cynic

Late July I had a morning sortie at the B&B. A quick lap of the grounds, and I didn’t see anything! Disappointing, as there had been quite a lot of rabbit activity here on previous morning visits. So I settled down at the base of my sniping tree to wait for squirrels. However, the first signs of movement didn’t come from the trees and branches overhead, but from the wood-pile in from of me, as a young rabbit emerged. Unfortunately, my first shot wasn’t perfect, and I had to swiftly follow up with another. Not a great start. I did another circuit of the grounds, and again, saw nothing more of interest. So back to the sniping tree, and wait for the squizzers. I sat waiting about half an hour before the first one appeared. I spotted it in my peripheral vision, over my right shoulder, as it was bounding along the lawn. I carefully rolled into prone position, but my movements were also spotted, and the squizzer ascended a nearby tree. He re-emerged on a branch further up, and began barking at me (this young male must have been pumped up with testosterone and feeling territorial). I had to wait quite some time for just the right moment to take the shot, as a twig was obscuring the kill zone. As soon as he shifted his head I dropped him cleanly. He hit the ground with the usual satisfying thud. Just five minutes later I dropped another from the large oak directly in front of me. A tricky shot this one, as the squirrel was in amongst the ivy, but again, it dropped cleanly. Half an hour later, two squirrels appeared on the V shaped tree, and began chasing each other. I love this tree, as it’s a main travel route for the local squirrel population, and its lack of horizontal branches means that the squirrels path will be predictably down, and then up the V shape. These two squirrels danced about and didn’t give me chance to get a bead. They temporarily disappeared behind the wood-pile and then one of them popped back up, and presented a perfect shot! A gentle squeeze of the trigger and….. dry-fire! I must have popped the wrong mag into the gun. I fumbled about in my pocket, found the (full) spare mag and swapped them over. Luckily, the two squirrels were still focussed on each other, and both remained on the V tree. A momentary pause by the lower of the two, and the S410 chalked up the third squirrel of the day. This sent the other squirrel darting off into the canopy. Shortly after, another squirrel came to investigate the V tree, probably picking up the scent left by the others. He stopped in the exact same place as the previous squirrel… and met the same fate. That wrapped the morning up nicely. I headed home with 4 squirrels and a young rabbit for the freezer, all taken from the exact same place, my sniping tree. the group shot the sniping tree

thanks chaps!

Making the most of the good weather i visted the Veg Farm a couple more times this week. My write-ups have tended to be rather long recently, so I'll keep this one brief Monday evening: Very windy. Narrowly missed a good sized rabbit in the "quiet corner" of the farm. Bagged 2 baby rats from around the bins (one of them was a cracking 30 metre shot, video to come soon). Had to cut the session short for a get-together at the pub, otherwise i'de have bagged a few more rats no doubt. Tuesday evening: Not so windy, but still a bit breezey. Missed a 40 metre shot on a rabbit, i should really have tryed to stalk closer, but it was open ground, it was a clean miss though. Bagged a young rabbit at close range in the "quiet corner", take a look at the vid.... taken totally by surprise Finsihed off with some more ratting around the bins and yard area. Probably had around 7 or 8, but only recovered 4 for the tally. Oh, and i saw a spooked rat run full speed head-first in to the side of a wooden box, that really did make me LOL. Again, vid of the ratting to follow soon....

Wednedsay 23rd - Seatown Beach, Dorset Hunting of a different kind today. I went fossil hunting with Laura. I bagged this little beauty... Friday 25th - Morning at the B&B farm I opened Fridays tally with another squirrel. Cracking shot if i do say so myself. About 20m, i took him off a branch. I wish i'de got it on camera, the fall was quite spectacular. Then some more ratting around the pig houses - i managed to get these filmed! I just can't believe just how bold the second rat is... Obviously, i really enjoyed my week off work

