Warwickshire Washout

[webber]

For PW members to understand where this tale is coming from it may be worthwhile clicking the link and reading before reading the rest of this post, alas it is yet another tale of woe.

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...;hl=oxfordshire

 

So that's last years attempt at some mid Christmas - New Year pigeon shooting explained, now for this years. No lollipops for those who spot similarities.

 

Following last years virtual disaster, we were determined not to return for more of the same. In fact we had all but ruled out any such adventure, even though we could have filled the one remaining seat in my car a few times over. However a small advertisement in shooting Times looked interesting, and subsequent enquiries sounded fruitfull. Having made the initial enquiries, I volunteered McF (press ganged) into making the final enquiries and sorting out the B&B.

 

The team this year consisted of McF, Mike, and myself as last year, but joined by Badders. Badders is a highly experienced shot, is our shooting syndicate chairman, and is a bobby, he can only be described as rather large, and a really nice bloke. He was so impressed by our previous adventure that he was enquiring as to vacancies in July. McF and myself were still licking wounds and taking incoming flack. Mike was still awakeming and Badders is ready to pack his bag.

 

The scenario was just what you want to hear. More pigeon than it was possible to count, clouds of em. Feeding on winter rape, no other rape in area, crop being battered.

 

The Journey

 

Mike and myself, met up with McF and Badders at McFs, we loaded the roof box and strapped the pigeon shooting gear onto the quad, sheeted up and set off for Whitehorne Heath. The journey was smooth, weather good, and unlike last year on time with no hold ups. It wasnt long before we received a call from Lancs Lad enquiring as too how we had done. He was advised to put his chucles on hold as he was a little premature. The sat nav dropped us virtually straight on the farm. A short drive down to the farm and we were introduced to Ed. He pointed out one of the fields, and said that a couple of lads had shot the field a day ago, but had only shot a few. Worryingly, we saw very few pigeon, and the rape looked more like winter wheat. Ed jumped in his car and escorted us around his farm to explain the boundaries and crops. We paid Ed, and retired to find our B&B. We found the B&B as darkness fell. It was a 16th century building, and absolute top notch. McF had excelled in the digs. We settled in, and after a cuppa in the lounge enquired where we could find an evening meal.

It transpired that the Antelope at the bottom of the lane did excellent food, but not on Mondays. We were therefore given directions to the Malt Shovel in a neighbouring village. We enjoyed our meal of lamb shank, Mike had some chicken and pasta dish. I didnt pass comment at the time, but to me it resembled a posh cats dinner. Mike enjoyed it none the less. The ale in the pub was obviously good, as the lads downed 3 or 4 pints.

 

We left the pub and decided to go on a hunt the autogas pump ride. Enquiries at a likely filling station produced directions, some how we ended up on the motorway, but soon found services and the LPG that the Rangie craved for the return journey home the next day. Apparently it was too early for some to go to bed, so we made our way back to the Antelope. Last year when we entered the pub we doubled the customers. This year we exceeded that and quadrupled it. We were met by a bar maid and one customer, both were friendly, and we stayed until virtually chucking out time at 11pm. I didnt count how many pints the lads had in the Antelope, lets just say that they enjoyed pleasant sufficiency. I drove the Rangie the half mile or so to the B&B, we entered via the kitchen door, and retired to our rooms. Mike and Badders were in one, we decided that due to his bulk, Badders would best be supported by a double bed, he was accompanied by Mike, but not in the double bed. Altthough there were roumors at breakfast that thay had struggled to get into the bath together, these are however unsubstantiated at this juncture. McF and myself were in another room with two single beds. I had another bad dream during the night, McF claims that I didnt waken him, but I really think that he was being the true friend that he is by claiming that I hadn't.

 

We were wakened at 6.15 by the alarm on the mobile phone, and were soon washed and ready for breakfast at the pre arranged time of 7.15. We enjoyed a most excellent full english breakfast. Shortly after 8am we were ready for off, collected our flasks which had kindly been filled by our host, settled our bill, loaded the Rangie and headed off for the killing fields. We spent half an hour or so driving round the permission looking for pigeon and where they were feeding. We identified two favoured spots. I dropped McF and Badders off and then drove round to the spot where Mike and I fancied our chances.

 

I didn't bother unloading the quad. Mike is young and fit, and I felt that I could manage the walk to the spot under the sitty tree. I did manage it, but that rucksack seems to get heavier each time I put it on. I made it to the spot in one piece without stumbling, although I was knackered when I got to the spot.

