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ochre

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Posts posted by ochre

  1. How do you guys/gals judge lead when it comes to our little feathered friends? For instance, at short range, how much lead do you give a bird? What about medium range, maybe 25 yds, how much extra? And finally the all important long range question, perhaps 40 yds, how much extra allowance do you give a bird?

     

    I know many people that say they don't judge lead, they just do it automatically. I have to say that whilst this may now be the case, how did you learn to adapt to range and speed? In terms of science and measurement, there must be more to it than 'practise', 'it comes with experience' or even 'it's natural talent'.

     

    I tend to estimate speed and distance and allow between a few inches and 9 yds in front for a really quick high bird. If you were being honest, what would you admit to?

     

    Many thanks.

  2. Rooster

     

    1. Do you only use dead birds or plastic deaks too? If you do use the artificials which type do you think are the most effective and how many are needed, in your opinion?

     

    2. Also, I have a field where the birds like to feed just beyond a hedge and I can't shoot that field for safety reasons. With the wind usually coming from behind me, how do I get the birds to fly beyond their normal patch and come into a pattern beyond the hedge? Your advice would be much appreciated :lol:

  3. Good point Invector, I quite agree. A perfect decoy pattern should attract and hold birds like a flock of naturals - if they spook, it's usually for a reason and our problem is to identify what it is and solve it. Having said that, I do find it hard to get it right, especially when the wind is variable in terms of direction.

  4. I too had a problem with Pinewood and the non-delivery of emails. I took them to task on several forums and they sent hard copies of the emails that I had not received, resulting in my apologies on each forum.

     

    1. Shouldn't a company like Pinewood that charges high price for its equipment have a reliable email service? It is hardly the customer's problem if their IT equipment has problems.

     

    2. I still do not expect to have someone I have paid over £250 to be rude to me and not apologise for providing damaged goods (even if they did think they sent the emails).

     

    I don't want this to become a big deal, but a bit of common courtesy from UK retailers would not go amiss. We are becoming renowned for our poor customer service and it is totally unnecessary.

  5. An interesting response from Pinewood: emails sent (but not received by me) and big attitude about this forum - he doesn't like it. Actually told me to pick up the phone if I have a problem rather than sending an email. Was pretty shirty and hardly apologetic - I thought you would like to know just in case you have the pleasure of an encounter with Mr Pinewood - very prickly.

  6. Spectacular bag, rooster. Just got myself 12,000 acre permission and I haven't yet managed to find out where all the osr is - maybe I'll manage a day like that in the future (just the thought of it would be amazing!). Got a fair few pigeons coming in just below my house but it's almost impossible to shoot safely. I suppose it shows that being old doesn't prevent you from cockadoodle doing like a goog 'en.

  7. Hmmm Maori, an interesting dilemma with the 12/20 option. This is how I see it:

     

    1. Young boys, and my wife tells me I was a boy once, like big guns so it makes sense that you'd like a big one.

     

    2. Some men like big guns, big ones, and some like 12 bores because they do what everybody else does.

     

    3. Some men shoot well with a 12 bore and see no reason to change for the sake of change alone.

     

    4. Some men that have used 12 bores decide to shoot with 20 bores because they need a lighter gun and are getting on in years like an old sheep.

     

    5. Some men that have used 12 bores decide to shoot with 20 bores because they realise that they are an effective weapon and, due to the reduced number of pellets, appreciate that it takes accuracy to compete with a big man with a big gun. Some might say, that it is a choice a man makes when he wants a challenge and doesn't mind making his own choices in a world where many are afraid of what others think.

     

    6. Few boys decide to miss out these stages because each one is quite fun.

     

    If I were you, now I've mulled it over, I'd get a big one :lol:

  8. Invector - do you know, I just saw one swoop in and I dropped it with my imaginary 20 bore ;)

     

    Cranfield - you might have something with that 'instruction' thing; I don't know what 'instructions' are, I think that's a gender specific term. Of course, if I did find out how to get the winged decoys on the cradle as a result of having read the instructions, I certainly wouldn't let on now would I? :lol:

     

    I remain optimistic that Pinewood will come up trumps.

  9. I just splashed out on a Pinewood Advantage Magnet and have been having some problems:

     

    1. Can't seem to keep the Pinewood winged decoys on the magnet's cradle arms (doesn't appear to be a very secure fit).

     

    2. The speed control unit doesn't work.

     

    3. The crocodile clips are of such low quality that one has actually fallen off the cradle arm.

     

    I have contacted Pinewood and hope they will be able to send me some replacement parts. In the mean time, anyone got an idiots' guide to attaching winged decoys to a Pinewood Advantage?

     

    Many thanks, Ochre.

  10. I have just got my first permission in my own county and am absolutely delighted!! :D I can even shoot from the fields at the bottom of my garden. When would you say were the best times in the day to shoot and what conditions tend to be the most promising, in your humble opinions? Your sage words would be much appreciated.

  11. Meeting with a keeper near me at the weekend to discuss a new permission. Any of you folks got some good advice for introducing the idea of permission for me and the guy I usually shoot with?? I like to shoot with someone else and it would be a shame to have to go it alone.

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