I have heard of some real crackers over the years on bad nights out shooting specially from people that have just taken on some new land and coming across problems while exploring, making mistakes is part of the fun of things.
Last night I went for my first fox tour round a new farm that I have taken over the pest control on, everything was good all planned out, thought brilliant do my radio show finished that at 11pm and then to head to the farms location, even called police to tell them to expect me shooting between 0030 and 0300.
best Laid plans and all that. But I knew it was gonna be a bad night for lamping, it was very bright but still worth the explore.
night started well enough, radio show finished but some threatening emails meant I had to stay an extra 45 minutes at the studio ( no worries ), arrived in the village near the farm I shooting on and picked up my lamping companion for the night and started out patrol.
Had it all planned, first field there was Hares so I took one using the .22 nice clean easy 30 metre shot (needed some Bait)
Patrol was going well but no sign of life from any Foxes around the main farm holding so decided to drive out onto the hill and sit and play some recordings, it was a lovely very mild night but still bright even though there was no moon, sat on the hill ground for around an hour no sign of any life other than sheep. That was it around 0215 we said to each other that we would do another round of the holdings then call it a night, heading off the hill on to one of the main big fields my companion saw a set of eyes at the very top of this field,
I waited and squeaked, couldn't get it to come closer so thought in my wisdom to try get a better vantage point so I drove to the top edge of the field to get a better view, this is when it all went pear shaped, stopped settled turned lights off made no sound whatsover and played the recording, sure enough eyes showed again but miles out of range, tried and tried to get it to come closer but it just seemed to get further away then gone completely out of sight. We waited for another twenty minutes but still nothing so we thought thats it lets call it a night, started the engine put it in gear (bearing in mind fwd was already selected) tried to move off, NOTHING couldn't move, we had sank into the field all four wheel were half way deep, no grip nothing, tried every off roading trick I knew nope never worked after an hour of pushing, digging, branches under wheels , we decided to walk the mile and half back to the farm to get the tractor.
Only Bonus on the way I took another hare and a few rabbits.
What a night !!!
Got home at 5 this morning absolutely exhausted, Gun in cabinet safe, gear off hanging in my gun room, rain was on at this point so had to walk from out building to the house in just my boxer shorts. I live 40 miles from where I shoot, quick clean and went to bed as I was absolutely covered head to toe in mud.
Woke this morning to a very very very muddy L200 inside and out, had to do school run and take very pregnant wife to hospital in it, and on way home lost the back box, Adventures are brilliant MRS IS ****ED OFF, lol
What was your worst nights or days out on a shoot???
Last night I went for my first fox tour round a new farm that I have taken over the pest control on, everything was good all planned out, thought brilliant do my radio show finished that at 11pm and then to head to the farms location, even called police to tell them to expect me shooting between 0030 and 0300.
best Laid plans and all that. But I knew it was gonna be a bad night for lamping, it was very bright but still worth the explore.
night started well enough, radio show finished but some threatening emails meant I had to stay an extra 45 minutes at the studio ( no worries ), arrived in the village near the farm I shooting on and picked up my lamping companion for the night and started out patrol.
Had it all planned, first field there was Hares so I took one using the .22 nice clean easy 30 metre shot (needed some Bait)
Patrol was going well but no sign of life from any Foxes around the main farm holding so decided to drive out onto the hill and sit and play some recordings, it was a lovely very mild night but still bright even though there was no moon, sat on the hill ground for around an hour no sign of any life other than sheep. That was it around 0215 we said to each other that we would do another round of the holdings then call it a night, heading off the hill on to one of the main big fields my companion saw a set of eyes at the very top of this field,
I waited and squeaked, couldn't get it to come closer so thought in my wisdom to try get a better vantage point so I drove to the top edge of the field to get a better view, this is when it all went pear shaped, stopped settled turned lights off made no sound whatsover and played the recording, sure enough eyes showed again but miles out of range, tried and tried to get it to come closer but it just seemed to get further away then gone completely out of sight. We waited for another twenty minutes but still nothing so we thought thats it lets call it a night, started the engine put it in gear (bearing in mind fwd was already selected) tried to move off, NOTHING couldn't move, we had sank into the field all four wheel were half way deep, no grip nothing, tried every off roading trick I knew nope never worked after an hour of pushing, digging, branches under wheels , we decided to walk the mile and half back to the farm to get the tractor.
Only Bonus on the way I took another hare and a few rabbits.
What a night !!!
Got home at 5 this morning absolutely exhausted, Gun in cabinet safe, gear off hanging in my gun room, rain was on at this point so had to walk from out building to the house in just my boxer shorts. I live 40 miles from where I shoot, quick clean and went to bed as I was absolutely covered head to toe in mud.
Woke this morning to a very very very muddy L200 inside and out, had to do school run and take very pregnant wife to hospital in it, and on way home lost the back box, Adventures are brilliant MRS IS ****ED OFF, lol
What was your worst nights or days out on a shoot???