Gimlet Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 They've started cutting the wheat at last and opened up some space in front of a high seat which overlooks a rabbity corner, so I took myself up there with the HMR tonight just after sundown hoping for a bit of action. I'd been there a while and it was very quiet. I was debating climbing down and trying somewhere else when I heard a clicking noise close by. To my left, just below the level of my feet and about 10 feet away a grey squirrel was sitting up on his haunches in a hawthorn bush eating haws and discarding the stones. Its a two-man seat and the rifle was next to me leaning on the rail. I was wearing a cammo jacket, cammo gloves and a loose-leaf face veil but I didn't think I stood much chance of bringing the rifle round undetected, but very slowly I reached out for it. The squirrel leapt from the thorn bush into an ash tree. But instead of disappearing into the canopy he ran along a branch straight towards me at eye level. I thought he's bound to see me shortly or smell me and then he'll get a shock, but he kept coming and leapt into my high seat tree right above my head. He seemed to have no idea I was there. I could hear him rummaging in the ivy very close to my head dropping leaves and twiggy bits into my lap. I turned very slowly to look and there he was sitting on an ivy stem, little black eye staring straight into mine barely a foot from my face. I could have blown in his ear. He cleaned his whiskers, scratched the back of his head with his foot and went back to his activities collecting sprigs of ivy leaves. I guess he was making the bed. Either he couldn't see or smell me or my presence 12 ft off the ground made me unrecognisable as a human. I stayed there a quarter of an hour and the squirrel continued his work just above my head in full view. He must have got things arranged to his satisfaction and retired for the night because he disappeared into the ivy and everything went quiet. I climbed down without disturbing him. I normally wouldn't give a grey any quarter at all, but I was glad I couldn't get a shot at this one because I wouldn't have missed that for the world. They're great things, high seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 I'd have sat that out too. Sounds like a great experience and you can always give him a barrel another day if needs must. We don't have to kill everything just because it's on the pest list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 good read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggins. Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 Gives you that feeling of being at one with nature. I had a barn owl come and sit on a branch about 6 feet away me a couple of years ago while i was in a high seat. You never forget those moments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roundy Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Last couple of nights out sitting up on bunnies I've had them above me in the trees - they don't half make a racket going about their business! Had the same experience of you in the high seat too, he was so unaware he jumped on the plank below me and cleaned himself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Best one I ever had was the below, scared the bejesus out of me! And was totally unaware of me, I even climbed down and stood and watched him not 6ft away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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