hunting story.

have2flushtwice

I met up with a guy over the christmas, I know him a good while, sound chap. Anyhow over a few minerals we got talkiing about hunting etc, and we agreed he would to come up to my place for a walkabout some night soon enough. I dont hold a firearm, my dad has one, for the crows.
So on a very wet friday in early january, the weather looked like it was clearing for the evening, and I made the call. 3 hours later, the van arrives and three of us headed off up the fields into the breeze. it was a wet night, damp but not raining, and a light breeze. After an hour of walking, no sign of any tourists and I was worried that I had brought them the distance for nothing. We passed a few places where I have seen activity on the past 2-3 months, and nothing stiring. from the top of a hill we saw a pair of eyes through a gate - 500 yards a way. The scope confirmed it was a sheep and we continuied onwards. We crossed a wall, up over the brow of a hill, and scanned a big field where I would have expected to see some activity, but nothing. We then crossed the road and tried another few fields, again nothing. In the distance we heard a fox barking, estimated 2 miles away. thee lads wanted to go closer, but I know the area very well,it was a long way to go looking for a bark, and the terrain was getting rougher, with roads, ditches aand a few houses to avoid, we decided against it and kept on trucking. on the next scan, we saw a pair of eyes in the distance among a field of sheep. too far away for a shot, the scope was put on it, yes, charlie number spotted one but too far away, too close to the sheeps, and a house in the far distance. we moved around to the right, and scanned - nothing. we went further down the field, getting closer to the boggy ground, and scanned again, no joy.
back up the field, found a bad gap in the ditch, scanned the sleepers and caught a pair of eyes running up the road. back through the gap and scanned the field we just came from. Right where we were standing when we spotted Charlie 1, was a pair of eyes, but the pair which ran up the road. No way could he have made that distance. He went from left to right, tried to call him in, came a bit but retreated. He was sniffing our scent on the ground and was following our line towards the bog. lamp off, rifle down, small legs out, and lamp on again. wait. wait. wait forever. he sat still. bang. right to left, then hard left and we lost him in the lamp. 200+ yards and no sign of him. scanned up and down - nothing. we figured he went through the ditch and was at the far side. ten minutes trying to get a gap and I spotted a very small hole, small enough i had to go through on the belly. scanned the far side and not a sigh, the lads came on after, and it had to be a missed shot. damn. back towards the bog in the new field. spotted another among the sheep. waited for him to come to us, and was slow. we thought better lt let him come than making noise going throught that ditch again. further towards the bog, over a low ditch were two pairs of eyes, one bolted, the other - dont know where he went, but we followed the sprinter along the top of the ditch and as best we could see he was going windward of us. Back towards the bog ditch, the first had reappeared. We had to move up a but to get some backdrop for the shot. We werent the only ones with that plan. He retreated to the ditch the far side of the field, and we felt obliged to follow suit. Charlie sank low in the ditch but wouldnt advance to us despite our best efforts. Sticks out, less than 100 yards, He thought we couldnt see him but the rifle made it quite clear to him that he was very wrong.
Ambled back homewards, didnt see much more after that. We went a different route back. although we saw 4 ( I think), and got one, it wasnt a bad night for it but extremely wet. ground is good for foxing - lots of open fields and close to boglands in parts. So if the night is right I reckon they will emerge.

In the next two weeks or so we are going to another spot, closer to bog, good land edging to the bog and forest. foxes can be heard a lot down there so sticks crossed. In deep it seems like a ripe spot for deer but there doesn't be many around there for some reason. There are some within 5 miles either side, but never saw any in this middle area. I suppose time will tell.