Full of beans...

[Mightymariner]

...the pigeons, not me.

Sunday was my last chance to get out for a while because of work so I was keen, nay desperate for a good day.

I had in mind a barley stubble on a pal's farm, which was the last field uncultivated on their land - mainly because it had been too wet to bale.

This field has a historic flightline across it, so I knew it could be good given the right conditions.

I had checked the field earlier in the week, and it did look good, pigeons coming in on the line and exiting on another parallel line.

So, Sunday was the day.....obviously a multitude of things could ruin it...the weather, the contractor baling the field, the contractor clearing the bales, the farmer cultivating if the bales were off, or the gamekeeper saying I couldn't shoot because of his birds. The one thing I hadn't considered was an adjacent field of beans being harvested just before the weekend.

And so it was that I arrived to see the bean stubble.....however, not to be deterred I scanned the field for 30 mins and sure enough birds entering, dropping on the stubble and leaving again. Not as many as before, but still enough to make it worthwhile.

I couldn't set up near the beans so I picked a spot just off the flightline to enable me to shoot birds on the return line to the village.

It seemed to work. A good westerly wind at my back, dead birds out, flapper and a floater completed the picture.

Sure enough the birds came back in small numbers, some decoying, but plenty heading to the beans and then back, some in range, some not. Four in the first 15 mins....then slowing right down to a trickle of shootable but challenging birds, crops full of beans.

In the sporadic action I had, I actually shot quite well and pulled down some very high birds - even I can't believe I wrote those words..JDog would be delighted to see some of them....and I really enjoyed the shooting. So it made for a happy Sunday.

I picked 20 and lost a couple.

Yes, a small bag for so many words.

That's value for money wordage.

[JDog]

Great stuff. I am pleased that you extended your normal range with some success. Sorry I couldn't be there to witness it. I would have been delighted to have seen it.

[pigeon controller]

The main thing you state is that you " enjoyed the day" and that's what it's all about. You tried to extend your shooting range which is another positive so another good days shooting, well done.

[kippylawkid]

I can sense and relate to your enthusiasm to get out and have a few shots. My opportunities are limited at the minute due to my kids football/cricket/rugby and I relish each and every chance I get to set up.

Well done for making the best of your chance.

.

[Mightymariner]

Yes, my work is getting in the way at present.

And, to rub salt in....my farmer pal text me this morning to say pigeons were diving into the barley stubble in numbers!

I've told him to leave the field alone until I can go again.....strangely no reply!

[aga man]

It's been said many times before but it is true, a couple of those high birds are worth several doddlers over the decoys. Well shot Mm.

[OJW]

Well done, good write up. Good you dropped some tall ones, I am trying to engage them further out rather than waiting till they are well in my comfort zone.