Hard Target Search

My Ruger Mark III and my Smith and Wesson M&P; note the flashlight on the tactical rail of the rifle, held there by zip ties, which worked as well as a pair of brackets.
My Ruger Mark III and my Smith and Wesson M&P; note the flashlight on the tactical rail of the rifle, held there by zip ties, which worked as well as a pair of brackets.

Last night as I was picking tomatoes just at dusk, I saw our Chihuahua Max’s nemesis: the skunk that sprayed him three weeks ago. Since I didn’t expect to see it, I had only left the back door open, so I was cut off from the house. I scampered around the long way and had Abby let me in the front door, then grabbed my Ruger .22, which I felt would dispatch the Mephitis mephitis without too much fuss. I went around to the back of the house where I had seen it, but in the gathering darkness I was unable to locate it.

After 45 or so minutes, I decided to have another look, only with a more vigorous attitude. This time I got my M&P 15/22, with which I have gotten pretty good in recent weeks. Trouble was, I didn’t really have a tactical flashlight for it. I decided to attach a super-bright LED light to the Picatinny rail on the left side of the rifle with zip ties, and it worked perfectly.

I must have been quite a sight out there in the dark, swinging my assault rifle around corners like I was running down a fugitive. I even used a little night vision monocle we inherited from Abby’s dad. I hunted hither and yon for the better part of half and hour, but then decided that the skunk must have overheard my conversation with Abby about killing it and fled. In my hunting, however, I saw three kinds of frogs, a large rabbit eating dinner in my garden, a beautiful Black Widow spider in her web, and a chocolate Labrador dog making its way across the pasture. It was an interesting night.

UPDATE, 8:49 pm 8/19: One skunk dead in the north pasture!