Thread: What little pesties did you bowl over today?

Had a job for some long(ish) range quiet sniping of some pesky pooks last night, these 8 were all taken from 90-120m with a paddock full of pedigree race horses next door that I had to be very careful not to spook. Yes I have a permit for them.

Originally Posted by Trout

Love a toy like that down here,could tip over 50 rabbits on the 1st 100yds from my house.

Would be the perfect tool for the job! 28 shots per Mag, so in your case 2 mags!!

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

It's just another day in the office Bradley!
It's got to be bedtime now!!!???

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

Attachment 244850

It's just another day in the office Bradley!
It's got to be bedtime now!!!???

@Hugh Shields
Nice one Hugh. Some very good shooting by the looks ....
How long did you spend out to collect that bag ?

Got permission to visit a small block I hadn't walked for many weeks. Usually a good bet for both Hares and Rabbits and I expect to get one or two.
The block used to have Turkeys although these days seems mainly it has a growing population of Peacocks. Never shot any before but discussed a little culling with the owner as their numbers need thinning I think and got the green light to deal to a few.
I haven't shot my little Sako M591 in .243W for a while and decided to take that today. It shoots like a laser with Hornady ELD-X 90gn bullets.
Arrived nice and early in the per dawn light and set out on the usual circuit with great expectation. I was sorely disappointed. Only one young Hare seen in a small gully, spied as he loped slowly along towards me. I was careless, thinking he would be too stupid to be too concerned when he saw me, but he was a smart one. He moved every time I changed position and eventually got away without any opportunity for a steady shot.
Carried on, glassing all the good spots and found absolutely nothing. But on the very last and back paddock I got the jump on a small group of Peacocks working through a clump of Gorse bushes. I quickly got prone and smacked one at 120 yds. About half a dozen took fright and hustled away but one stopped to look back at 150 yds and I caught him nicely with my second shot. Got photos and carried on. I had seen a Turkey from way back and homed in on the location hoping to see it again but it had vacated the area. Then looking downhill I saw something slightly out of place I thought might be a Peacock. Glassed for several minutes and was just starting to believe it was a flat rock when the head popped up. Yep, Peacock, 98 yds. Already had the rifle lined up and shot three did the deed.
Well, farmer will be happy about fewer Peacocks. A pity about no shots at Hares and Rabbits, which I know are there, and which I will have to find next time.

Originally Posted by 30.06king

@Hugh Shields
Nice one Hugh. Some very good shooting by the looks ....
How long did you spend out to collect that bag ?

That lot was a out an hour. Basically I got back to THE WOOLSHED I'm staying in and thought, "I'll just do a quick lap around the hay paddock and there you go. Most of the shots were 40 - 80 metre with Ruger 10/22 with GUIDE 450 thermal scope.

Hey @30.06king that was a good yarn. Have you ever tried eating peacock? Has anyone?
There is property down here which breeds the things, I'm talking twenty birds sitting on the fence or shed roof. Not feral though.....

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

Hey @30.06king that was a good yarn. Have you ever tried eating peacock? Has anyone?
There is property down here which breeds the things, I'm talking twenty birds sitting on the fence or shed roof. Not feral though.....

@Hugh Shields
No, never tried it in a meal. Wouldn't trust myself to attempt cooking it. If some half decent cook served it up though, yes, would definitely sample it.
There was some discussion on some thread a while back about the culinary merits of Peacock. IIRC young Peacock was allright ....

Fx wildcat PCP dial right back, night vision scope, shooting max of 15ft, 40s of action, in a horse shed, at dusk. Will put a red dot on for next time, as snap shooting they don't hang around for long.

Another morning outing with the little Sako M591, .243W. Good early start again and little breeze. Felt like it would warm up quickly, and it did. Not much time so homed straight in on a small hill with old Rabbit warrens. From quite far off saw 2 Rabbits so angled that way while staying unseen. Got there and obviously the Rabbits had moved. Glassed around for 10 mins or so, couldn't find them. On my feet again, sneaked ever so carefully around the curve of the hill. Was standing, just looking when these three sprang from literally under my feet. I had almost walked on them. Downhill they darted but one stopped only 25 yards below with only ears visible above the grass. Over my knees I held steady and got the shot away. Rabbit 1 down. I didn't realise the other two had gone all the way down, crossed a shallow gully and were on the opposite bank, close to Rabbit holes. I saw a flicker of movement which was a Rabbit hard behind a grass clump. I shot through the clump and got him. Just to the right the third and youngest Rabbit sat up. Still over my knees I got the shot off just as he darted left, and missed. Instead of hastening his departure it abruptly brought him to a standstill. My next shot didn't miss.
So, three for four shots taken over my knees from 25 to 58 yards. Happy with that.
Had a wee job to do in another paddock and kept the Sako propped on the bipod, sitting on the ground, one round in the magazine. Just in case a silly Magpie landed within range. Had stated packing up when exactly that happened. Only 101 yds away. The rifle was too low so rested over my little stool for a very steady shot. Drilled it dead centre.
Some great trigger time in our Kiwi countryside. Hard to beat it.

@flock Jamie Oliver and Rick Stien cook pigeons, it's a UK (and maybe American too?).thing, so I thought I would try them.
Just breasted and legged them. Slow cook casserole. Very delicious!
I wouldn't eat the filthy city scavengers, but country ones are good eating!

Originally Posted by 30.06king

@Hugh Shields
No, never tried it in a meal. Wouldn't trust myself to attempt cooking it. If some half decent cook served it up though, yes, would definitely sample it.
There was some discussion on some thread a while back about the culinary merits of Peacock. IIRC young Peacock was allright ....

pea hens are excellent eating --old big male peacocks avoid - breast pea hen marinate in ginger and garlic for a few hours -thin slice and egg and breadcrumb - very good eating

Quick little mission to grab some cat food for a mate. Tricky going in the long grass, was too long to use the bipod and hard to spot if moving.

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

@flock Jamie Oliver and Rick Stien cook pigeons, it's a UK (and maybe American too?).thing, so I thought I would try them.
Just breasted and legged them. Slow cook casserole. Very delicious!
I wouldn't eat the filthy city scavengers, but country ones are good eating!

Cats into it, just take the breasts, so not wasted. In ChCh hundreds of the buggers fly past, they feed on the plains & roost in the city in still damaged buildings from the quake. Need sorting but all the authorities are too PC

Good on ya mate