Last week was a bit of a chaotic week. On Tuesday afternoon my 2 yr old son fell over and broke his right leg just below the knee so I found myself staying overnight in the hospital with him while they kept him under observation because of the pain meds and swelling.
Its understandable then that I was not in the most focused mood when we arrived at the historic house at 9:15pm last Wednesday night. I almost called it off but my wife encouraged me to go so my hunting mate Drew and I headed out. As it was the magazine for my Anschutz 1400 22lr was strangely absent and could not be found anywhere so I was single loading....a real sod of a thing to do. There were plenty of bunnies about and I took 1 just through the gate when we arrived. But from there my aim wasn't wonderful.
I missed a lot and those I hit at longer distance didn't die straight out, instead kicking themselves back into their holes or out of sight. We worked our way around to the large open paddock by the river and there were 2 foxes down there. Drew called one in simply by whistling using is lips and it came probably within 30yds but a pile of logs were in my way and I couldn't see clearly enough to take the shot. Unfortunately the fox sensed something and buggered off that point but at least I hadn't "educated" it by firing and missing it. Next time we'll take proper fox whistles and see if we can't call them in that way.
Drew took over shooting duties for a little while and took one bunny but in the end I shot - and missed - most. The tally for the evening 11 rabbits with 6 retrieved. Shot of the night was a 60yd head shot over open ground that punched out both eyes (
shown below on the far right).
Now I just need to find that rotten magazine!
Things had settled down more at home on Friday night when Drew and I were booked to head out to the vineyard where my wife worked to eradicate the long eared bandits there. After a couple of deer hunts he's taken me on I really owed Drew a crack at the properties to which I have access. When I'd rang the owner on Wednesday arvo to line it up he was overjoyed to hear from me, and he isn't a man who is insincere or exagerates enthusiasm. I was given an unconditional invite as the rabbits have been back digging under the vines to chew at the roots and he was clearly pleased at the thought of them being lessened in numbers.
Drew rolled up to my place around 8pm and after making sure my lads were all in bed and I had my gear together we headed out, dropping into his place to grab a few extra things. We arrived at the property around 9:30pm and apart from a fox which was departing over the hill nothing was seen outside the vineyard itself. However once we drove in and spotted along the rows little familiar shapes could be seen moving about.
Drew pulled out his '50s BRNO Hornet but his first couple of shots went wide. This frustrated him no end as the Hornet had hammered bunnies out west in Nyngan a few months back during a pig hunt there. But shot number 4 found its mark and from there he was on target. Before we knew it 5 rabbits were down. Here's Drew with his BRNO Hornet and taken game.
I then pulled out the 25-20 Martini with the intention of only taking one. It had shot 1.2" 5-shot groups @100m 2 weeks before so it should really be in form. Like Drew my first 2 shots went wide. The first miss was due to being deceptively further than I thought and this is a common mistake in the dark. I suspect the 2nd one particularly had to do with me jerking the hair trigger on Martini. But from there I settled in and took 1 rabbit at 40yds.
The next 2 bunnies flowed fast and I took the 2nd at 60m. So I was pleased with its performance.
For those wondering about my stylish headwear, my mother bought it for me when my parents visited China last year as she knows I like a funny hat. I thought the best way to salute this thoughtful gift was to wear it hunting and send a pic to mother of me wearing it with a gun in my hand and some dead critters at my feet. Cause my mother "loves" my hunting.
Anyhow, we then swapped back again but no more bunnies appeared, all being scared back to their burrows so we called it a night. That was 8 bunnies all up....not a massive tally but a bit of fun on a Friday night. Both Drew and I are looking forward to October when they'll really be out in numbers and we can get medieval on their little behinds.
So, 19 bunnies in a week. Not too bad for late August before rabbit numbers usually really build and also great as all taken were healthy and big.
