My first Magpies!

January 2007. I had purchased a Magpie Distress tape last year, and a couple of decoys. I'd taken them to the forest to try, and within a few minutes, three Magpies came swooping. Unfortunately my rifle wasn't sighted in properly and I missed all four shots at around 25 meters! Later I found my scope mounts were loose. Anyway, Deb and the kids were away for the week, and I loaded the car and headed up to my brother in law's farm in West Auckland. Within ten minutes I spotted three Magpies, and I set the decoy and tape running. Within another five minutes, the three Magpies - which were about 150 meters away - came swooping. I'd taken my Remington, set the bipods and hid between two large pine trees, only 15 meters from the decoy. The Magpies were so intense, that they didn't see me. The first one landed on a fence post. I lined him up in the cross-hairs. Darn! The scope was still focused on 75 meters from when I was 'scoping' them! After a quick readjustment, I squeezed the trigger, and Magpie #1 fell to the ground in a cloud of feathers! Using sub-Sonics with a silencer, the other two Magpies had no idea what just happened, so they flew to investigate their fallen comrade. Whack, another one hit the dust! Finally the third one realised something was not right, and flew away. Awesome, my first Magpies ever!  While 'scoping the third one on a hill, I spotted an enormous Hare around 150 meters away. I lined him up and squeezed off a round. A puff of dust erupted only 150mm below the centre of his belly. I'd forgotten to adjust for distance! Later that evening I put on the headlamps and spotted for possums. Heard a scraping, and turned to see one scurrying up a Pine tree. Just about to put my laser on him, and my batteries died! Oh well, a great night anyway. One the way home, I ran over a live possum! Great success!!!  Just don't tell my daughter, as it was her car I borrowed.