Pleasures of shooting

[snapper5 0]

Just wanted to share the great enjoyment watching a pair of buzzards calling from a tree 30 odd yards away from me this evening whilst I was out after rabbits. Sat and watched them through the scope for ages - just amazing to have the opportunity to see these birds so close-up. Mind you, the fact they were sitting there calling probably explains why there weren't any rabbits in that particular field!

 

Anybody else seen anything recently that has had them sitting there thinking 'Wow'?

 

S

[dicehorn 38]

Just wanted to share the great enjoyment watching a pair of buzzards calling from a tree 30 odd yards away from me this evening whilst I was out after rabbits. Sat and watched them through the scope for ages - just amazing to have the opportunity to see these birds so close-up. Mind you, the fact they were sitting there calling probably explains why there weren't any rabbits in that particular field!

 

Anybody else seen anything recently that has had them sitting there thinking 'Wow'?

 

S

 

Sitting out for a fox the other evening spotted a young roe doe who had obviously been kicked out by mum. She was grazing in front of me about 100 yds away. Her head went up and looked back towards the wood from where a young red hind appeared. The hind put her head down and for the next 20 minutes the hind play chased the doe who kept no more than 20 yards in front of the hind, both stopping at minute intervals to graze. At one stage both were within 30 yards of me sat in the hedge.

 

Just as the light finally failing I was treated to the captivating flight of a barn owl hunting up and down this same field - didn't see a fox but who cares - would not have missed these 3 beautiful creatures for anything.

 

Peter

[Gimli 0]

For me it was waiting in the bushes for the rabbits to come out on the edge of a rape field. I saw a kestrel hovering about 50 yards away. It suddenly dropped like a stone and through the binos I could see it had caught a vole or small rat. It then took off and flew across in front of me dangling its lunch from its talons.

 

A few days later I came across a very new muntjac fawn bedded down in some very long grass and nettles on the edge of an orchard. It let me get to within 5 yards, at which point I backed off and left it in peace.

[Little Butch 16]

Last season whilst I was beating across the marsh I saw a Barn Owl hunting

Great to see, we have a pair nesting here.

Butch

[Finkley 1]

Very occasionally I blow the dust of my trusty air rifle and pluck a few pigeons out of the trees in my paddock. I try not to break cover too often, as such some lay around on the floor for half an hour or so. A few weeks ago one of the pair of breeding Sparrow Hawks we have nesting at the bottom of the paddock swooped down and started tucking into one of the woodies. I watched it at 25-30 yards through the scope for ages. Then either I or something spooked it and it took off with the pigeon. I couldn't beleive it could carry it such a relatively large bird, amazing!

 

I have also seen a few different species of owl fluttering around while out lamping, as well as having a badger damn near run into me while holed up waiting for Charlie. I could see and hear him coming but he must have clocked me with only yards to go, quite an encounter, but not one I would like to repeat on a nightly basis. It's those little touches that make what is essentially pest control for me all the more enjoyable.

 

Can I also add that this is a great forum, full of knowledge and passion.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[cooper90 0]

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT WHILST SHOOTING BUT LAST YEAR I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE A FAMILY OF OTTERS ON THE RIVER SEVERN....

[Malt 379]

Seen a few buzzards, sparrow hawks, kestrels, etc. Fantastic birds to watch going about there business. We even squeaked a Tawny owl right in one night out with the lamp.

 

My dad was out with the airgun years ago, and was sitting quietly in a hedge, waiting for a few coneys to show.

Next thing, he heard this racket getting closer, so he sat still, & a weasle ran past in front of him, followed closely by about 4 or 5 squeaking kits. I'd have loved to see that.

 

That's what gets on my tits with people that are against our sport. We see more of nature than they ever will, and build up a great respect & understanding of our native wildlife.

 

It's not all about blasting away at everything that moves, sometimes it's just nice to just sit & watch.

 

Great idea for a thread!

[Radders 0]

It's not all about blasting away at everything that moves, sometimes it's just nice to just sit & watch.

 

Great idea for a thread!

 

 

 

Have to agree with the above - great to watch nature in front of you and shooting puts you in the right place to do it. I'd always stress the important part the sport plays to conservation when talking about it to non shooters.

[pisces 0]

05:00 hrs, sun rising over misty fields.

 

No traffic noise.

 

Nobody else for miles.

 

Bunch of bunnies quietely grazing at 200 yards - with a safe backstop.

[Ratman2 2]

Just wanted to share the great enjoyment watching a pair of buzzards calling from a tree 30 odd yards away from me this evening whilst I was out after rabbits. Sat and watched them through the scope for ages - just amazing to have the opportunity to see these birds so close-up. Mind you, the fact they were sitting there calling probably explains why there weren't any rabbits in that particular field!

 

Anybody else seen anything recently that has had them sitting there thinking 'Wow'?

 

S

 

Every single time I go out I think to myself, by god I'm lucky to be here, watching the sun come up and listening to the dawn chorus, watching the sun go down, looking over a moon lit wildfowl pond, staring at the moon lit sky through a clearing in the wood, the smell of a field of beans or rape in full flower, March hares, Owls hunting late evening, bats after sundown. I could go on but I'll only bore the rrrrr's of you. Although we shooters and hunters are out there to take a living thing, mostly for the pot or as vermin control, I recon we are probably closer to nature, and we appreciate it more than the tree huggers and bunny lovers, we see the whole picture, not just a tiny bit through rose tinted glasses.

 

Rob.....shooter and hunter, loving every bit of our wonderful countyrside, as it should be enjoyed.