It was my wife's birthday this week, so we had an open house last night. I knew I was out at 5.30 to get to the site by 6.30 after picking up a friend but I still fell into bed at midnight. Needless to say I was sore headed with a mouth like a baboons backside.
I got into the high seat just before dawn with orders to 'Get that bloody big fox' for Lord and Lady... who own the estate, there were five guns along his regular route as he's taking plenty pheasants.
After about 45 minutes of enjoying the view and sipping coffee I heard my name from behind the hedge, the owner was telling me they had seen him move and they wanted me in a high seat at the far end of the shoot, as I looked back I saw something move on the far side of the field. A quick look proved it to be a fox, so a whisper and the owner moved back... I followed with the sight and watched the most beautiful fox I have ever seen hunting mice, it moved across the field and came to 150 yards, all watched from beneath through bins, my heart was in my mouth, first shot with a new rifle bar the range and a lot weighing on it.
The it all went wrong, I heard a click - so did the fox. Idiotically I had leaned in to brace and pushed the magazine release catch, kerthunk, it hit the wooded platform. The fox trotted across the field. I followed in the vain hope with one shot up the pipe, feeling like an utter ar5e.
The fox stopped and I took in the pressure, then it ran on, stopped a yard from the hedge, 150 yards away and turned to look. I squeezed. As the rifle went into recoil I saw it drop like a house of cards and a huge 'Whooppeeee' from below the tree.
We walked over to see the Vixen, entry below right ear, exit above left. She was beautiful and I felt a bit bad but the owner was thrilled. She pulled it back to the Landrover and I took a pic, it was different now she was wet and the life had gone, but she was in great condition on a diet of mice and pheasant so it was a good job done...
Then I was moved with instructions to take foxes until breakfast at nine then we'd have deer later. Being a good boy I watched 4 Muntjac and a Roe walk past but no fox.
I watched a beautiful dawn and saw a buzzard glide down the ride before perching 30 yards away, keeping an eye on the same spot.
As I'm on my hols I'm going back on Monday, to get the dog of that Vixen, and as many muntjac as I lay eyes on.
Happy days!
Edit - Sorry for those interested. Tikka T3 in .243 and Schmidt and Bender 6 X 42
I got into the high seat just before dawn with orders to 'Get that bloody big fox' for Lord and Lady... who own the estate, there were five guns along his regular route as he's taking plenty pheasants.
After about 45 minutes of enjoying the view and sipping coffee I heard my name from behind the hedge, the owner was telling me they had seen him move and they wanted me in a high seat at the far end of the shoot, as I looked back I saw something move on the far side of the field. A quick look proved it to be a fox, so a whisper and the owner moved back... I followed with the sight and watched the most beautiful fox I have ever seen hunting mice, it moved across the field and came to 150 yards, all watched from beneath through bins, my heart was in my mouth, first shot with a new rifle bar the range and a lot weighing on it.
The it all went wrong, I heard a click - so did the fox. Idiotically I had leaned in to brace and pushed the magazine release catch, kerthunk, it hit the wooded platform. The fox trotted across the field. I followed in the vain hope with one shot up the pipe, feeling like an utter ar5e.
The fox stopped and I took in the pressure, then it ran on, stopped a yard from the hedge, 150 yards away and turned to look. I squeezed. As the rifle went into recoil I saw it drop like a house of cards and a huge 'Whooppeeee' from below the tree.
We walked over to see the Vixen, entry below right ear, exit above left. She was beautiful and I felt a bit bad but the owner was thrilled. She pulled it back to the Landrover and I took a pic, it was different now she was wet and the life had gone, but she was in great condition on a diet of mice and pheasant so it was a good job done...
Then I was moved with instructions to take foxes until breakfast at nine then we'd have deer later. Being a good boy I watched 4 Muntjac and a Roe walk past but no fox.
I watched a beautiful dawn and saw a buzzard glide down the ride before perching 30 yards away, keeping an eye on the same spot.
As I'm on my hols I'm going back on Monday, to get the dog of that Vixen, and as many muntjac as I lay eyes on.
Happy days!
Edit - Sorry for those interested. Tikka T3 in .243 and Schmidt and Bender 6 X 42
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felt sorry for you having to shoot under pressure 
