Phew!.Close call, almost got skunked...

Went out to close up the chicken coop and as is my habit, was carrying my RWS850 Air Magnum in .22 cal. Sometimes there are rats to shoot

I had my headlamp on and had my head down, watching where I was walking, when suddenly out of the side of my vision I saw something large and dark take off moving, going from left to right at an oblique,stopping about 8 or 9 foot away..

When it first moved, it startled me---I was all set to get some rat after opening the coop door and this was on the outside and I wasnt quite ready yet...I was carrying the rifle at a low ready position and it was loaded, safety off...

When Mr. Pepe Le Pew stopped moving, he raised his tail and turned his head to sight me in....that was when my shot took him in the side of the head, about 1/4 inch behind his eye...

When he turned his head, I saw the shine of his eye in my headlamp and fired from the hip, kinda pushing the rifle forward as I brought it to bear...I was lucky, I had seen his black butt and tail straight up and knew I was gonna get it...as it was, the shot shut him down instantly, he didnt get his shot off....all told the whole incident lasted about 2 seconds...

I took a picture, but the photo quality really stinks---
I'll post it if ya want, but most of us know what a dead skunk looks like.