Lamping the night away 2008/9

[Guest JohnGalway]

Hi folks,

 

Since Sounder and Sporting Shooter, mostly (99.999%) SS it has to be said (rich git ) broke both my rifles I decided I'd head out with my shotgun and the remote caller tonight. Showery weather with a lot of wind, not a tin of bachelors in sight. I surveyed my farm with the lamp and spotted no tell tale eyes whatsoever. I moved on next door and found five horses so obviously there wasn't going to be any shooting done in that field! Next up is what I call, or used to call, the fox supermarket. When I first started lamping I used to see a fox in this spot almost every trip there Less so not I'm told because of some git with a "high powered rifle", haven't met the fella yet. I set up the caller and move off around 100 yards, out of the wind. I noticed a sly looking eye moving into the wind way up on the hill. However it had no interest in the caller, and I had no interest going all that way with my 40 yard wonder. Scratching my chin as a heavy shower came along I decide to head home, collect the .223 and get on with the night.

 

As I'm driving to my next spot a fox runs straight across infront of the car and into a field. I've permission in a lot of places locally so I parked up and got geared up. I had a shine about and a short call but no joy. I'm thinking he may have been the lampshy fox I saw the last night out.

 

I arrive at my destination and again get geared up. I'm going to do a wide circle of this spot on foot and see if I come across anything interesting. After a bit as I'm squelching along on the final leg back to the car I spy a fox curled up on a hillock in out of the wind. I don't have a good spot for shooting off, best I can do is a low gorse bush on the side of a small hill. As I squeeze the trigger he sits up and I frikkin miss He's away through the marsh and doesn't even stop to look back Not happy. The rifle had been cleaned and it was very windy, but it's down to me and I missed my target.

 

I push on to the next area I want to look at. I hadn't gone far at all when I see a fox mooching around out on a flat boggy area. This time I'm on a lovely spot for shooting off. The night is black as the Ace of Spades and I'm not worried about my outline on the hill one bit. The fox isn't taking any notice of the lamp. This one will be done properly or I'm giving in this business. I'm nice and comfy and have Charles in the scope. He's moving right to left across me and I'm well downwind of him, he can't hear or smell me. He goes in behind some long grass and brush, he eventually comes out of it after causing me some butterflies. I'm still tracking him, wondering if I'll stop him when he does the deed for me to sniff at something. Ba-boooommffff... thud! Look up the word crumple and you'll see a short video of this fox Down he went and not a stir out of him. Normal service has resumed. The photo will have to wait until tomorrow as I went and took the spotlight off where he fell and guess what, I couldn't find where he dropped There seemed to be a nice bit of black in him through the scope, I'm wanting that tail!

 

I shine the lamp on a hill on the way to my next spot. Aha! Shiny eye right on the skyline. About 280 yards off. No shot as it's too dangerous, too windy and too plain far for me I get the gear out and have a walk out around the lake, up the hill and take a look around. Nope he's scarpered so it's back to the car and on to my next call.

 

My next move is to check one area I dislike, but it's on the way home. The reason I dislike it is because there's a dirty little river running along it that has caused me problems in the past. It's one of those that are just about narrow enough to be tempting to jump, but deep enough to seriously ruin my night. The wind was blowing against the flow of the river tonight. As I know from previous sightings the foxes like to run either side of the river so I keep my distance. I prefer spotting a fox a way off then forming my plan to approach, I don't them popping out in front of me unless I've the shotgun. Anyway, I'm walking along scanning with the lamp when I see a funny looking eye near the river. Now, sometimes there are horses here, or cattle, or sheep. I've not seen anything in here for a while stock wise but it gives me pause for thought for a few seconds. Have to be sure. Alrighty, I'm happy it's one of my recently deceased mates Charles friends. Between him and I is a hillock and rock. Both will be good for shooting from. I make for the hillock, acting all casual like Honestly, I'm not coming to kill you, no, really... Just as I settle on the hill, yep, he presumably gives me the and legs it. He had gone in one direction, and I was following. When I reach the rock I see he's changed course and is now upwind of me instead of going downwind. Suits me sir! He's in a marsh and while I'm settling on the rock he legs it again. Time for a bark to stop him, except what comes out of my mouth sounds more like a seals bark Ar ar ar (me hearties!). Well feck it because he doesn't care and stops for a look. Boommm... thud! Another one bites the dust, or, muck in this case. Dog fox around 106 yards.

 

 

 

Not far on from here I stopped in at another spot farther along the river. I spy another fox not far from where I just shot the previous one. The wind is wrong for me and I decide against calling. I'm more than happy with two in the bag, and certainly don't need to educate another!

 

All in all I'm very rusty since last year, definately a few bugs need ironing out but gotta start somewhere

[scent 509]

weldone john and good read

[Guest JohnGalway]

Thank you Scent, glad you enjoyed it Oh, mind your wheelie bin, it's about to blow over in your avatar

[scent 509]

Thank you Scent, glad you enjoyed it Oh, mind your wheelie bin, it's about to blow over in your avatar

thanks john just caught it in time there was nearly cans of linden village everywhere lol

[Yokel Matt 918]

perseverance pays off... nice going John.

[SNAP SHOT 194]

nice read there john glad you got the stick sorted................

[Malt 379]

Good right up there John mate!

[mandog 37]

Well done , good read that.

[Guest JohnGalway]

Well no wonder I couldn't find my second fox last night, I was looking too far away from where I shot her I'm the worst in the world for finding a dropped fox once I take the lamp off the exact spot.

 

 

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Nice read John and perseverance always pays off.You seem like my kind of hunter .

[Guest jordy p]

well done john good read up

 

jp

[SportingShooter 0]

I thought I had broken those rifles for good!! Damn, they weren't supposed to be able to kill things ever again, the local shooters hired me to put "High-Powered Rifle" man out of action! :clapper:

 

Anyway.........................

 

Good to see you had a couple John, long awaited that they are. And a superb write up as ever, picture the place in my head for some reason

 

Good Stuff

 

SS

[Guest JohnGalway]

Thanks everyone I was starting to get a small bit frustrated as on my first three or four outings I'd not even seen an eye, next outing seen two shot none but last night was OK I'm going to take it easier on them this year compared to other times. I've the tails whipped off them now thanks to help from LabsNlurchers and they're in a water jug with some meths. Am hoping the dog foxs tail survives as it's the nicest of the two. Some pong off them before they went in though

[the cheater 1]

Nice to see you back out at them John

Just got a little patch of land thats covered in them,went up for a look last week and saw 6 in 2 fields,even managed to miss 1 straight over it,s head from the motor,scope had been bumped on the way up.My mates motor was full of tools,pretty sure this was the cause but it,s shooting great now and he,s sorted it for me to go without him.

Only need some time off to sort them.

Good read too mate

Jeff

[cometa300s 20]

nice shooting mate