I instructed Mike as to checking the wing direction, or should I call it draught, and then how and why he was to set out the decoys. I built a double hide with my own kit, and some of Lancs Lads seconded kit. As the day progressed I had ample time to reflect on last years effort, and contrast the differences, and wondered if some how Lancs Lad was able to place a curse on his kit, preventing anyone but himself from achieving good results. Last year he was unable to join us, this year he wanted to come, but then declared that he had no holidays, we know that he was unable to get a pass from mrs. Lancs Lad. I get the feeling that I am seen as a disrupting influence in some circles, undeservedly of course.

 

Well I've flanneled on for long enough. Mike had plenty of time to batter his text messages to and forth to Ian our friend and gamekeeper. Mike and myself had 4 pigeon come within shooting range. Mike killed 2, pricked 1, missed 1, and fired two get em up shots, which were a waste as there was nothing to get up. I jest ye not, when I say that we saw more mechanically propelled flying objects than we did those with wings. We did see the odd couple of pigeon dropping into a wood about a mile away, and in the distance we could hear a regular barrage of gas guns, so clearly there is a pigeon problem, but not today, not on our patch. McF shot 1, but it took him 3 shots, unusual for him, but it was quite cold, and we were loosing the will to live.

 

At around 1:40 I received the call by 2 way radio that I had been expecting for a while, and we agreed to strike camp and head for home. Mike and I loaded our gear and then went round to collect McF and Badders. As we approached the pick up point I noticed a green 4x4, the driver was chatting to to McF and Badders, I carried on past to turn around in an entrance about half a mile up the road. As we approached the pick up point again, I spotted McF in the middle of the road, eventually he was momenterally lying in the road. Hell, I thought this man is desperate, he doesn't care how he gets home, in the Rangie, in an ambulance or in a box. When he said he had lost the will to live, I didnt think for one moment that he actually meant it. However here we have 3 1/2 tons of Rangie trapping down the road, with McF doing his best to impersonate road kill. Fortunatley as I got closer, he saw the error of his ways, and arose from his slumber. We set off heading for the motorway, in virtual silence, until we drove past a field of well established rape; so much for there being no other rape in the area. McF reported that the guy in the 4x4 was a regular shooter on the land, who reported that he had not shot it for weeks. We all concluded that Ed had had us over good style. Over several miles there could not have been an orifice on the human body into which one of us would have metaphorically stuffed barrels, or an appendage around which barrels had not been wrapped. We did however all agree that despite the very poor shooting, we had all none the less had an enjoyable time in good company. The good bit was that my apprentice Mike at least shot some pigeon this year, and myself and Badders had no gun cleaning routine when we got home as neither of us even fired a shot.

 

Please let this post be the official record that McF has stated, neh decreed that he will never again pay for pigeon shooting. Time will tell old boy, time will tell.

 

Well gentlemen, at this juncture you could be forgiven if you drew the conclusion that this years event was a disaster, which had in fact surpassed last years event, but you would be wrong.

 

It transpired that the B&B was run by a farmers wife. Guess what the farmer has a problem with? Sorry no lollipops. So the proposal is that in future we pay for the B&B and get the shooting for free. So next year, God willing, McFs decree may not be too far from the truth. On the other hand, if the man has no pigeon problem we shall be seeking pastures and possibly quarry anew!

 

Happy New Year to all PW members

 

webber

[Ferret Master]

Sorry to hear that your trip didn't go quite as succesfully as one could have first hoped Webber.

 

Hope that you have a happy new year.

 

FM

[McF]

Well wrote Webber a good description of our outing, just one thing to add if you so much as murmur the words pay & pigeons in the same breath i will castrate you with that leatherman you bought me many moons ago.

 

Happy new year to everyone on PW, hope its a good one for you, all the best.

 

Mcf

[deny essex]

A nice read, been there and done that had the same exsperience's in the cotswold's many years back, but none the less was an enjoyable change of venue, never paid for pigeon shooting since cept club fee's, although the bird's were lacking im sure you enjoyed some "lads" time .

[Paul@Ribchester]

Nice New Years Day read that........

[davecooper1]

can remember yrs ago going down monmeth 4 of us b and b had a good laugh spent an arm and leg

 

 

went out day after with more tackle than a gunshop paid the farmer who said there were hundreds of pigeons on day before

 

 

well they certainly wernt there that day total for the day 2

 

 

but if have a good laugh thats what counts in my opinian

 

 

cheers dave