Amazing restraint!!!!

[Thebear_78]

While zeroing my 223 tikka t3 at 300 yards I was shooting some groups with different 68 and 69 gr loads. I got it all dialed in with black hills 68gr load hitting dead on at 300 with second crosshairs on the B&C reticle.

Had been letting it cool down and loaded up a mag to shoot another 5-shot 300 yard group when a red fox Moses across the range. Right below my 300 yard target. Followed it around with the crosshairs for a few moments. Sorely tempted!!!!!


Not being in season or prime I waited till he made it 20-30 yards to the left of the target and sent one into a 6" plate that was hanging out there. Center punched the plate, sending him for the hills.


I don't know it I will have that same restraint in a couple months!!!!!

Lucky little dog, really pretty red too

As a bonus, I now know that the second cross on the B&C reticle is about as wide as a red fox body. Should help to range them in future!

 

[DrMike]

Had a fox build her den in one of the berms on the 400 yard range where I shoot. She was there for two years, raising a litter each year. She would bring her kits out to watch the action and to catch the occasional mouse. The impact of the bullets on the backstops and the loud shots seemed to amuse her. One thing is certain, she didn't have much competition for her den.

One year, we had a nice black bear that would laze on the berm overlooking the handgun range. Occasionally, he would poke his head over to see what was going on. To my knowledge, he never bothered a soul, nor was he particularly bothered by the handguns. I haven't seen him for the past two years.

We have a large cow moose that generally drops twins and lays down on the hillside at about six hundred yards overlooking the four hundred yard range. I've watched these animals, especially each spring, as they casually observe the shooting in the morning hours. I've often seen her in the marsh surrounding the rifle and handgun ranges, especially during the summer and fall months.

It is amazing to me how these animals adapt to the shooting. Guess it is kinda like living in Chicago or Washington, DC. :shock:

 

[HOGWILD338-378]

As long as they do not come up from behind ya and call the range hot or cold I think you will be ok :lol: our range will take your range card if they catch ya shooting at anything other than a target, all animals are off limits! Too many other things going on at our range to be sending errant shots other than down range!

 

[BD1]

Same here and grounds for having your membership permantly revoked.....
We had 4 deer crossing the range mid-morning during a hot line when we had the club open to the public on shooter sight in days last October, RSO immediately closed the line for about 15 minutes until one of the other club members got in his vehicle and went down range to herd them off. We also had someone shooting songbirds that would land out on the 100-200 yd range. He isnt around anymore either from what I understand.......
We have had elk out on the range over the years also, lines go cold until they move out or are herded off, kinda cool to watch really.
I'm with Mike, it is amazing that the animals become habituated to all the shooting.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The range I'm a member of doesn't allow shooting at animals either...deer and bear are there quite a lot....the range property is very close to Bays Mountain Park.

There are also LOTS of snakes...those are protected too...but a popular saying around there, even among the admins, is that if a snake slithers in front of a bullet...it had the right to commit suicide.

The snakes are a real problem...mostly copperheads, they get all in the trap houses.

 

[DrMike]

There are also LOTS of snakes...those are protected too...but a popular saying around there, even among the admins, is that if a snake slithers in front of a bullet...it had the right to commit suicide.

The snakes are a real problem...mostly copperheads, they get all in the trap houses.

Man, I hate copperheads. One good reason not to move back to SE KS. They used to be baled up in the hay. I'd pick up a bale and there was that head thrashing about while I was trying to throw the bale atop the tier. It is a wonder I didn't absolutely destroy my back and stomach muscles holding those bales out so far from my body.

The old Burnaby Mountain range in the Lower Mainland sometimes had deer wander across the range. On one occasion, an immigrant with a different ethic from most North Americans suddenly began to shout in a very excited voice, "Oh, deer! I see! I shoot!" It was only with some difficulty that he and his colleagues were restrained. Ultimately, they were escorted from the range and permanently debarred from coming back. The range officer was an old Scots woman with a brogue so thick that few ever understood what she was saying. Those fellows seemed to understand her quite well, however. I know I never particularly wished to tangle with her. It was rumoured that she had singlehandedly sent the entire German army fleeing at El Alamein. At least that is the rumour, and I believe it just might have been true. :shock:

 

[Ridgerunner665]

There are also LOTS of snakes...those are protected too...but a popular saying around there, even among the admins, is that if a snake slithers in front of a bullet...it had the right to commit suicide.

