pg123

Incidentally, how do you set a fenn for rats or squirrels but exclude stoats?! Put up a warning sign and your **** is covered

We were working on a fence for a new game crop in the corner of a field about 3 years back. In the field were several newly acquired lady cows the farmer had just bought. A very large bull from the farm next door got wind of his new neighbors and decided to check out the local talent. This thing literally jump over his fence, ran down the road and jumped the fence into the field we were in. This thing was charging around like a raging bull for want of a better description. Several tough fearless outdoors types cowered behind a hedge while the much braver farmers took on the beast with bits of blue pipe. I can still recall the look on the face of the guy next to me. I have to laugh every time I remember that day.

Using only one pen saves having multipul drinkers, fox wire etc also it saves labour going round different pens. I would stick them all in one pen. Bigger is always better so make it as big as you can. We use minola (top hat type) feeders both in and around the pen plus a few Spring feeders. Ex-layers get bad press from some for wandering off (guess it depends on your ground & cover) so maybe look at adding something to the feed to help hold them. We mix split corn in with our wheat or maybe try aniseed. Ask you game farmer for a bag of medicated pellets and start them off on that when they first go in the pen so you know they have been treated for worms. Use grit in and outside the pen. I also like to add a poultry tonic to the water. Not sure if it really works but for a few pounds it may help them recover from the stress of moving. Watch out for feather pecking and pray. Good luck.

My lads had an SMK 15 since he was about 7. Cheap and cheerful. Only good for back garden plinking but good fun and a good introduction to shooting.

Wilco do a range of gloss in 750ml tins if that helps

Well done. Your hard work has paid off.

Can I ask how much an amputation costs?? My springer was a rescued dog and has a full tail. At the end of a hard day she looks like something from a zombie film. The amount of bleeding from her tail is actually minimal but made to look far worse from the constant wagging. By the time we get home and she's been washed down the bleeding has stopped. I did ask my vet about taking it off but she went down the only if damaged route.

Just wash the blanket when you get home

Welcome aboard pal

I think voting out will be a brave step into a new era. Don't get me wrong I will not rejoice if we do leave the EU. I personally think things will get a little worse before they get better. We can all see things aren't going well while we are tied down by EU red tape and regulation. we can bury our heads in sand and accept our fate or we can make a decision to try and shape the future for us now and perhaps more importantly our children.

We put down normal poultry grit. We put it inside and around the pen. Water is a must for your birds and it would be sensible to have some nearby.

A nice write up and well done on creating a nice little rough shoot. That said if your shooting 70 - 80 pheasant without releasing any then you know you are taking your neighbours birds which isn't really fair. Maybe the next step is to build a small pen and release just a few of your own birds to balance things out a little.

Welcome aboard pal.

We put 100 down on our DIY shoot. We feed them using a barrel fitted with a soft duck spring. We also use an auto feeder giving out a bit of feed first thing in the morning so they don't run short and get used to being on the pond at the time we wish to shoot them. If you have other feeders near your pond you will need to swap from springs to wright feeders or the ducks will scoff everything they can find. Not feeding them by hand keeps them a bit wilder and they fly well. With them circling overhead we had good sport from them the first 2 days but after that they would be off at the first sign of trouble which caused us problems getting them to split up enough to give more than 1 or 2 guns some shooting. I think we shot half overall.

Sorry to hear of your loss pal. Terrible to lose a dog so young.

A big plate full of gravy made from the juice of a beef roast mopped up with warburtons white bread thick with salted lurpak butter

Yep he was knackered at the end of the day. Spent the evening laid out on the sofa while I ran to fetch him drinks and snacks (nothing changed there) I've told him he needs to come a bit more and learn what is a safe shot and what isn't if he wants to shoot his .410 I may let him have a go at some of the overweight squirrels we have once the season is over.

Managed to get my son out on our shoot on Saturday. With him out for the day I think Microsoft issued a profit warning. Of course he had to have some gadgets along. He took his GoPro and he grabbed a radio as soon as he spotted them.

+ 1. Great low cost motor

Keep your eyes peeled for someone advertising a space over the next few months. Check on here, on guns on pegs and the adverts in the shooting times. As already said beating is a great way to start. Maybe join Nobs? It's only £10 a year I think.

Glad you enjoyed it. A friend of mine did a bit of keepering on there and I do get asked if I would like to book a day every now and then. Can I ask what the bag was?

Yes it was a cracking day. Not a bad video pal. Looked ok when I watched it on the smart TV.

Not bad for a first try. Big question is are you bringing it on Saturday??

Don't get me wrong I wouldn't pay to shoot vermin. There are a few rough shoots around that offer low cost game shooting or try to find a half gun on a small/DIY shoot. These only cost £200 - £300 and you can usually do some of the vermin control & roost shooting as extras. Good luck getting sorted out. Keep trying.

4 years ago I was exactly in the same place you are. Once you get in one shoot the world opens up to you providing your prepared to put in your share of the work. If I can start by suggesting your aim for a lower starting point. You mention rifles but let's be honest who in their right mind would let a total stranger loose with a firearm? That sort of land takes time to get. Don't know much about pigeon shooting but if your after a gun on a rough shoot I would start by looking to do some beating. Having a dog or 4x4 is always a big plus. Booking a peg on couple of small days will help introduce you to others in the know. Take a bottle to pass round at brew time and buy a round In the pub after. Be the kind of person people want to invite back or to other places.