A VERY lucky rat

[Loki_762]

Last night I moved my ding donger over to a different bird feeder, as the rat action at my primary feeder has been slow lately.  I smeared a little peanut butter on the limb the feeder hangs from, hoping to get any rat that ventures by to sit still.  Right around 9:20, the ding donger sounded off, so I grabbed my 1720T with my night vision attachment and took a look.  There was a rat alright, but much to my surprise, it skipped the peanut butter and went right to the feeder.  Not only that, but it was IN the feeder, not just sitting on the ledge of the feeder like they normally do.  At this point, I had two options: wait it out until it climbed out of the feeder, or shoot through the plexiglas sides to get the kill.  So, I decided to wait it out until the rat came out.  I held the scope a mil-dot low to compensate for the short range (11 yards) and waited for it to make a move.  After about 10 minutes of waiting, the rat began to climb out.  It crawled about halfway out, so all I could see was a rat butt and tail in the feeder.  It's head was concealed by the slanted roof of the feeder, so I had no shot.  I waited, just knowing it was only a matter of time until it lifted it's head up enough for me to see it and pop it in the brain.  Suddenly, the rear end slid out of the feeder, and I got ready for that pointy little head to show.  I waited, keeping the scope right where I knew it would come out.  Then it happened - it shot up the side of the bird house and the cord it is hanging from at about mach four.  I lifted my gun up to where it went on the branch, but by the time the crosshairs got there, it was nothing more than a gray streak with a vapor trail behind it.  I don't think I have ever seen a rat move so fast in my life.  I waited for it to come back, but it stayed away while I was awake.  But when I woke up this morning, the peanut butter was gone, so apparently it came back.  I'll give it a try again, and hopefully tonight I'll have more for you than excuses!
Chris

[dk1677]

Keep on 'em!

[trapper]

keep at it, sooner or later you will tag him. It is only a matter of time before the rat slips up.

[Big Bore Bart]

  Next time just shoot it in the butt.     The pellet will reach the vitals, especially if the shot is straight along under the spine .

[Loki_762]

  Next time just shoot it in the butt.     The pellet will reach the vitals, especially if the shot is straight along under the spine .

Unfortunately, that shot would have required me to shoot through the plexiglas.  Otherwise, I would have planted a  pellet in the spine.
Chris

[ronbeaux]

Screw the feeder! Choot the rat!

By the way. My rats can make mach 5 easy

[Loki_762]

By the way. My rats can make mach 5 easy

Mine must be eating too well!  Gonna have to get them on some diet birdseed, huh?
Chris