I've just had a weeks holiday, and what better way to spend it than doing lots of shooting? So heres an amalgamated report for the weeks hunting activities. Sorry, its a mommoth post Monday 21st - Evening at the B&B farm I spent a while in the fields looking for rabbits. Managed to get within range of one, but my new pal Mr. Badger was close by (about 15m to my left). I decided to ignor him, but when i flicked on the lamp to take the shot, he spotted the rabbit and headed straight for it. The rabbit casually slinked off into a hidden hole. Didn't see much about after that. I finished off with a spot of ratting around the pig houses, and added 2 more to the tally. Tuesday 22nd - Morning AND evening at the B&B farm! Yup, pretty much a whole day hunting! I started off with the customary zero check, I do this in a small wooded area behind the garages and woodshed. I stick the ZeroNite target dots to a telegraph pole thats nestled in amongst the trees. As i approched the pole a rabbit darted out infront of me, but he disappeared off down the steep bank and out of sight. After that i headed to the woods infront of the house. Sat at the base of a large pine, i waited for any passing squirrels. After a while I noticed some movement in the peripheral vision to my left. Something moving through the undergrowth, at first it looked like a young squirrel, but then i got a much better look as it passed right infront of me. It was a Stoat! The first i've ever seen. I managed to just catch it on camera before it disappeared (the camera takes a few seconds to switch on, so it is just a fleeting glimpse!). Shortly after that i had this encounter with a squirrel, absolute sitter of a shot.... It went pretty quiet for a while, i decided to have one last look around before heading home for some food. Then i noticed movement up ahead, a rat in broad daylight (Bob said they've been very active during the day). I dropped to one knee and tracked him through the scope, he paused for a brief moment - it was his last. Bang! Right between the eyes. 30m shot from kneeling, i was chuffed with that shot! 30m ranged rat I carried on up the treeline, more movement ahead, a squirrel this time. 15m shot, again from kneeling. First squirrel of the year bagged! i took this photo just before heading home Further up the treeline, in the gap between the chicken pens and pig houses, I noticed there was a rat loitering. I reprimanded him with swift a clip round the ear... from an AA field diablo. No more loitering for you Mr. Rat. Rat no. 2 passified, 5m shot from standing Next onto to main set of pig houses (which are actually stables). Staight away i noticed another rat scurrying about at the far end, it ducked under a trough feeder, but i could still see him and tracked him till his head appeared. Bang, he did a little dance into some pig poo, then expired. You dirty Rat! These four kills all happened really fast. To give you an idea heres a map and times of events.... (blue indicates roughly where the shot was taken from, red indicates roughly where the target was) 1. 11.42 Rat no. 1 2. 11.46 Squirrel 3. 11.52 Rat no. 2 4. 11.53 Rat no. 3 (Times on the pics are 1 hour out) At midday I returned home for a few hours. But i was back on the permission that evening at 8pm for some more ratting, heres the result... the middle rat took a dunking in a muddy water trough, which was quite amusing when he did the usual rat twitching So all together Tuesdays bag was 1 squirrel and 6 rats.

I always make sure i take ZeroNite target dots. http://www.gr8fun.net/AirgunTargets/self-adhesive-airgun-targets-c-2.html Perfect for quick and easy zero check once you're at your permission. They can be used day or night (they work with NV and lamps).

Thanks Chaps AirArms S410 classic .177, red filtered lamp.

My computer died, so I’ve not been able to post. Heres my last four trips amalgamated. I’ll try and keep it brief 25th Feb – Evening @ the Veg Farm Arrived around 7.30pm. Had a good chat Ian (the owner) upon arrival, as I’de not seen him since before Xmas. He asked me “Have you ever tried the Bury Road field?” I had no idea what he was talking about… turns out that he has another 12 acre field about half a mile up the road! So I now have a new permission! See map below. Not been there yet, but hope to have a look around next week. Anyway, back to the night at the veg farm. Loads of rabbits about, but I couldn’t get near, the ground was way too squelchy. Just got 1 rat near the skip. Would have had more, but I forgot the red filter. 28th Feb – evening @ the B&B Farm Last time I spoke to Bob (the owner) he said that March was the time he might be selling up, so I thought I’de visit and see what the situation was. Everything is fine till at least the end of March, and he’ll keep me abreast of the situation. Had a good night ratting. Not much else to say. 2nd March - evening @ the B&B Farm 2 nights later I was back at the B&B Farm. I had a look for rabbits before ratting. In the top field I spotted a glint in the hedge, which turned into 2 eyes. I thought it was a fox, and started squeaking it. After a couple of minutes it immerged from the hedge, but it wasn’t a fox, it was a rabbit! I slowly crept forward, but the rabbit bounded further up the hedgerow, I closed the range again, just as I was settling to take the shot he disappeared back into the hedge. I flicked on the torch and realised that it was probably only 15 yards away! I didn’t need to stalk closer! Doh! I finished with a spot of ratting, and chalked-up another 2. 4th March - evening @ the B&B Farm I’m really making the most of this shoot while I can, 3 trips in 1 week! Again I started out in the field looking for rabbits with the NV (worth every penny of the £99 price tag!). I had a perfect opportunity in the top field. A rabbit out in the open, 50 yards away, I stalked it perfectly, got within range and slowly lowered down to prone, flicked on the lamp, the rabbit didn’t even flinch. I peered through the scope. And could even see the rabbits breath in the cold night air. I had all the time in the world and rested the crosshair just behind the rabbits eye, gently squeezed the trigger, the rabbit bolted! I have no idea what went wrong. But its **** law that this happened the one night I forgot my ZeroNite target dots, which I use religiously to check zero once I’m on the permission. After that I gave up on the rabbits and concentrated on the rats, nailing another 4 for the tally (and a further one which couldn’t be retrieved). 8 days, 4 trips, 11 rats, lots of fun.

