NickB65 Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Well it was not an early as I had hoped but I was set-up and ready by 8am last Saturday. The pigeons are not that keen on our stumpy Rape but I was on a good flight line and some had been on the rape the week before - more to sit and relax than actually feed. I was set-up with the sun and the wind to my back and against a hawthorn hedge. The magnet was out to the left about 20 meters and the decoys around this in a coma shape with the dead ground in front of me. The hedge ran to my left and then stopped to reveal an open field while to the right it ran to a corner then away from me. The field sloped slightly away and from where I sat I had high roosting trees 100m or so behind me and away to me front and left more roosting trees some 300 meters away. It was a glorious morning with the sun shinning and a gentle breeze from behind but slightly to the left. I always take the binos with me so I can watch the flight lines and see who is going where and also to watch the hedge row to see where the Roe, Munkjack and rabbits like to play. On this morning I had half a dozen Hares gallomping around the field like lunes and one buck made the mistake of sitting right in front of me about 60 meters - I always have both guns with me so the CZ .22lr came out and he dropped on the spot with a Winchester Sub HP to the head. I aimed slightly to the left to compensate for the wind and was pleased with the shot as it was taken standing. The first pigeons came from nowhere and I bagged one for one with a lovely right to left and was pleased as the year has not been great so far. The second was a loner that came from the front right drawn by the magnet but then spooked away but the gas gun that I had forgotten to turn off went off and spooked it back straight to me offering a high overhead shot and it was 2 for 2. The next hour I had pigeons coming in drawn by the magnet but then spooking out at 50 meters and no chance of a decent shot. Moved the decoys, lowered the magnet, covered the battery but another hour and still not joy. I then put the magnet in the hedge and used the two decoys on bouncing poles and what a difference. The decoys on the bouncers flapped their paper wings like devas in the gentle wind and the birds came in. After the next 30 minutes it was five for five..... and then I started to aim and think and miss! Ten perfect shots later and I had gone from happy chappy to seething loon as I missed every shot. Stop - think - no stop thinking.... just do it..... The next bird was a low flying one from the left crossing and then swooped up and over and dropped at my feet.... less thinking equals more success. You see I have this habit of wanting to see the shot hit the bird so the pigeons ends up sitting high on the end of the barrel so I tend to be under a lot and I don't always follow through - noob errors compounded by too much rifle shooting where I can see the round strike the target. Two cups of Navy tea later and I was back on form and I ended up 9 in total and one hare - would have been more but I had to pack up at 12:30 as I had a wedding meeting in the afternoon. Now all morning in between pigeon flights the Hares had been running around and it was only when I decided to call it a day that one stopped just 50 meters away.... perfect. I picked up the CZ and squeezed off a .22LR for it to land to the hares right. It just sat there a little bemused - quick working of the bolt and another landed slightly to the right but this time the Hare was not having it and came jogging toward me and stopped. Now only 30 meters away I squeezed another and again to the right and this time Mr Hare ran at full pelt right to this hug bush which was my hide...... I am not sure who was more shocked me having him collide with my hide or him finding me in his bush. He got away to live another day. After the wedding meeting which was so much fun - although do not tell the fiancée that - I was back at the farm to check the zero of the rifle and as I had experienced it was slightly out. Re-zero and a little walk along the hedge and I was presented with a young rabbit around 40 meters crouched in the long grass. I crouched down, put the cross hairs on his jaw line as my zero was 60 meters and squeezed. He dropped without a movement - had I missed... nah I had heard the dull thud as the 40g lead bullet struck it and when I picked him up it was a clean hit exactly where I had wanted...... A good day with some fun and a few challenges. I will try the magnet once more but so far I am not a fan. I will also take the camera and see if we get some film of the Hares as they are a delight running around like lunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 The hares are running around like loons as you put it as it is the breeding season it's hardly sporting to rifle shoot them at the best of times let alone when they are breeding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca72 Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Shame you feel the need to shoot hares during the breeding season:-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickB65 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 The hares are running around like loons as you put it as it is the breeding season it's hardly sporting to rifle shoot them at the best of times let alone when they are breeding I am fully aware why they are running around like this and we shoot them as we have large numbers of hares at present and their numbers need controlling. The rifle is the best tool for the job as it is quick and more efficient. You are right in that this is not sporting - it's pest control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Then its quite simple to control them outside of the breeding season . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Comprehensive write up.. well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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