Hares.

[Britsmoothy]

Later today, God willing, I've got to shoot some hares. European brown hare that is.
I don't want to!
I like watching them.
A farmer that gives me the run of his farm has asked me to thin the hares. They have become prolific.
I could use any manner of modern firearm but I'm gonna if as I don't really want to, use a flintlock!
This way I've got to get real close. I may not be dressed in fancy period dress but I also won't be using any optical aid other than spectacles.

I've got my bag ready. I'll be using medium powder, around 2f-3f and 1&1/2oz of AAA shot, about steel T size.
I can't say I'm looking forward to this but if I don't do it he'll get someone else to.
I have secured an outlet should I kill any.

 

[NorthFork]

Are you ok @Britsmoothy ? You are really going to use a MEDIUM powder, maybe even a FFG? Did England run out of FINE powder?

You know I'm just funning with you. Please post pics of your hunt!

 

[Britsmoothy]

Are you ok @Britsmoothy ? You are really going to use a MEDIUM powder, maybe even a FFG? Did England run out of FINE powder?

You know I'm just funning with you. Please post pics of your hunt!

Lol, just got a pinch left in a bottle so so topped up the flask with a it.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I wish you luck. Jess going?

 

[Britsmoothy]

I wish you luck. Jess going?

Jess will be on hand yes. I can't stand the look I get otherwise!!

 

[wiscoaster]

Later today, God willing, I've got to shoot some hares. European brown hare that is.
I don't want to!
I like watching them.

Hah ... you've given me a laugh to start my day. I couldn't help thinking about Hazel and Sandleford warren on Watership Down. So, your guy is the farmer in the story, eh? And you're the guy the bunnies are avoiding? Frankly, we're overrun with rabbits here this year, and what I wouldn't give to be able to plug a few of them. If I did though here in town and without a hunting license, I'd be in jail in no time.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Good luck and post some pictures please.

 

[Yewbender]

You and Jess enjoy the hunt and make some SMOKE!!! Have a blast!

 

[64Springer]

That is one fine looking powder flask.

Can you share where you bought it?

Thanks.

 

[springfield art]

Later today, God willing, I've got to shoot some hares. European brown hare that is.
I don't want to!
I like watching them.
A farmer that gives me the run of his farm has asked me to thin the hares. They have become prolific.
I could use any manner of modern firearm but I'm gonna if as I don't really want to, use a flintlock!
This way I've got to get real close. I may not be dressed in fancy period dress but I also won't be using any optical aid other than spectacles.

I've got my bag ready. I'll be using medium powder, around 2f-3f and 1&1/2oz of AAA shot, about steel T size.
I can't say I'm looking forward to this but if I don't do it he'll get someone else to.
I have secured an outlet should I kill any.
View attachment 236218

 

[springfield art]

That Lott lock looks a lot like the one on my Curly Gostomsky trade gun; tell us more about the smoothbore you're using there.

 

[Britsmoothy]

That is one fine looking powder flask.

Can you share where you bought it?

Thanks.

It's a Pedersoli product. I bought from a gunsmith that ran his business from home. Steve passed away about 4 years ago now. Good man he was.

 

[Britsmoothy]

That Lott lock looks a lot like the one on my Curly Gostomsky trade gun; tell us more about the smoothbore you're using there.

It's a Pedersoli faux trade gun. It's got a bore of .63.

 

[Des52]

Good hunting and give Jess a pat for me. Miss my hunting buddies.

 

[mushka]

Brit, you have an outlet so it's not like the animals are going to waste. Besides if they are a pest they need to be culled. anyway. You'll be doing a good thing in the end.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Later today, God willing, I've got to shoot some hares. European brown hare that is.
I don't want to!
I like watching them.
A farmer that gives me the run of his farm has asked me to thin the hares. They have become prolific.
I could use any manner of modern firearm but I'm gonna if as I don't really want to, use a flintlock!
This way I've got to get real close. I may not be dressed in fancy period dress but I also won't be using any optical aid other than spectacles.

I've got my bag ready. I'll be using medium powder, around 2f-3f and 1&1/2oz of AAA shot, about steel T size.
I can't say I'm looking forward to this but if I don't do it he'll get someone else to.
I have secured an outlet should I kill any.
View attachment 236218

Time to put the kettle on,
Time to get it on the boil,
The hunter is afoot,
Upon his native soil,
Venturing far afield,
He has not a care,
Save to serve at evening tea
A well prepared hare

LD

 

[appalichian hunter]

Happy Hare hunting Brit. Thems some big rabbits. The first Hare I ever saw was in Germany on a NATO exercise. Compared to our native cotton tails there enormous. Like the first time I hunted bears in northern Ontario back at camp one evening was talking about different animals, told the guy I was hunting on seen the biggest crows I have ever seen, he looked at me with a side type glance and said their ravens. I Never gave that a thought.

 

[deerstalkert]

need any help? I could be there in about 6 hours!
strangely enough i am sitting here looking at a snow shoe hare! as long as he stay's out of the garden he's safe.

 

[Patocazador]

Great composition on that photo. I really like it.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Well that was hard!
Stormy squalls kept barreling through. Drenching rain had me sheltering under trees desperately keeping that lock dry under my arm.

Finally a break came and as much as I wanted to write about an epic stalk, to be honest it was very cold and almost felt callous!
During me sheltering from the rain a hare happened through the long grass below me and settled down about 70 yards away.
When the rain eased I used the oak behind me as a background and carefully cut the distance by more than half. The hare started to get suspicious so I let fly. Ignition was first class and the hare never knew a thing.
Turned out to be 30 paces. Looks to of taken about three pieces of shot.

The weather deteriorated and although having a look for others decided it was enough in the conditions. Glad I did because discharging the gun to empty it did not happen. I had to fiddle with the flint, it had come loose and needed it's edge dressing. It took a while to clear the gun.
Jess is soaked, I'm damp we are off to home but first to drop the hare off at a local family.