Gimlet Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 I was out with the .22 and the NV last night shooting a few rabbits to keep the ferrets fed. I haven't got much grassland shooting so rabbit supplies run low this time of year until the crops come off and the freezer was empty so every carcase counts. The .22 was shooting sweet as a nut, dropping them clean as a whistle and I had a good pile building up when I made cock up. There was a rabbit sitting on its own near the hedge in some rather longish grass and I managed to hit it too far back. It didn't run and it didn't squeal but it was hit either in the guts or the spine and it was floundering. I was ready to put another in it but I'd barely had time to chamber the round when a fox leapt on it and pinched it. He can only have been a few feet away though I never picked up his eye reflection in the scope. We must both have been stalking the same rabbit. What are the chances of that? I've lost rabbits to foxes when I've been sniping in cover and I've left them lying till I've finished, but never from right under my nose the instant I'd shot it. And he made it squeal and frightened the rest of them off. Bloody Reynard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) Fair play to it. They're sneaky little burgers. On a rough shoot some years ago we were looking for a downed pheasant in some reeds when one of the lads shouted. When we all looked in the direction he was pointing with a big smile on his face, we spotted a fox sauntering away, well out of shotgun range, with what we suspect was our lost bird. Another occasion the landowner and me were sitting round our flight pond awaiting Mallard. He had just finished saying we'll have to make a better effort to get on top of the foxes next season when one strolled past, again out of shotgun range. We just looked at each other and laughed. Edited July 12, 2014 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 Many years ago now we were fishing our RAF Chivenor club monthly trophy at Crow Point on the Braunton Burrows. One young junior member had a lovely bass which he put higher up the beach. Come end of play he couldn't find it and we're all looking when one guy said, forget it, look. Sure enough, two sets of fox prints, one in and one out. The poor lad was heart-broken but several of us had seen it and it was patently the winning fish so it was some consolation for not proudly taking it home for Mum to cook that we awarded him 1st prize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Braunton Burrows - wonderful place. Used to lose myself for hours there as a kid. Do you remember Moon's in Braunton? I hardly recognise the place these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les*1066 Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 I'd say that was 1 - 0 to Mr Reynard! You'll have to put your ferrets on a diet until you can get out again. Either that, or 'borrow' a roaming neighbourhood moggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 I was watching a pigeon on some clover when a fox ran out and grabbed it before me. Fair play to him to run out and get before it flew off needed some quick work. I admired the little red fella and enjoyed the spectacle ...... There is always another day to shoot pigeons... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Braunton Burrows - wonderful place. Used to lose myself for hours there as a kid. Do you remember Moon's in Braunton? I hardly recognise the place these days. No, but Moon is a Braunton 'name'. Vivian? Used to begrudge the damned toll even though it was just ds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted July 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 You won't believe this but the b******* has just done it again! I'm off for a look round the rape stubbles later on my main ground and I thought I'd have a quick check over the field behind the house first. It wasn't even dark. Didn't need the IR I could see a few rabbits with the naked eye. I shot one, scanned across and found another. Shot that as well and was just looking round to see if I could pick up a third when I detected some movement. Panned back and that bloody fox had appeared again and pinched the second rabbit, the ***! He stood for a second with it in his mouth and I nearly put a bullet in his napper but I thought 80 yards was a bit far with .22 subs. I'll bait it tomorrow night and wait for him. He's going to have to go, this isn't funny any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckman91 Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 I hope you get the Bas**rd get some pics up of him when you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted July 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 Will do. He looks like a youngster. He's very close to the village, if we have a hard winter he could be trouble. He'll have to have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezi bez Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Needs mekin into a neck scarf f your lass lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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