Thread: Hand me down Model 70

I got a call from my Uncle early Saturday afternoon. "I'll be on the big farm tonight, bring your boy down".
"Yep, Cool". Shit, the rifle is ready to roll but I haven't had a chance to sight it in since fitting the VX1.
I gave the Penguin a call and rolled out to his and lobbed a few rounds down range. We fought the scope a bit but got it under control and I was back on the road, Back past home to grab the boy and some winter woolies for the evening.
Pulled into the Farmhouse just after 7.30, A good clear sky, a bit of fog and a swirling breeze, not ideal.
Geared up, torches fitted onto scopes and away we went into the night.
This is only my second time on the property and my first at night, Lets hope ol' Uncle knows his way around...
This place is rolling to steepish terrain, so up and up and back down again we we go.
My Uncle stopping to scan gullies and crop paddocks with his thermal.
Nothing seen bar a couple of rabbits, the neighbours bulls and two horses. An hour and a half in and half time is called, we slowly start back to the farmhouse for a hot cuppa.
Halfway back and we stop on a high knoll and the old boy scans the back fence line. "Oh, ... you beaut"
"There's three deer on that clearing, no four, five deer. We need to get closer, come on boy" I wasn't sure if that reference was aimed at me or my lad.
We hug the bush line, lights all off, and slowly move in, Sixty metres out we drop to the ground and crawl the last fifteen metres up onto the crest of the rise. A quick scan with the thermal shows two yearlings, three hinds and an average stag. They are slowly feeding down off the skyline towards us.
We wait five minutes (maybe two) then light up the hillside with torches and, Nothing, they are gone.
Uncle scans off to the right and we see the stag jump the fence into the Native and disappear. Bugger.
Coffee is still calling, so we quietly amble away towards the farmhouse.
Stopping off in the Orchard near the house, three Possums are spotted, so we dive off to the house and the .22 comes out, Young fella quickly drops the two bucks we can locate with our head torches.
A hot drink and a biscuit sees us ready to head out again.
Into the ute and a quick spin down to the other end of the farm, The airstrip and a few paddocks of turnips are all clagged in and nothing can be seen bar a lone Weka.
Sorry boys, we are done.
Midnight sees us pulling back into the farmhouse.
Rifles made safe and put away. A quick yarn and we hit the road for home.
Driving home and my boy is on a high. A bit disappointed he didn't get a deer down, but he has had a good night out. A couple of possums down, several deer seen through the thermal, a first for him. And a good night out on the hills with his Great Uncle.
Plans are already a foot for another visit.