Old Boggy

Job’s comforter comes to mind 😂

Having a single barrel certainly concentrates the mind on that first and possibly only shot. Graduating from a .410 at 11 to a single 12 at the age of 13, I had a BSA Snipe ( nowhere near the quality of a Greener GP and ejecting the cartridge whether fired or not) but I was then able to try my hand at ‘shooting flying’ and managed reasonable bags of walked up grey partridges. That was in the days when the stubbles were left over winter and it was common to see several large coveys in the same field. Progressing to a cheap Spanish double had me thinking that I would double the bag. How wrong was I. Instead my accuracy diminished somewhat until I got the hang of once again concentrating on the first shot and not even contemplating a right and left. OB

We`re just not men of the world like you Dave

Marsh man will be along shortly extolling the culinary virtues of Coot and Moorhen . Come on John, where are you? OB

I had to google that ! Told you I`d led a very sheltered life

As already said, AYAs with 26 inch barrels are far from rare. There are around 28 AYAs, mainly No.4s for sale on Guntrader and that’s just looking at the 12 bores. There are also around 8 or 9 No.2s with 26 inch barrels. Holts have an AYA 16 bore in their sealed bid auction which is clearly AYAs No.400, similar to a No.4 but with shoulders to the action which I understand was made prior to the No.4 and predominantly for their home market. I used to own one exactly the same and one serial number away so perhaps a batch was made whilst the popularity for shorter barrels was in force. I really should get a life and stop keep looking at guns for sale as my cabinet and bank balance are not conducive to buying any more guns. OB

So welcome to Pigeon Watch Kevin Griffith……………….. wherever you are

I would hazard a guess at 6 inches. OB

A good bag by anyone’s standards but in those conditions it made for a great bag and the cream of pigeon shooting. Thanks for posting. OB

I must admit that if I can drive to my hide position where weight isn`t a problem, I always take a seat with a backrest as long periods also play my back up. Unfortunately no-one has been able to answer your original question regarding the lightweight camping type seat that you`ve seen advertised. It does seem a lot of money, but if it`s fit for purpose and prevents backache, then it`s worth it. OB

This is what I now use when walking to my hide. I know it’s not got a backrest but it’s surprising how comfortable it is and easy to carry. Height adjustable etc but not what the OP is after.

Probably but it doesn`t open for me. One of these days I might even drag myself screaming into the 20th Century and learn how to attach links so that I can be like GB, sorry TC. Then it`ll be trying to get into the 21st Century but that would really be an achievement

This just popped up on Amazon. Sorry cannot do links so poor photos I`m afraid. Seems to tick the boxes with being light, foldable with backrest and also note it`s got large pads to stop the legs from sinking in soft ground. Certainly cheaper than the one that the OP was thinking about buying. The seat certainly looks well padded and comfortable. Just noticed that it swivels as well. Also, I`m sure that the Amazon price could be beaten. Photo of full dimensions and weight added for anyone interested. Same height as a standard bucket seat. Just a thought. OB

There`s quite a nice Armas Garbi (Gunmark Royale) 20 bore SLE in the Holts Sealed Bid auction. Estimate £300-£500. It is dated 1986, has 27 inch barrels, 2 3/4 chambers and is choked Cyl/1/4. It`s Lot No.6535. Just a thought and maybe worth a look. OB

I use PlantNet which gives the option of identification by flower, leaf, fruit, bark, habit or other.

Isn’t the next Game Fair at Blenheim which probably isn’t a million miles from you.

And don’t forget to add a little water to bring out the full flavour. OB

Cannot see what part of the country that you’re in, but Capt.C has a Kawasaki quad for sale in the sales section, which looks like a brilliant buy and within your budget. He’s in Cornwall. OB

I think that you are correct OPP. A pal of mine still has a set with a two-pigeon spreader bar. The later poles I referred to with the longer spigots were from UK Shootwarehouse. OB

The ones shown in the photo were using 7 five foot poles, so up to 35 feet, but I have fairly easily lofted to 50 feet which was sufficient for the trees in the woods I use. I have three sets of poles now but have yet to try to use all three sets at once. The last set I bought had longer spigots (8 inches as opposed to the older ones which had 3 inch spigots) and so are less bendy and these are the ones I tend to use for the top sections. The trick, not only to get the right spot in the wood (sitty or roosting trees) which can only be obtained by reconnaissance or noting guano on the ground, but finding a fairly clear gap up through the trees and resting the poles on branches on the way up. This way, extra poles can be added as you hoist up and if necessary turning the whole lot so that the bar finds a clear route up (if that makes sense). Obviously the top section needs supporting as that many poles can bend quite a lot. It`s easier to do and possibly demonstrate than to explain in writing. Next time out I will take a photo of the whole of the poles to give a better indication of height. Obviously once to the required height, the whole lot needs to be turned so that the decoys are facing the wind to look as natural as possible. Hope this helps but I can assure you that in the right place they certainly work well. I am now a firm believer in just two decoys hoisted as high as possible is far better than the five on a standard set of poles (25 feet) using those damned hooks things. As said, I can get the whole lot up in three minutes and retrieved even quicker. I hope that this helps. I think that 80 feet would need some handling up through the branches, but Will Garfit once told me that he regularly achieves that height with his poles. OB

Was that flapper Fat Sarah?😂

I must admit that I don’t normally have time to lay the bag out neatly but thought that as PC always finds time after several hours, that I really should make the effort.😂

Welcome to Pigeon Watch

I agree, always seems to work for me, if in the right place or tree. Same spot as last week but slightly different angle as the wind had changed a bit.

Went to my usual little wood out on the marsh with the lofting poles and 2 pigeon spreader bar. There were a few about and some feeding on the field in front which is a mixture of nitrogen fixing crops to be ploughed in and then drilled with maize. Not having the time to set up with decoys, whirly etc on the field I settled for just my two lofted pigeons. With a short time frame of just an hour and a half today (12 until 1.30) I was very pleased with my bag of 10 pigeons. Not the same sort of bags obtained by Muncher et al but for my time out, I was more than happy. The lofters took just 3 minutes to put up and two to take down so I think that I have finally perfected lofted pigeons after many years of trial and error. The time I have wasted with those damned hook arrangements in the past. I had some easy shots as they came into the trees but also a few absolute screamers as they floated high over the wood, so was pretty pleased with my performance with my 90 year old G.Bate 16 bore side by side, an absolute joy to use. Further outings are planned for this little wood as this is always the place where I hear the first cuckoo of the season, the sound of which resonates far over the marsh on a still day. Please note that I`ve tried to improve somewhat on the normal `Kentish Pile` style of pigeon presentation. Thanks for reading. OB