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We got there early morning. The pigeons were still sat in the trees when we arrived at the farm. We drove round the farm for about 20-30 minutes before setting up to decide where to go. By the time we'd chosen where to set up, the pigeopns were down onto the field. We pushed them off as we were setting up, around 8:00am. As for the rotary/magnet. We didnt set one up due to us not having much confidence in them, but we've only ever used it on Barley, Wheat etc. so it probably would have worked on the day. We had one floater/bouncer set up on the edge of the decoy pattern which seemed to work. It would attract the birds closer to the decoys but they would not land so we were forced to shoot them flighting. We finished the day with 10 woodies and 8 Crovids so I guess it wasn't a complete failure. Cheers for the reply's lads, much appreciated

Had a go at the pigeons earlier this week on the rape. Good weather conditions and what not, 1000+ pigeons in the area. Looked like it was set for a good day. Pushed them off first thing then set up. Pigeons came back throughout the day in small and big groups but no matter what, they would not decoy There is about 1000 acres of rape in the area so they were just flying round and going from field to field as well which is always hard work. I've never shot over rape previously and have been told that it can be a real pain. Can anyone enlighten me on what and what not to do when it comes to Rape? Cheers, Tayler

Noice

Thanks for the comments guys

First Roe Buck, taken friday night. Chuffed to bits!

Cheers, Tayler

A few weeks ago in that hot weather we took the dogs around Tring reservoirs to do some water work. Took the camera with us and took a few pics, hope you enjoy them. Ellie, our 4 year old spaniel.

Haven't seen it yet, will have to get mum to the shops in the morning, well spotted and thanks for mentioning otherwise it would have gone unnoticed Cheers

Spent a day with Carl Bloxham with my dad and brother on tuesday. We started the day off on the pattern plate testing various different chokes and cartridges to find what was best. (The best cartridge we tried was a 24g 7.5 Hull ProTwenty) It proved quite interesting aswell. When we checked my auto with the 1/4 choke it was barely tight enough for a clay at just 30yds, with the 1/2 in it was 40yds max, so we switched to my O/U which is 3/4 and full. This through very nice patterns, not just tight but very equal aswell. We then refilled with cartridges and went on to the clays. We started with a left to right crosser at about 25-30yds. We found them quite ok however missing the odd 1 or 2. Carl said that it was because my brother and I were putting too much weight on our left leg, he taught us to bend from the knee more and not to stab at the clay. This instantly made us start breaking them constantly We continued onto some driven that weren't quite straight over our heads, instead they were slightly curling round the left of us. We were breaking a few and missing a few again. Carl once again got us onto them with ease. He said instead of shooting them with a curling swing we should angle our bodies to our left and have a straight swing on them. This also made us break them one after the other Throughout the morning we kept shooting a few different targets and then retreating back a cabin for a cup of tea. At around mid day Carl put on a 100 bird layout for the my dad, brother and I. This took a few hours to complete and was really enjoyable with some very tricky targets(quite alot being long crossers). My brother beat me and dad After we had done all the tuition we had a bit of fun. Carl put on a right to left crosser for us. We started at 30yds and once we had all broke the clay(which we all did) we would walk back 5 yds. This kept going until we started missing. My brother and I got to 55yds before we started missing. Dad went on to 60yds before he started missing due to the clays going through the pattern. We then did the same sort of thing but this time with a left to right looper. We started at 30yds again. We got back to 65yds before they started going through the pattern once again. Carl is an amazing coach and will always put you right no matter what. Also, even if your not having any problems I recommend goin to see him just to sharpen up and even learn a few different techniques. When I went my left eye was taking over a bit even though I'm right eye dominant, he sorted this out straight away Excellent day, really helpful and informative. We have already arranged a day in august before the season There are a few videos of it in the Sporting Videos forum for you to look at. Thanks Videos: http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/157736-a-day-with-carl-bloxham/

Fallowing up from "A Day with Carl Bloxham" in Clay shooting forum: http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TJSmall123/Carl%20Bloxham/?action=view&current=CarlBloxham014-1.mp4 http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TJSmall123/Carl%20Bloxham/?action=view&current=CarlBloxham015-1.mp4 http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TJSmall123/Carl%20Bloxham/?action=view&current=CarlBloxham013-1.mp4 http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TJSmall123/Carl%20Bloxham/?action=view&current=CarlBloxham012-1.mp4 http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TJSmall123/Carl%20Bloxham/?action=view&current=CarlBloxham010-1.mp4 http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TJSmall123/Carl%20Bloxham/?action=view&current=CarlBloxham019.mp4 Cheers, scroll through more if you want

Nice

It handles really well. It cycles from 24g to 36g goose loads but it will start jamming on any dirty cartriges that spill powder into the action. I found the 20 bore is not as reliable as the 12 bore Escort that we used to have, but they're brilliant value for money.

