After yesterday's wee drama about the temporary 'loss' of my binocular, turns out I did not need them...
With the Landy still in ICU, I am forced to beg the use of my wife's Volvo for this morning's run out.
"Yes, yes, I know not to take it 'off road'..."
It is dark at 0300 hours this morning, but the Volvo is warm. There is no draft from the door seals, and I can actually hear what is being said on the radio. How strange.
The roads are pretty much deserted - exactly how I like them. As I near my destination, I notice a marked Police car parked to the off-side and dressed slightly back in the junction.
I am using the Volvo's cruise control (I know right!) and it is set to 15mph below the limit (it is both foggy and raining). It is my wife's car. It is taxed and insured, and I am a named driver. I never drink-drive (and I don't do drugs) and there is nothing stolen within the car. Why on earth then; has my heart-rate just picked up?
I have been stopped (I think) about five times by the Police. Always a treat...
I have three well-known British phrases, that I can recommend to use, when stopped my Police.
Have you nothing better to do?
I pay your wages!
Why aren't you out catching real criminals?
Having now watched too many You-tube videos from across the Pond, I am also now happy to add these American phrases, to use when stopped by (ironically) the British Police.
What's your name and badge number?
Call a supervisor!
Am I detained?
So having these six pithy phrases in my armoury; I am ready for any infringement of my 'Uman Rights'...
The bastard never even looked up from his donuts!
Anyhoo.
My 'seat' for this morning is a magnificent Treehouse. I park my wife's Volvo (on the hard-standing), and swap it out for the Estate Jimny.
I drive across to the Treehouse. It is pitch black, drizzle and light rain. Fortunately, the Treehouse has a 'cabin' - I make myself at home, and am already looking forward to my (disgusting) coffee and (delicious) wraps.
I even manage to lay out for an hour (although it does rather feel like laying on a Pirate's plank), listen to Radio 4 for and wait for it to become a wee bit lighter.
When it does; the TI is not loving the conditions (any mist or fog and it is worse than useless) it is really, really dreich. Worse. The vegetation has grown up and is a real issue both for seeing and shooting.
I gingerly step out from the 'cabin' onto the platform - I must remember to try and avoid falling down the hatch...
The visibility is so poor, that I have not even unpacked the rifle. I can only see about 20 yards down to the tree line. It seems that this is the first time I will ever deploy without actually getting the rifle out.
I glance down at the limit of my visibility (20 yards) and there looking back at me, is a really rather decent Muntjac Buck.
I am screwed.
He is safe; and I am screwed.
The schoolboy error I have made this morning, is in two parts.
I have come out to shoot Roe Does. I am thinking about Roe Does. I was not thinking about Muntjac. I should have factored in Muntjac.
It matters not, whether you are after Roe or Muntjac (other species are applicable), you are not going to shoot anything unless you unpack your rifle, load it up, and make it ready.
Here is what hindsight looks like...
With the Landy still in ICU, I am forced to beg the use of my wife's Volvo for this morning's run out.
"Yes, yes, I know not to take it 'off road'..."
It is dark at 0300 hours this morning, but the Volvo is warm. There is no draft from the door seals, and I can actually hear what is being said on the radio. How strange.
The roads are pretty much deserted - exactly how I like them. As I near my destination, I notice a marked Police car parked to the off-side and dressed slightly back in the junction.
I am using the Volvo's cruise control (I know right!) and it is set to 15mph below the limit (it is both foggy and raining). It is my wife's car. It is taxed and insured, and I am a named driver. I never drink-drive (and I don't do drugs) and there is nothing stolen within the car. Why on earth then; has my heart-rate just picked up?
I have been stopped (I think) about five times by the Police. Always a treat...
I have three well-known British phrases, that I can recommend to use, when stopped my Police.
Have you nothing better to do?
I pay your wages!
Why aren't you out catching real criminals?
Having now watched too many You-tube videos from across the Pond, I am also now happy to add these American phrases, to use when stopped by (ironically) the British Police.
What's your name and badge number?
Call a supervisor!
Am I detained?
So having these six pithy phrases in my armoury; I am ready for any infringement of my 'Uman Rights'...
The bastard never even looked up from his donuts!
Anyhoo.
My 'seat' for this morning is a magnificent Treehouse. I park my wife's Volvo (on the hard-standing), and swap it out for the Estate Jimny.
I drive across to the Treehouse. It is pitch black, drizzle and light rain. Fortunately, the Treehouse has a 'cabin' - I make myself at home, and am already looking forward to my (disgusting) coffee and (delicious) wraps.
I even manage to lay out for an hour (although it does rather feel like laying on a Pirate's plank), listen to Radio 4 for and wait for it to become a wee bit lighter.
When it does; the TI is not loving the conditions (any mist or fog and it is worse than useless) it is really, really dreich. Worse. The vegetation has grown up and is a real issue both for seeing and shooting.
I gingerly step out from the 'cabin' onto the platform - I must remember to try and avoid falling down the hatch...
The visibility is so poor, that I have not even unpacked the rifle. I can only see about 20 yards down to the tree line. It seems that this is the first time I will ever deploy without actually getting the rifle out.
I glance down at the limit of my visibility (20 yards) and there looking back at me, is a really rather decent Muntjac Buck.
I am screwed.
He is safe; and I am screwed.
The schoolboy error I have made this morning, is in two parts.
I have come out to shoot Roe Does. I am thinking about Roe Does. I was not thinking about Muntjac. I should have factored in Muntjac.
It matters not, whether you are after Roe or Muntjac (other species are applicable), you are not going to shoot anything unless you unpack your rifle, load it up, and make it ready.
Here is what hindsight looks like...
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Hence my "sage words of wisdom" to trainees I traipse behind, "the stalk isn't over until you make safe (at the car)".
