Ok, so those who don't know, I have meat rabbits. Currently working on a satin silver fox cross. They live in the garage which is 50% underground and built into the hillside. Stays nice and cool, and with a fan, it is 20 degrees cooler than the outside.
So my big dog alerted me to problems. It was 11ish at night and I had been asleep for hours (go to bed 8:30 - 9ish) and for some reason opted for my .22 instead of my sidearm. Good thing I did.....
Nothing was outside the front doors, nor raiding my garbage cans. I sneak barefoot down to the garage and peek into the front window where I see a large boar coon trying to reach through the cage wire to pull a nest box full of 8 baby buns all named food (oddly enough) towards him and out of the cage.
Ok, so the coon got inside the garage, totally my fault... I left the big door cracked about 4" for airflow... it was a 90+ day and ice had barely helped mamma and the babies..
I dropped into a prone position and took aim under the door. ok so get this.... 4" gap I am shooting through, cement floor, cement walls on the back 3 sides..... Me barely awake because the baby has been getting me up all hours of the night........... so I take the shot.
Needless to say as soon as I pulled the trigger I flinched. I sorta forgot that 4 of the surfaces I was shooting towards would deflect and ricochet a .22 ..... ACK
so after going inside to change my shorts, I go back out to track the boar. Best guess is a 25lb male. I don't see how that sucker could have fit under a 4" gap, but he must have.
Protect your critters, remember to listen to your gut... and know your target and what you are shooting towards. Muscle memory and a ton of practice saved me from an ugly ending last night.
So my big dog alerted me to problems. It was 11ish at night and I had been asleep for hours (go to bed 8:30 - 9ish) and for some reason opted for my .22 instead of my sidearm. Good thing I did.....
Nothing was outside the front doors, nor raiding my garbage cans. I sneak barefoot down to the garage and peek into the front window where I see a large boar coon trying to reach through the cage wire to pull a nest box full of 8 baby buns all named food (oddly enough) towards him and out of the cage.
Ok, so the coon got inside the garage, totally my fault... I left the big door cracked about 4" for airflow... it was a 90+ day and ice had barely helped mamma and the babies..
I dropped into a prone position and took aim under the door. ok so get this.... 4" gap I am shooting through, cement floor, cement walls on the back 3 sides..... Me barely awake because the baby has been getting me up all hours of the night........... so I take the shot.
Needless to say as soon as I pulled the trigger I flinched. I sorta forgot that 4 of the surfaces I was shooting towards would deflect and ricochet a .22 ..... ACK
so after going inside to change my shorts, I go back out to track the boar. Best guess is a 25lb male. I don't see how that sucker could have fit under a 4" gap, but he must have.
Protect your critters, remember to listen to your gut... and know your target and what you are shooting towards. Muscle memory and a ton of practice saved me from an ugly ending last night.
