the debacle last night when my gun sprang a leak and had me wondering if today would even be a possibility and Rabid talking me through sorting it all out as well! Funnily enough, 10 minutes after I arrived and we started shooting Rabid's Daystate developed a near identical fault and began leaking air from the filling port haha. Unlike me Rabid had another gun to hand haha. 

 

haha... you've done it now mark

sounds like a great day though

[Jonjon79 13,358]

That sounds like a cracking dark Mark

 

A word of advice though mate - don't let him take you down to the cabin

[Mark_mjs93 164]

29 minutes ago, si brown said:

haha... you've done it now mark

sounds like a great day though

He did mention something about ‘not even liking daystate. I fear I’ve b*llocked yo my chances when he sees this now haha ?

[villaman 9,982]

Very nice of rabid to spend time with you on targets then hunting  , nice one rabid mate 

[Mark_mjs93 164]

47 minutes ago, villaman said:

Very nice of rabid to spend time with you on targets then hunting  , nice one rabid mate 

It was! And I appreciate it a lot! He’s a really sound bloke. 

[villaman 9,982]

34 minutes ago, Mark_mjs93 said:

It was! And I appreciate it a lot! He’s a really sound bloke. 

I am glad you appreciated rabids goodwill  .  I have taken a few new shooter out with me But did they really appreciated it the answer to that is NO , so good on you to show it on this forum  

[Mark_mjs93 164]

Just now, villaman said:

I am glad you appreciated rabids goodwill  .  I have taken a few new shooter out with me But did they really appreciated it the answer to that is NO , so good on you to show it on this forum  

Yeah, i've done the same with a few new anglers. I've been fishing for years and I've taken my fair share of new anglers out only to find them not appreciative at all. Nothing grinds my gears more really. I always appreciate new opportunities and especially when people give up their time to put up with me for the day haha.