The snakes are a real problem...mostly copperheads, they get all in the trap houses.

Man, I hate copperheads. One good reason not to move back to SE KS. They used to be baled up in the hay. I'd pick up a bale and there was that head thrashing about while I was trying to throw the bale atop the tier. It is a wonder I didn't absolutely destroy my back and stomach muscles holding those bales out so far from my body.

Yep...been there, done that.

The worst one wasn't a copperhead, or even in a bale of hay...I was cleaning the tobacco stalks out of the barn, leftovers from the season before, grabbed a big arm full up and started towards the door, felt something cold on my arm...and it was moving, lol.

Next thing I know I was all sorts of wrapped up in a black snake about 6 feet long, lol....I'm not exactly scared of snakes, but that was a bit unnerving to say the least.

 

[DrMike]

The worst one wasn't a copperhead, or even in a bale of hay...I was cleaning the tobacco stalks out of the barn, leftovers from the season before, grabbed a big arm full up and started towards the door, felt something cold on my arm...and it was moving, lol.

Next thing I know I was all sorts of wrapped up in a black snake about 6 feet long, lol....I'm not exactly scared of snakes, but that was a bit unnerving to say the least.

Yup! Snakes seem to unnerve a lot of people. I was working as a pipe-fitter on the Ship Channel. There were a few rattle snakes around. It was tough when you moved some rebar or pipe only to hear the disconcerting buzzzzzzzzz. We had a foreman who insisted that he wasn't afraid of any snake. However, he had difficulty in convincing his feet that he wasn't afraid. I watched him bowl over four or five guys one afternoon as the shift was over and a snake slithered out of the grass between his legs. He turned and ran back down the path leading up and to the work gate, knocking men off that ramp faster than anyone could have imagined. I'm not saying I was ever scared of snakes, but I didn't particularly have any desire to embrace them, either.

 

[Elkman]

My target backstop, here at home is just across a intermittent creek bed. From the bench to the backstop there is about a 15 foot drop from a straight line. Deer and turkeys frequently cross under my shooting lane, while I am in the process of shooting. Occasionally a lost squirrel, try's it. Not one has made it yet.

 

[BeeTee]

One year, we had a nice black bear that would laze on the berm overlooking the handgun range. Occasionally, he would poke his head over to see what was going on. To my knowledge, he never bothered a soul, nor was he particularly bothered by the handguns. I haven't seen him for the past two years.

Uh huh.... :wink:

 

[DrMike]

One year, we had a nice black bear that would laze on the berm overlooking the handgun range. Occasionally, he would poke his head over to see what was going on. To my knowledge, he never bothered a soul, nor was he particularly bothered by the handguns. I haven't seen him for the past two years.

Uh huh.... :wink:

I can't even tell you what he tasted like! :grin: He was pretty safe; though I do admit to looking back to the door on occasion when I was shooting alone. :mrgreen:

 

[Europe]

Man, I hate copperheads. One good reason not to move back to SE KS. They used to be baled up in the hay. I'd pick up a bale and there was that head thrashing about while I was trying to throw the bale atop the tier. It is a wonder I didn't absolutely destroy my back and stomach muscles holding those bales out so far from my body.


LOL---I know that one. Spent a few weeks in the flint hills with my father when I was young and baling hay was on the agenda

Plus, getting yelled at for killing a Gopher ( or Bull ) snake, thinking they were a rattlesnake only to find out it was not and that the Gopher snakes are the farmers best friend. But when your young and afraid you dont always have the courage to analyze--is it a rattlesnake or gopher snake? Either way I did not like them

 

[DrMike]

Ah, yes, the Flint Hills, one of the hidden treasures of my natal state. Yup! Plenty of bull snakes around; they could still make you do a Kansas two-step in quick-time.