Tonight was awesome. I had less time to work and further to drive but got in 5 of my 6 planned sets. Got put behind because I had to pull a guy, and his full sized Chevy, out of the ditch with my monstrous Nissan.
Might as well fast forward to the last set. Last year I called one in and it came in so fast and quick I didn't get a shot off. This year I opted to stand with the bipod instead of sit, allowed me to see over the crest a bit better. Also used the e caller instead of the mouth calls, very close quarters and gave me a bit of a wind advantage as the dog circled the caller.
As I was getting ready to start a bunny ran out of the brush by me and across the field. Didn't think much of it and went into the sequence, but this time went with pup howls instead of adult. Not sure why, but I did. After a bit went to a rabbit distress but kept the calls quiet, like I said, pretty close quarters. Let the squawls go a minute or two then shut up for 5. Went to chicken/turkey distress, nothing. 20 minutes in I hit a baby cottontail and let it wail. I'd say 45 seconds later that dang rabbit runs right back across the field at me, you can see the tracks in this pic actually.
It took about 3 heart beats to realize that odds were something pushed that little turd out of his new hidey hole and back into his old one. I got situated quickly and had the gun actually pointed to the more open area right in front of the barrel over on the fence when I saw brown 10 yards to the left, pretty much where those tracks lead. By the time I got my gun moved that little bit he popped out, head low, hunting. He saw me but didn't booger bad, he turned and made a lunge and I popped one off as he disappeared back into the brush. I honestly thought I missed, but decided to follow up the track regardless. Had to walk up and around a gate hole and didn't find blood until 10 yards from the shot, then he opened up. 50 yards away he lay.
I drug him up for some quick "WOLVERINES" posed pics and hustled home MUCH happier with todays end result. First dog with the AR, really been working for this one. Was sorta surprised how ripped up he was with just a 223? I guess my 22/250 has ballistic tips and they don't exit, just blow up. Either way, one less dog and a lot of fun.
