Hammergun

Just interested to know how most people prepare their pigeons.

Come on YP. I thought you were above posting offensive jokes like that. Hopefully the moderators will remove it.

I trust soon-to-be Mrs YP isnt around at the moment!! :yp:

I think your insurance company should be able to claim damages from the dog's owner as the dog was not under control at the time. You should check up with a legal expert.

Its best with a nice suet crust pastry. Only use the breasts. You can add pigeon breasts to make them go further. PS don't overdo the mace or it will dominate the flavour.

[GRRROOOOAAAAANNN!!!!!] Don't give up the day job, YP! :yp:

If you want sparkling cider, you add (I think) 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar to the bottles when you bottle it. (check any home winemaking book for sugar quantities) Use bottles with crown caps. The extra sugar ferments in the sealed bottle and makes the fizz!

It's coming round that time of year again that the young rooks are appearing, and I have again been asked about rook pie. I tried this old recipe from "Cassell's Dictionary of Cookery", circa 1860 (I only used the breasts) and it resulted in quite a good pie. "The rook affords a dry and coarse meat. A pie made of young rooks is tolerable; at least, it is the best form of using these birds as food. There is, in the opinion of some, a resemblance between the flavour of the young rook and that of the young pigeon. Rook pie - Rooks require long stewing, or they will not be tender. The breasts are the only parts of the birds which are really worth using, and when the other portions are put into the dish, care should be taken to cut out the spine and the flesh near it to the width of three quarters of an inch, or the pie will have a bitter taste. Many cooks lay the birds in a dish, season them with pepper and salt, put a coarse flour-and-water crust over them, and then bake then for a couple of hours; the next day they remove the common crust, lay good pastry over them, and bake the pie in the usual way. The following recipe will, however be found very good: Take six or eight freshly killed young rooks. Skin without plucking them, and to do this cut the skin round the first joint of the legs, and draw it over the head. Cut off the necks, draw the birds, and cut away the legs, backs and wings. Cut a pound of chunk steak into neat squares, pepper these, and lay them in a pie dish, pouring over them half a teacupful of stock or water, cover the dish closely, and bake themeat until it is almost done enough, Lay the breastsof the rooks upon the steak, with a small slice of butter upon each. Sprinkle over them a seasoning of salt, pepper and pounded mace, and pour over them as much stock or water as will barely cover them. let them bake gently for half an hour, Let the dish cool, then line the edges with good pastry, cover it with the same, ornament according to taste, make a hole in the centre that the steam may escape, and bake in a brisk oven. When the pastry is done enough, the pie may be served. Time to bake, altogether two hours and a half, probable cost, uncertain, rooks being seldom sold. Sufficient for five or six persons. Rook Pie (another way) -Skin and draw six young rooks, and cut out the backbones. Season them with pepper and salt, put them in a deep dish with half a pint of water, lay some bits of butter over them and cover the dish with a tolerably thick crust. Let the pie be well baked." You have to soak the breasts of rooks in milk overnight before cooking to remove the bitter taste.

I'm afraid ther isn't, short of stripping the gun down into its components and sending it away to be redone (expensive). Gun blue in a bottle won't work as air rifle barrels are usually blacked and not blued.

The wind whistled round the ancient chimney, causing the turf fire to flicker, casting an cheery orange glow around the gloomy interior of the inn. The warming scent of peat smoke mingled with the aroma of fine brown ale, wholesome roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding and Pigeon Pies; a fine thing to cheer the heart of any tired sportsman. The ancient beams and walls were hung with many trappings of the chase; a handful of age-worn fox masks, the trophy of a young Red Stag, and an ancient Hammergun hung above the fireplace. The barman leant against the bar, polishing his tankards and waiting for the old comarades to arrive.

Some ot those eggs look to be from different types of chicken, (and no, I don't mean the goose eggs before anyone comments). PD hopes to get his Christmas goose!

I think you are on the wrong forum with this mate. We are all serious shooters here.

My most expensive shotgun cost me £400 and its more than good enough for what I do. Go and see if you can try them before you buy.

Rubbish! If they are a serious pest, best get them early before they are allowed to do any serious damage. Once a rabbit appears above ground, it is fully capable of looking after itself, unlike a pigeon chick.

Squintshot - it depends on who the neighbours are. If he is in a built up area, no 12 bore! If it is surrounded by fields and can be safely shot, no problems. Rabbits are most likely to be out early morning, early evening or late at night. Sometimes they come out around midday to sun themselves. They also seem to like to be out in light rain. As for the Royal Marine base, just inform them that there is a rabbit problem and that you will be shooting at a certain time and all should be OK. If it is not possible to use a 12 bore, have you considered live cage traps or setting snares?

Hmmmm, is everyone else here too fat to fit into them as well?

you can use an air rifle unaccompanined on private land with permission from the age of 14, but you cannot carry in a public place until 17. A pellet crossing a boundary where permission is not granted is classed as a more serious offence now.

Happy birthday!

Worn once (oops - they don't seem to fit me now :*) ) size 32 regular, Fully lined. £15 including postage.

It is worth the trip from Hartlepool. There's usually a nice clay layout, and some interesting stalls. I usually go, but this year it clashes with our point to point race.

It's like anything else. The more chances you take, the more risk of accidents. I personally would never jump a gate if there were means of opening it. You should never jump wire if there is an easy way round and if you are not 100 per cent confident of your horse. I have a nice little wire fence jump in my paddock for training the horses. The wire is gripped at the sides by friction so it comes away from the posts if a horse gets fast in it.

It's a bit quiet in here tonight. Where is everyone these days?

Anyone about?

WR Pape double barrelled 4 bore (and someone to carry it for me)

I have had lots of fun shooting rats. They can give excellent sport and obtaining permission is hardly any difficulty! One place I went to was so infested, it was just like one of those shooting galleries in the theme parks! You can easily shoot hundreds in one night. Don't forget to take great care handling them as they carry lots of nasty diseases.