westcountrylance

once i had shot 3 from the oak tree, i placed them in my pattern. i had 3 land in my pattern but they flew off too fast to position my gun and aim. I really need to get my gun sorted for shooting up at that angle as i missed a few birds aswell. Sometimes there was up to 7 birds in the tree if they came in at once but as i said, very windy. i shall be back in a few days. The probelm is, there can be a flock of 80 birs in the field over and they wont come near the deecs once they are settled on a patch! Cheers UKpaocher for your advice. ps. as i only take the breasts from the bird, i may well freeze the bodies of the others and use them as decoys next time.

Ive had some success recently on standing corn, by placing deecs on sticks above the corn and shooting at the birds in trees above the decoys. A field has jst been cut for rape an there was probably 50+ birds on it erlier. Im going to try and get down there at first light in the morning, or in the evening, not sure yet. The issue is, there are only 3 oak trees on the side of the field and they are pretty dense so its unlikly im going to be able to hit anything that land in them. I only have two decoys, and in the past, 95% of birds ive shot have either gone in to a tree before ive shot them, or flown on to my decoys and then flew up in the tree without touching the ground. now if there is no tree nearby, then they will just fly off :( not sure what do do. I could risk not using any decoys and hope they land in range, the field isn't massive, and my hide will be quality as the sun is behind the hedge, so no chance of being spoted.. but its a risk if they all land pretty far away. IF lots fly down then sometimes i can shoot them witout spooking the main flock wich means they keep on coming. but if they all get spooked by deecs that have been in the same position for an hour then i really have no chance! any advice? shooting with an airgun up to a tree has enough problems..!

hi guys, loads of ducks are hammering my mates winter rape. about 150-200, fairly small, fast flying in flocks. white bellies and the brown shade body like a mallard duck. no idea what they are. any info would be good as ive no idea if they are shootable! they also feed late at night, they were there at 5.00pm which was pretty dark. causing masses of damage.

are we ment to be suprised that a fox "turned on an ex solider" (nice words) when it tried to stop it from gettting its prey? im not. and i cant belive people leave windows open in london when the know full well that foxes are present and hungry. Do you think that people in other contries where bears and wolfs are present just leave there doors open when their babies are asleep, i find it almost amusing. Its a prime example of english over reaction, just like the weather, political corectness, and viruses...media hype. Yes i agree that they cause problems, but they are an animal that has right to be alive. It it the farmer who owns the chickens and puts feed infront of the fox. so the farmer must deal with it. Not by killing EVERY fox in sight. I think this will end up leading in a complete cull of all badgers, foxes, dear ect and we will simply be left with no wilflife. agreed,

Good advice above!! Do you have fields with corn near your house? It has yet to be cut on my mates land, and although there is not even 10 acres there are many birds. A shotgun would scare all the birds away if you let a shot off so an air gun is the better option. Personaly i find a place that is suitable for a hide and that has a sitty tree within shootable distance (i use head and shoulder shots) my decoys (only have 2) are placed on bamboo canes above the corn or on a flatned down bit about 10m from the tree. I get in my hide (usualy i stand under a tree in a hedge) in a position where i can see my decoys. Its important for me that i have a branch to rest my gun on when i take my shot. Most birds will fly up in to the tree before flying down on to the decoys. I had 6 yesterday, all clean kills. could have had many more. The main point i will say is make sure you are 100% hidden and 100% comfortable. A bad hide or shooting position you are not fond of will make you get itchy feet. I also prefere to shoot in a strong wind. You are less likely to be heard, so is your shot. also the trees are moving so the birds are less sensitive to your movement. However, if the birds land on small branches its like theyre on a see-saw so you have to wait til they go on a solid branch to take your shot. best of luck few good videos on youtube aswell

ok cheers mate, ive got a few so will give it ago this week and lett you know how i do. Where i have come from in hampshire there were loads of birds over clover, but the pigeon population is phenominal over there compared to the few we get here. thanks

There are only a few field of crops in the miles around my home, as 99% of the land is cattle. When the corn goes golden it should produce some better sport though. Realy strugling at the moment, i have a 13m pole that i can put through an ash tree and sit a couple of birds on top. Just have to find a good tree and shooting position. Maybe il give that a go this week.

ok, so i go down to the little wood by me, probably about 25m wide and 150m long. pretty hard to shoot in, as its a very steep gully. In the winter i had a few birds in there as they were very easy to see when i snuck in. At this time of year all the leavs are out so the birds are very hard to see. Last night there were about 12-20 birds on a ash, picking off shoots. Sadly i was unable to get one shot in, despite being at 20yds. It was also windy as hel, so they were bobbing about on the tree. Ive got a few decoys, but it will hard getting them to stay up in the wind. (although i usualy prefer wind as pigions are les sensitive to noise) There is also not a very suitable place to sit as there are so many branches in the way I could sit at the bottom of the gully in the stream, but then i would be shooting up verticaly (bad neck and wet bum..) Had to share my frustration, i need to think a way around this one...

excelent link mate! found a couple of guns not far away at a shooting club. once im all set to go, i will give the guy a call and ask if anythings in. cheers.

Cheers mates, a 12 bore it is then, unless i look in to 4.10 cartrige prices and think otherwise! Ive had an introductory clay shooting morning with a local chap who has all the licences to give tuition ect, and had a real good briefing on safety. Once i have my own gun, i shal have a few days out with him as i think it would be a real help to give me the foundation i need. My cousin in a police officer in cumbria and was involved in the policing of the crime. Her son also knew a victim, i can asure you that i am aware of the dangers, and the power of these guns. thanks for your help. just looked at 4.10 cartridge prices and on mole valley website they seem only to be 30-50p more expensive per 25. I think once if have my cabinet and licence, il keep my ears peeled and check in local papers.

