First crack with the new bow

G'Day Wildworkians

After a satisfying day killing what seemed like thousands of spiders (our house needed a good spray before it became entirely engulfed in webs and we were all wrapped up and stored away as some giant spider's meal!), I thought it'd be nice to go kill something that I could actually eat. I have a week off work and my new Ross Carnivore was just sitting there all tuned, sited and polished ready to go. I had no deadlines to meet or clients to satisfy, no errands to run and an empty 'honey-do' list. So it seemed right that I grab a few arrows and head off in the dwindling afternoon heat in search of a rabbit.

I stopped the ute at the gate of my favourite rabbit block and glassed a lone bunny from behind the wheel. Check of the wind and a stalk plan sorted I was soon eyeball to eyeball with dinner through a few obscuring tentacles of blackberry. I worked out the shot to be 25 metres and shuffled sideways enough to clear the briars and sent a VB on its way. A clean hit saw a plump rabbit hanging on the fence in the shade awaiting collection.

With jowls salivating I set off hoping to add to the menu. I blew a couple of stalks before I found the second pin settling on the chest of another rabbit. The shot went off and so did my rabbit, I thought my aim must have been a bit low until a few yards into his escape my rabbit started doing a bit of circle work and rolled over. Cool!! Now there were possibilities of all sorts of recipes flashing through the recesses of my mind as a quick check in the binos confirmed my rabbit was wheels up. I was in a good spot to have a whistle for a fox and the Carnivore was going alright so I opted for an outback adorned arrow and played out a couple of notes on the button whistle. In no time I had a fox propped in the long grass about 70 metres out quite interested in getting himself a free feed - but, UH-OH, this guy was just sitting, staring - not a good sign. All my attention was focused on trying to coax this sitting fox until I noticed some movement to my right. UH-OH!! Another fox! - at about 8 metres and he was catching on to my game real fast. As soon as I tried to turn toward him he was gone - bugga! Oh well, I thought, I'll just go get my second bunny and head back to the ute. I got my arrow and bent over to grab the rabbit and the bugga took off! My 18 year old brain said, "Get him fatso!!", and my 38 year old body gave it a red hot go, but was no match for a startled rabbit who led me on a 100 metre dash before disappearing down a hole. I am sure the bugger was laughed at me as he dove to safety!

I was heading back to get my first bunny, grinning to myself about my attempted pursuit, when another rabbit appeared in the last gasps of afternoon light. I settled a pin on his head and off went the shot. Thwack!! "Take that" I thought as I trotted over to secure this rabbit. So now I had two bunnies and plans-a-brewing for a cold beer and a big plate of Rabbit McNuggets. Not a bad first outing for me and the Carnivore. Could have been better if I hadn't been outfoxed by a pair of red coats, but I've a feeling that the Carnivore and I are gonna get along just fine in the future.

I know all you blokes n' shielas are busy with the big game, but I've a while to wait downunder, so I though you might enjoy a little small game antics.

Have a good one
Aaron