For my second trip out with the NV i decided to visit my newest shoot, which I gained last summer. I visited it for a quick reccy a few days after permisson was granted, didn't see any rabbits, or even signs of rabbits, and i hadn't been back since. Its alot larger than my other shoots (bigger than all of them put together actually!), but further away. I arrived at 8pm, and parked at the main gate. Once i was in the main field i had a quick scan around with the NV, I'm still really pleased with this Bresser unit. It really does perform well for the price. I headed north (indicated by the yellow line on the map), slowly along the egde of the permission, stopping every few metres to check with the NV. Nothing so far. Half way down the track i peered into a neighbouring field where i spotted a rabbit - frustrating as i dont have permission there. I followed the track, round past the pond (appears to be part filled in the map image, its 7m deep now!), once past the pond i panned across the fields with the monocular, i looked back at where i'de come from and was amazed to see a glinting eye. At first it looked like a rabbit reared up on its back legs, but with a huge dark blob next to it.... it was a dear laying down, and then i noticed another just to the left. I must have walked right past them, separated by only a few feet of tall grass. I decided to try the top field, but to get there you have to cross the river Blackwater. Theres a fording point, back in the summer i manged to cross with just 2 strides, i got a wet foot in the process as i was only wearing trainers. With the recent rain it was quite alot deeper and running fast, so i eased myself across with small steps, the water was quite powerful, but no wet feet this time thanks to the trusty wellies. Once in the top field i finally spotted a set of eyes, then another, then another, then a few more at the far end of the field. Here we go, we're in business!!! I stalked directly towards the closest rabbit, slowly creeping forward whilest watching through the etherial scope. Once in range i got down prone and switched on the lamp, the rabbit sat up alert giving me a perfect profile. After taking the shot i checked to see if the other rabbits had stuck around - they hadn't. route mark with yellow line, rabbit marked with yellow dot I collected the rabbit and headed back to the car. I did have a quick look around under the pilon, but then decided to explore the rest of the shoot another day. I have a good feeling about this shoot, i'm hoping it will provide alot of sport in the spring/summer. I'm loving this NightVison lark too

make sure its the sweet spot beween eye and ear, is a tiny killzone, slightly out and you'll have a runner. Or head-on, right between the eyes is good, as the pellet normally travels down the neck and through the body too, kills them good

All good advice. Theres a nice little page on Rats here... http://www.gr8fun.net/mag/rats.php

I arrived at the veg farm at 8pm, it was cloudy and very cold. This was my first outing using the Bresser digital NV spotter out in the fields. I kitted up, and made sure i loaded the magazine into the rifle this time I had a quick look around the bins for any signs of rats but it seemed deserted and i didn't linger there. Quietly, I ventured out into the first field, switched on the NV and peered through with my left eye. This felt weird, i normally use my right eye to aim, but i chose to use my left eye for the NV so that my right would remain un-dazzled. I panned across the field... nothing there. Although i was impressed that the NV could clearly see the far side of the field about 130 yards away. Into the next field, i switched on the Bresser and again entered the ghostly world of nightvision. This time i saw two bright dots directly infront of me. It was two rabbits about 90 yards away. I began stalking closer, not easy! Muddy puddles with a crust of ice made things tricky, but i kept checking and the rabbits stayed put. I got to within 60 yards, peered through the NV to see both rabbits disappear through the hedge, damn. I don't know whether it was the faint red glow from the onboard IR laser that spooked them, or the wind blowing my scent straight towards them, but they didn't hang around. I scanned the rest of the field and was surprised to find another rabbit just to my left, about 60 yards out. Again i failed to get close enough. I saw another two rabbits in the same field, but alas ended with the same result! I slowly carried on round the permission, checking every now and then with the NV, and by now i was getting quite used to using my left eye. I entered one of the top fields and immediately spotted a rabbit straight ahead, only about 50 yards away! I crept forward and stealthily unfolded the bipod, one last check with the Bresser... he's still there! i knelt down and flicked on the lamp.... and to my horror i realised i was trying to look trough my gun scope with my left eye!!!!!!! What the...?!!! The rabbit legged it, but another larger rabbit came bounding into my beam and paused for a brief second, but not long enough for me to get a bead and he too escaped. DOH! I saw a couple more rabbits down the far end of the field, the NV just about picked up the retinal reflection from close to 200 yards! I was very impressed! Eventually I ended up in the field where I first spotted some rabbits, only this time I had the wind in my favour. Sure enough there was two sets of shiny eyes gleaming in the darkness. This ended up being a mammoth stalk, every time I got closer they moved a bit further away. After a good half hour of stalking we eventually reach the far corner of the field and I was now within range! The rabbit on the left was closest, probably about 30 yards, the second was to the right, just in front of the hedge about 45 yards away. I got down prone and flicked on the lamp, only to see the rabbit on the left disappearing through the hedge! I panned right, the other rabbit was tucked in under the hedge, but still clearly visible. I crept forward a few yards, lit up the lamp again, the rabbit obviously felt safe and stayed put, but the bare hedge offered no protection. THWACK! I paced out the distance, 38 yards! I little further than I thought. First time using NV. First rabbit of the year. First time I’ve ever shot a rabbit in January!

fantastic! great shooting matey. never seen a black rabbit myself, but a few of the chaps on the VerminHunter forum have had then in the past.

great shooting chaps

i've made a few air-gun hunting vids. nothing amazing, but some of you might be interested http://www.youtube.com/user/CynicVids?feature=mhum