johnnymills

Jason, do you live anywhere near manuden...? John.

Hi, Some of the fields on my permission are oilseed rape, bonus for me was that they had started to cut the main field but after a few passes the machinery broke down then the weathers deteriorated leaving the majority of the field standing with a 60 yard cut strip along one hedgeline. Been out a few times this week for a couple of hours in the afternoon after work, not huge numbers but steady and really good hit to shot ratios (for me anyway), yesterday had 12 birds for 16 shots in two hours, similar numbers the few days before. Birds seem really focused and it's been particularly easy to decoy them in, even had a good few birds passing over, literally making a mid air stop and turning in. I've definitley realised the difference as before I've only been able to shoot over laid barley then stubble, where the birds weren't really interested and you only got passing shots, now its a different story! Can't see the field being finished any time soon having just seen the forecast. Got a few days off now so I'll be out tomorrow to give it a full days attention, I'll post some pics if I can. I'm trying not to get too excited... Already warned the missus she'll only be seeing me if I run out of shells! Which has probably put the mockers on it... By the way read a book recently by John Humphreys 'Shooting Pigeons' thought it was really useful as a newcomer to pigeon decoying, however if anyone can recommend another I'll give that a go. John. Murphy gave me a proper kicking, arrived and half the field already harvested this morning, sat by the gate, watched them finish and within five minutes another tractor came in and started turning the stubble in... that'll teach me to look forward to something. Bit gutted to be honest. Managed a couple of rabbits that were a bit disorientated by it all in the top field but not much of a consolation... LMAO? No I didn't. John.

Hi John. I can argue with most of that and will very happily, if you indicate you want to discuss it further. The fact is that two wholly innocent men were shot down by police in circumstances in which they had the right to expect to be left alone. No one has been held accountable in either case. It is not threatening, or an offense to be in possession in the street of a table leg that's been repaired by your brother, and nor is it a menace to society to be in possession of a sun tan on the tube. These are not my arguments by the way. The behaviour of police in both these cases is well documented to be deeply flawed and full of crass misjudgments. If you or I made a mistake with a .22 rimfire and through a ricochet hit someone in the head, you can be sure that we would be in the dock. Not so if you're a cop and put seven into an electrician's head on the tube though - oh and one in his shoulder. That's OK. You just need to get the Met Chief to apologise. Regards EV EV, I agree, that with hindsight, both men were indeed innocent and I also agree there were some outrageous misjudgments made as far as Mr Menezes death was concerned, noteably with senior officers involved, who for the record I believe should be held accountable, perhaps that should have been made clearer on my original post. As far as Mr Stanley goes, there's a bit more to it than he was shot for being in posession of a table leg... I've also never taken a shot with any firearm without a totally safe and appropriate back stop, if you don't then perhaps indeed you should be held responsible for your actions, in any case it's certainly not a comparable example to the two previously mentioned scenarios. However I'm aware that we have hijacked this thread for which I apologise and perhaps we could agree to disagree on the matters? If you're ever about in Essex PM me, we'll shoot some pigeons and perhaps discuss it further down my local! Regards John.

Unfortunately the term 'cowboy cops' in my humble opinion doesn't really apply to either of these scenarios you refer to, some objective and impartial research suggests otherwise. In the case of Jean Charles Menezes the officers involved were responsible for dealing with a proven and very real threat, the decision to shoot was not one they had to take as individuals, this was apparently made by a senior officer with a complete overview of the whole operation, they were simply told to shoot or not and as such when that order was given they were to believe that the person they had (in this case pinned to the floor underneath them) had an explosive device on his person... would you do that? I know I couldn't. The failings in this instance it seems were not of the officer responsible for pulling the trigger. As far as Harry Stanley goes, there was a whole series of events leading to the fatal shooting, a good number of people for different reasons had real concerns that it was indeed a firearm and the decision to shoot or be shot had to be taken by an individual, not from a rooftop 200 yards away, but in close proximity, with the honest held belief that your or someone elses life was in danger. Again, an equally unenviable position to be in. Regards John.

Hi, I took over my dad's 4 year old ESS getting on for a year ago, he had been worked but caused no end of drama's and as such has been sent to live with me and my family as a pet. Only problem is he's great, he's a fantastic dog and I can't help but think I may be able to get him right. I beat on my local shoot and have recently exteneded my permission which would enable a nice bit of rough shooting, the thought of getting him out working is really appealing. I understand whatever techniques I employ won't be overnight fixes and need months of training and repetition, however before I even consider working him is it too late? He walks to heel, sit/stay/down isn't a problem, got a fantastic nose, retrieves game, HOWEVER only in an enclosed environment typically anywhere he knows he can't get away... Out and about is a different story, first scent of a fox/deer/rabbit/pheasant and he's off into the next parish. Always comes back but in about 10 to 15 minutes barely able to walk without falling over his tongue . Tried high value treats, nothing compares to just doing one. John.

Funny enough I was over some barley this morning with a few laid patches, I noticed that when the birds were dropping into the patches the flapping/flaring motion just before they touch down was really eye catching, not just to me but indeed each time a bird dropped in at the other end of the field it pulled several from sitting trees on the end I was set up... I reckon with standing crop it would need to be positioned above the crop level to achieve that pull. I'll be off out tomorrow to get one myself...

Quick note to say thanks for some top posts! I recently acquired my certificate, obtained permission to shoot over some very nice land in NW Essex/E Herts and ventured out to my first fields of pigeons, asssited no end by having read through this forum for the last few months (seemed like years though) whilst waiting for it all to fall into place! I've air rifled since I was a teenager but only had the occasional day out on the clays or rough shooting with friends as a guest so shooting is not an entirely new thing, but I can honestly say the first bird I folded in the morning at first light that came into the decoys was as exciting as the last one I hung on for late yesterday evening, quite a day. All in only twelve birds for the day but then I missed three times as many as I hit... They're not the same as clays are they! So as I said, thanks to anyone who has posted, it has been a great help indeed. John.