cynic Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Nice one,you will find that judging distances can be quite hard using night vision,and the unit you are using is a x5 magnification,so this will also confuse you for estimating range. You should consider an add on nv to fit onto your day scope,then you won't have to use the lamp at all,and you won't get the problems of being "blind" in one eye as it is a green and black image you see,not a greyscale,flickering digital image that is on the bressener. But be warned,basic nv is fairly cheap,but if you get hooked 3rd gen can cost up to £3000,you need deep pockets. Again well done for your first nv rabbit. Just to give you an idea of what you could end up doing,here is a link to my shooting partner dave's post with us shooting foxes with nv,his scope is brilliant(expensive) and the nv unit is 3rd gen,but it turns the night into day,and if i am using gen 1 as a spotter,i miss loads,that he picks up. http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/87191-pembrokeshire-foxing-an-update/page__p__745289__hl__%2Bpembrokeshire+%2Bfoxing__fromsearch__1#entry745289 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
left & right Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Well done for that. I've just bought an old sony camcorder with night shot and a ir filter for an old spot light (overall cost of £15.50!) as I'm loosing the will to live with all the lamp-shy rabbits on my permissions. I selotaped the camera onto the scope, in a very Heath Robinson way, to test it on the rats in the garden and it works a treat, just need to make a decnt day scope adapter and I'll try with bunnies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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