Hi guys, i am wanting to apply for my shotgun licence in the next few weeks, in the hope of doing some shooting over the summer. Im not very experienced in shotguns atal, and have only shot a few times. Ive read around on diferent guns, and had shots on a gun, but i know it was a very expensive one, and im a student on a budget! The land around me is not used for crops, like other parts of the country so there are not huge amounts of birds about, like the flocks you see in hampshire for example. I am not looking for a top of the range gun, as it will only be used a few times a year and the numbers of birds are not very high. I am asuming a 12 bore gun would be my best bet for shooting pigeons, and ocasional clays, but please correct me if im wrong...Are 4.10 shotguns much cheeper to buy? and what would be the disadvantages if i got one? As for the gun itself, a single shot would be ok, but a double barrel would be a bonus. I am looking to spend up to 300 quid max. I cant find prices on the net, but i am aware that a new shotgun would cost considerably more, so am after a second hand one i guess. Could anyone recoment a good first shotgun, or names to look out for when searching? As i said, im not looking for a top of the range gun, just a basic one that will cover everything i need for shooting a few birds. If i can get a gun for cheeper, then i would, as a mate of mine picked on up for 100 quid last month, and hes had a few birds with it. thanks alot for any help

DO YOU GUYS BAIT THE RATS IN one place for a few nights prior to shoointg? and do you put a light out so you can see them? thanks

Just wondering if anyones shot any recently? And if so, what was the shooting situation you were in?

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE RABBIT YOU HAVE shot, has babies in it? i thought this was quite rank, and definatly put me off eating the meat!

Is it safe to try and put a decoy on an electrical cable? im guessing it is safe but would be frowned apon due to the principal. if not, il have to think of somthing else, as the cable is in a good position close to the edge of a corn field, but the actual point of roosting is over a road. geting the birds to land prior to them reaching the roost spot (and crosing the road meaning i cant shoot) would mean i can shoot them. there are no other trees close by that would do the same job. any sugestions? i was thinking of taking a large branch in to the corn and resting a decoy on it. to create a false place so to speek. any advice on geting the decoy (full bodied) to sit on the branch would also be a good help.

good advice!! i just got permision to shoot in a small gully, filled with oak trees. i COVERED myself in cammo, crept in at sun set and had 2 woodies, was really chuffed as i had a couple of goes before where i just scared them from there trees! was on my belly most of the time, had to scramble silently down a bank to sneak a pellet through loads of branches - was excelent when i found and got the pelett through. tasted excelent too. The key is stealth and scaning every branch before they hear you!

i used to be able to put 3 pellets through the same hole a few weeks ago, not i cant seem to get 2 in the same inch space... will try above sugestions, but its very anoying. especialy as it used to be so acuraate i could get the pellet exactly where i wanted it each time.

so you sugest puting some down near a wall or a place that looks smelly, full of holes and ratty?... i think il give it a go this easter.

ive always wondered about rat shooting the only time i see them is when they move at 200mph from one pipe, to a drain about 5m away. how the hel do you shoot them in this time? they dont tend to hang about and feed for any amount of time. i work on a farm so may try and wait and see if any come out next week. cheers

another quicke... where do you aim for a clean kill on rooks? i usualy go for the head, but often find there is much flaping before the bird dies, which has put me off shooting them to be honest! thanks

Anyone ever use eye shots? i hit a rabit strait through the eye from 25+ yards and it droped like a stone, THUMP-one dead rabit on the floor. http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...sa%3DX%26um%3D1 these are the pelets i use, i have a feeling if they go through the eye, they really do some shatering damage!

stalking is hard, i usualy wait where i KNOW rabits come out from. i use a mat, a large clump of ivy and a bi pod made from two sticks.. i lie fairly close to the hedge at sun set. Just my way of doing things at the moment.

if you want to be put on top of local fly fishing knowledge then let me know and il direct you to a very good forum, with several people who fish chew, blagdon and the barrows regularly. same goes for anyone else, just drop me a pm

I aways hold a pelet in my mouth for quick loading if i ever need a second shot. its neer done me any harm, but who knows, maybe in 30 years il grow an extra leg. maybe i should have a re-think about where to hold a spare pelet!

Ive just boughht a new gun, a Wierauch 97K with 3-9x40 scope. Shot my first rabbit yesterday evening and was well chuffed! I sugest you get your gun checked to see actualy how much power its kicking out Got some Crosman Premier Hollow Point Pellets wich were over £8 but killed the bunny in one shot right in the eye. The rabbit droped dead instantly. I was really chuffed, as i went to effort with mat, made a mono V rest for my gun and lead quietly on my chest behind a huge lump of ivy i bought from another field. I had my scope set at 6-7 times magnification and the rabit was at about 25 years im guesing. easy way of seting up scope - get a cardbourd box.... draw four circles about the size fo a £2 coin in each quarter...measure up 30 yards at say 8x magnification. then do it again at 6x magnification at 20 yds for closer quary. You may find, at a closer distance your pellet hits the top of the circle, (because it may dipp at 30yds) so you need to remember to aim 1/4 of an inch lower if your at a shorter distance ect ect. Just have a mess about with firing at these sized circles and find what suits you best