We got out for 8 days in the Orygun outback for some fun with rodents a couple of weeks ago. The fields were still brown, just barely starting the green-up, so the rats were out, but not in the copious numbers we experience a bit later in the season. The females were mostly still underground nursing their young, so no babies out 'n about this trip.
But rats did indeed fly! Most of the shooting was 300-350 yards or less due to terrain contours, so I mostly shot my Cooper M38 20VT and saved my 204 for the longer stuff that never materialized, dangit!
Set up on the perimeter pivot two-track, about 75 yards apart with a good cone of overlapping fire. No rat was safe inside that zone.
"Scooter" as she's called, doing a bit of barrel cooling after 23 rats had just completed their flying lessons:
Some of the country near where we have our annual Rat Rodeo:
It was too windy after noontime for any further shooting, so the cleaning chores took place in our trailers. Better conditions inside with some tunes on, some munchies and a beverage of choice to make the task more enjoyable:
Only the mirage prevented some very long shots. With the undulating terrain contours added in, it made the real long stuff quite the chore. We didn't have any ranch flatbeds or trailers available to gain some elevation this time. My longest hit this trip was 421 yards, still a dead rat, but not as satisfying as when you're able to really reach out and get a great launch at extended range.
The lack of canopy sun shades tells the weather story. Not warm enough yet to need them, but I hope to get out for another week soon once the fields green-up and both the females and the young are out 'n about. Always a rewarding time of year.