some days you have it, some days you don't

have you ever had one of those days when you can't seem to get anything to work right? of course you have...we ALL have them.

Mom told me there would be days like that...but she did not tell me there would be so many of them and they'd be so close together...

my son and i had worked hard to get a coyote hide for the wall or bedside carpet on one occasion in the desert east of San Diego. we were both sporting .22 rimfires we'd been working on and were eager to 'test' the results of the fruits of our labor. he's just finished modifying his 10/22 and I'd just finished installing a new scope on my NEF .22 WMR.

i had been concentrating on the one-hundred (100) yard mark for targets using the mag and he was concentrating on getting them to within the fifty (50) yard range for the .22 LR.

we had a wonderful stand in a cluster of huge boulders on a hilltop that was just like a hat; flat all around the crown for at least one hundred yards (100) all around in a 360 degree panorama. it was a clear field of fire all around and we were at a elevation above it that would make any sniper drool.

the rocks were very "prone with a bi-pod friendly" and were nice and warm so it was not uncomfortable at all...just set up the rifle after ranging some marks...wait and watch. we had even brought a thermos of coffee and some soft drinks in a small cooler for later in the day.

we made a few calls from our wounded rabbit call after settling in and waited to see what would happen.

sure 'nuff...after a few minutes...movement about a hundred yards out to the north of us...

after a quick adjustment to the objective for the range estimation it was determined to be canine...and moving in on us fast.

without rhyme or reason, it suddenly came to a screeching halt. the breeze was in our favor and we had used skunk scent to mask our odor, and even ghillie suited ourselves after a fashion, too. we had done everything right so this should be a slam dunk shot.

we all know hunting is full of surprises and wonders. we were having a surprise sprung on us.

i could not get a CLEAR view of the whole creature while it was far out due to the fact there was erosion ruts and some scattered brush around and this guy was utilizing every bit of it...a wonderful stalk was under way by it.

after stopping, it's nose went up in the air and you could see it sniff the air and look around with some degree of caution.

it was becoming more clear now...one more move closer and if it hesitates in the next opening in it's path...it was slated for a clear shot. i had indeed ranged it at 77 yards (the opening) and had adjusted my scopes objective to as close to that as possible, cocked the hammer on the single shot rifle and waited.

it stepped into the anticipated opening, and unexpectedly faced me directly as if to look right at me.

i centered the crosshairs in the center of the chest, below the chin, and started the squeeze of the trigger (NEF rifles have no slack in their triggers either) when it struck me: "that ain't no coyote"..."Geeeeeee...it's a fox!"

certain foxes are protected here in California. all i could tell at that time was it was a fox so i elected to decock the rifle and watch.

the moment of hesitation is all it needed...it swapped ends and disappeared into the undergrowth as fast as it had appeared.

legend has it, that if you spare a foxes life, it will lead you to bigger game.

I'm still waiting...