"Game for the purposes of this section means pheasant, partridge, red grouse, black grouse and hare. No game may be killed or taken in any county on Sunday or Christmas Day. Before the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 orders prohibiting the shooting of wildfowl on Sundays were made under sections 2 and 13 of the Protection of Birds Act 1954. Those still in existence are in the following counties (or parts of counties in existence before the 1974 local authority re-organisation): Anglesey, Brecknock, Caernarvon, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Cornwall, Denbigh, Devon, Doncaster, Glamorgan, Great Yarmouth County Borough, Isle of Ely, Leeds County Borough, Merioneth, Norfolk, Pembroke, Somerset, North and West Ridings of Yorkshire" BASC Its legal to shoot wildfowl in Buckinghamshire on a sunday.

Here is some pond porn.............

Went to shoot a friend's Buckinghamshire pond tonight with my brother CamS-94 and dad. Dad wasn't too hopeful as the pond had been frozen for 3 days but the ducks had been fed on top of the ice. When we got there dad waded in, broke some ice and flooded more water on top of the unbroken ice to help encourage the ducks in and we hadn't been there five minutes before a small party of mallard circled at height before clearing off. Next thing dad said he could hear teal and right on cue a single drake teal whizzed in, flared and my brother knocked it down. The teal was followed by a pair of mallard. Dad shouted and my brother dropped his one but I missed mine, however it went round the field, set it's wings and came in for me to kill it this time. Proper wild mallard this one. A single teal landed on the ice, dad shouted and as it powered off into the gloom dad knocked it down as my brother knocked down another that suddenly appeared over the trees. Dad had another teal that flared over us and suddenly it was too dark to shoot and it was all over. We heard more teal and wigeon but couldn't see them and we heard a small skein of canadas pass. All that was left was to get the dogs out to pick two teal from the field and dad waded into the pond to retrieve the mallard. A fantastic sunday night. If you're wondering why one of dad's teal looks manky it was a tad close. Dad was shooting my other 20 bore and thankfully not his beloved full choked 12. That's the trouble with teal in the dark - it can be difficult judging range when you just have to react.

Another

Excellent day, report will be up later but here is a few pictures for now:

Totally devastating on high pheasants but overkill on the average bird. Light recoil and awesome 50yd patterns for a fibre wad cartridge. (32g 6's) My father recently pattern tested Fiocchi Golden Trap with Carl Bloxham and their long range patterns are unbelievable. The Fiocchi Golden Pheasant is well worth a look if you're shooting high birds

Nice pictures of the Geese

Got my first Red Leg Partridge today Excellent... Shot it on the first drive of the day. It came gliding over the wood about 30 yards up, crossing aswell. Missed on the first barrel but killed on the second. By the time I'd pulled the trigger for the second time it was pushing 50yds. A few friends congratulated me and that was that(also had a hen bird on the same drive). Had another really nice bird on the next drive, hen bird. Missed a Snipe Went to pick the pheasant and it got up and started running so let the dogs get it. Checked it over thinking I'd broken a wing but it had a pellet under its chin, stunned it I suppose. Missed a Hen bird in the afternoon. I was behind it as we were shooting down narrow rides in the Wood. Excellent day, best Christmas present ever (thanks to Dad) Just 2 pics. Poor quality, phone camera Dinner Cheers

Just a little sketch I did a few weeks ago... Cheers

If the animal is clearly marked (ie tagged) and contained within a deer proof enclosure it is not deemed wild and the deer act does not apply.

I know this post is very old however just wanted to add that yesterday (sunday) we took a litle walk around again. About 400 Wigeon feeding on Winter Rape just over the hedge from the lake itself and as we walked along the bank the wigeon were still lifting off the FROZEN lake and dropping into the field. We carried on walking and they all lifted and headed towards us, splitting into to two groups eitherside of us.... That didnt stop Dad and I from having a few imaginary swings on them Excellent sight to see may I add, shame we didnt have the camera this time. All of them seemed very slim in flight due to the recent cold weather and lack of food, so we decided to move on and let them get back on the Rape and feed. Cheers