Tintin
AH fanatic
A bit of a tounge in cheek 'report' of this mornings 'hunt'.
A crisp autumn morning here today, bit of a stiff southerly. The very cozy fire had the lazy, excuse filled part of the brain suggesting a morning indoors reading or the like.
Thankfully the primal hunting instinct prevailed and I was on my way, with the Highland Stalker (one culls a much better class of pest when one is using a Rigby
), sticks and fox whistle.
Gave spot one a good workout with the whistle, got laughed at by some Kookaburras, garnered some interest from a Wedgetail eagle circling overhead and unsettled a wallaby trying to have a quiet feed nearby, but no redcoats.
Tried a few other spots over the next couple of hours with no joy and had made to decision to head home when I encountered a curious kangaroo, staring intently at me from about 10m away, likely trying to work out what I was. While we were locked in our stare out, a fox broke from cover about 5m metres away, quickly disappearing into more cover. Just a blur, way too quick for me to get a shot off. Maybe the price I paid for momentary distraction.
Continuing on my return, I spot something moving that looked white, odd, given no sheep on the property. Maybe an escapee lamb from a neighbours place? On checking with the binos, it was a fox, the lightest I’ve ever seen, light tan head, with an almost white body.
Sticks up, go to grab to range finder … to no avail … I’d neglected to bring it - another.
I estimate range at about 200m and have a crack, clean miss, no splash seen. But probably low I think.
Fox runs briefly, but then relaxes again and offers another shot, I hold a bit higher - another clean miss and then some thick cover envelops it before I get another shot.
Turns out one misses a much better class of pest when one is using a Rigby.
With the walk of shame underway, I spot fox number 3 for the day, a bit closer, this time, he’s very relaxed, nonchalantly sniffing around for breakfast or morning tea, but moving toward cover.
Sticks up, bang, thwack.
Finally!
They say everyone loves a good redemption story.
The state government here has a $10 per head fox bounty, so I've probably even just about covered my consumable costs for the morning.
By way of a deferential nod to the gin and watch threads ...
Post stalk drink was South African John Ross Virgin Distilled Botanical with fresh mint from the garden and a stale lime from the supermarket
Watch was Citizen Promaster Altichron (important to be able to identify North and determine altitude when culling pests)
AAR points:
Bring rangefinder
Maintain focus
A crisp autumn morning here today, bit of a stiff southerly. The very cozy fire had the lazy, excuse filled part of the brain suggesting a morning indoors reading or the like.
Thankfully the primal hunting instinct prevailed and I was on my way, with the Highland Stalker (one culls a much better class of pest when one is using a Rigby
), sticks and fox whistle.Gave spot one a good workout with the whistle, got laughed at by some Kookaburras, garnered some interest from a Wedgetail eagle circling overhead and unsettled a wallaby trying to have a quiet feed nearby, but no redcoats.
Tried a few other spots over the next couple of hours with no joy and had made to decision to head home when I encountered a curious kangaroo, staring intently at me from about 10m away, likely trying to work out what I was. While we were locked in our stare out, a fox broke from cover about 5m metres away, quickly disappearing into more cover. Just a blur, way too quick for me to get a shot off. Maybe the price I paid for momentary distraction.
Continuing on my return, I spot something moving that looked white, odd, given no sheep on the property. Maybe an escapee lamb from a neighbours place? On checking with the binos, it was a fox, the lightest I’ve ever seen, light tan head, with an almost white body.
Sticks up, go to grab to range finder … to no avail … I’d neglected to bring it - another
.I estimate range at about 200m and have a crack, clean miss, no splash seen. But probably low I think.
Fox runs briefly, but then relaxes again and offers another shot, I hold a bit higher - another clean miss and then some thick cover envelops it before I get another shot.
Turns out one misses a much better class of pest when one is using a Rigby.
With the walk of shame underway, I spot fox number 3 for the day, a bit closer, this time, he’s very relaxed, nonchalantly sniffing around for breakfast or morning tea, but moving toward cover.
Sticks up, bang, thwack.
Finally!
They say everyone loves a good redemption story.
The state government here has a $10 per head fox bounty, so I've probably even just about covered my consumable costs for the morning
.By way of a deferential nod to the gin and watch threads
...Post stalk drink was South African John Ross Virgin Distilled Botanical with fresh mint from the garden and a stale lime from the supermarket
Watch was Citizen Promaster Altichron (important to be able to identify North and determine altitude when culling pests)
AAR points:
Bring rangefinder
Maintain focus
