This evening's adventures

[Toombsy]

Just had a brilliant couple of hours out with the rifle, rabbiting.

 

I've been trying to keep 'em off a rape field, which they have absolutely ripped apart. So far they've nibbled 90 yards of it, and there's nothing left bu the odd 18inch stalk.

 

So, I set myself up at 75 yards, laying in the stubble head to toe in camo and tucked myself behind three short stalks of rape.

 

It's a waiting game there... not so much for the rabbits, but waiting until all the dog walkers have done their bit as the footpath runs right over the warren.

 

So there I was, laid up, keeping nice and still and a couple of rabbits pop out, chase each other and then head straight into the field. I had a good clean shot waiting, but a couple with 2 great danes turn up and the rabbits scarper.

 

They were throwing a ball for the dogs and the woman decides to chuck it right into the field. It lands about 15 foot from me. By that time the couple were in the field, about 40 yards away.

 

Worried about what the two dogs would do when they saw/smelt me, I sat up. Scared the **** out of the couple! The look on their faces was just a picture.

 

After they apologised and left, I got down low again and waited. 10 minutes later there's a rustle to me left and then a brown flash as a hare ran straight in front of me. It stopped for a minute or so less than 12ft directly in front of me, and nibbled on a stalk of rape, then wondered off. Was a great sight that close up.

 

Added another rabbit to my tally 20 minutes later, and missed another.

 

Ain't it just great what you see when you're tucked away nice and quiet in the countryside?