One of those days!

[Oly]

OK, so I headed out this morning for an early start fishing on a river that I haven’t fished before. After 4 hours on what looked a cracking river, nothing, not even a bite! So I head home, had a quick brew with a passing mate , then was off out with the guns. :yp: Get to the first permission where I wanted a mooch about with the semi. Wandered for about 3 hours, saw some rabbits, but the horses behind denied the shot ...then a pigeon, but that was miles off...animal life wise it was absolutely silent! Heading back though I did come across another rabbit, but before I could get within a decent range it was off, so I had a quick forced shot, but to no avail. So then I headed off to another permission and took the rifle out for a wander in search of Mr Renyard. After about an hour I spotted one fox running in the ditch not more than 30 yards away, it was too fast and too close for a shot - typical...when the semi was still in the car!! So I lie up and wait squeeking away from time to time as the sun sets. But it's still very quiet. A couple a rabbits come out and I consider taking one out as bait, but think better of it as it may spook whatever else is around. Then just as it's getting dark I decide to shoot one of the rabbits for bait and then return with the lamp (in the car 20 mins away), so I look for the rabbits...and they've gone! So, I head back for the lamp anyway, thinking that with all the luck I've had all day that there would bound to be a fox out when I return! So I return with the lamp, set up at the top of the first field, switch on the lamp and there, slap bang in the middle of the light is a decent sized dog fox...but he's very wary (as quite a few are on this permission) and he’s legging it quick style. So the lamp goes off, I hastily set up on top of a gate post whilst squeeking away. By this time I have been out in the cold all day, the lands' still frozen solid, the sun set over an hour ago and the frost is back on the ground. But, lamp goes back on and he's still legging it. I pick him up on the run in the crosshairs but I never take moving shots with the rifle, so I bark him briefly which stops him dead. I settle, put the crosshairs on him and start squeezing the trigger...but nothing happens! :o I squeeze some more and the round goes off, BANG, but it's too late, in the time I had hesitated (remembering my numb fingers!! Doh!!) he had set off again! Thankfully it was a clean miss and I go to check, 175yrds, but it was a clean miss - thankfully!

 

So, all in all some may say an unproductive day! However, it was great being out on such a glorious day...and even though I had wasted some bait, some fuel, two shots in two different guns, had to clean two different guns , and had nothing to show for my efforts I still came home happy, as I had been out all day with nobody on my back enjoying what I like most.

[Shootingman]

Not a productive day Olly, but as you say, a very pleasant day . What I always say is that if we shoot something every time we went out, it wouldn't be so exciting & we would soon get bored with it. Days like to-day keeps us on our toes, & look forward to the next trip.

[bunnybasher07]

ahh well unlucky mate he will live to die another day

 

GM

[Oly]

Your absolutely right shootingman, it's more than just shooting/fishing, it's about getting away and enjoying being out. Plus if there isn't much about, then maybe it's the land telling me to ease off slightly...but it was inordinatly quiet...best keep an eye on it me thinks. However, like GM says (I know there are normally a lot of foxes around that land), that particular fox will live to die another day, cheers mate!