Elma Fud

Thanks

I've recently bought some flocked decoys and want to maintain their condition. During storage do you place some form of protection between each decoy or can you place them directly on top of each other with fear of damaging the coating? The only stupid question is the one you don't ask....😜 Cheers in advance.

Having a garage tidy up, They are old plastic decoys (about 12 maybe more) that are bruised and battered I've even attempted flocking them many years ago. but can still be used to lure a bird closer. Now I'm giving these decoys away for free, but only to some young lad/lass who is starting out and are short of cash and this may just help him/her out. I'm in Abingdon, near Oxford. Please pm me if your interested.

Hi all, I also live in Abingdon. What are your thoughts of meeting up one evening for a drink or two - soon, before the crops start to come. EF

This may sound a daft question, but how did you set your camcorder to video the fox cub. I tried a camcorder G Clamp looking down the scopes without suces, pictures would be good. Cheers EF

Who wants to meet up for a drink. A number of PW members met up before at the Chequers at Burcot (A415) a few years ago. It seemed the most central point at that time (Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot & Berinsfield). Merry xmas EF

If thats your set up then the only thing I would add to it is a safari sling. Basically sling over your shoulder, lamp on shotty to search for quarry. Weight of shotty is spread between arms shoulder and back. I believe it making life as easy as possible. I use two lamps if i go out by myself (Vehicle) Main lamp to find stuff, smaller lamp on rifle to follow up with shot. Hope this helps EF

Like you I just popped my cherry, so to speak. I've shot hundreds of foxes, but this morning I got my first fox in a snare. I let my lad (8) dispatch it. His first fox.... EF

Good shot & good vid but each to there own. Personally I wouldn't have taken that shot. Very little room for error.

What a load of ****. I think he needs to learn how to gralloch a deer properly. and some unfortunate Americans are using that as a training video

Some very good points raised. Personally, I look for vermin damage, be it pigeon, rooks or rabbits then ask the farmer. Start off with one or two of his problem fields and do a good job for him aiming to build up his trust. Hopefully he will then let you have access to the whole farm. Again keep your nose clean and do a good job. When you see pigeons or rabbits just over the fence on a neighbours ground ask the farmer to phone on your behalf for access. This way you are being properly introduced and not cold calling. I got 3 farms back to back with just under 1000 acres combined this way. Before you know it you've built up a good reputation and farmers contact you to sort out their problem areas. It worked for me good luck

Hi Deako I've not used any other Nightforce scopes other than 5.5-22x56 with the np 2dd reticules. These reticules are quick onto the target and easy to use. If for some reason you cant see the dot on a target then turn on the IR, problem solved. I would not get rid of these scopes. For me these scopes are 10/10 Good luck EF

Thanks everyone for your comments

I'm thinking of putting in for a variation and getting a moderator fitted to my .243 remington heavy barrel. Question. As the rifle is already heavy what choices of moderator do I have. I'm also going to put in for another 30-06, can I use the same moderator? What would you say is the best on the market and why? Your thoughts please. Thanks EF

local gunshop stopped selling them as they said they had the potential to start fires on the stubble fields and headlands .

Well done Browning, good stalking. Off to Scotland tomorrow, I'll give you a call when I get back.

Well done

The name of the game is to kill the animal humanely, meat is a secondary concern. I believe that to ensure a humane kill then the bullet should have enough energy to perform its job (expand) and still have enough energy to exit the chest. With regards to bullet weights I personally feel heavier bullets perform better in this respect. As the law stands Fister has it spot on. Reading this thread, I feel people are not giving enough respect to muntjac. Just because they are small, fox sized doesn't mean they are "soft", they are certainly not soft. Anyone who has skinned a muntjac will know how much harder it is than skinning a roe. Also, anyone who has hunted in Africa will know how tough the animals are out there. Pound for pound muntjac are as tough as African animals. I have seen a roe buck shot at 70 yards with a .222 with a clean pass through. Likewise, I know of a muntjac doe shot with a .222 at 30 yards (illegal) whilst she was broadside and the bullet never exited. I was told that the deer did drop on the spot. If this animal were further away would this animal run on? with the possibility to die an agonsing death under a bush somewhere? I shoot the majority of my muntjac with a .243 using 100 grain bullets to good effect. I have on occasions shot them with a 30.06 which I've found superb on them. "Small hole in, small hole out". Totally destroys the heart and lungs and the meat damage is kept to a minimum. Ballie, as for your muntjac running after a clean pass through. I can only imagine that either the animal knows that you are there and is full of adrenaline or your hitting the deer to far back in the chest/liver region this will cause a deer to run on a short while. Generic: - Remember if an animal does run on wait 10 mins or so. The animal won’t go far and you will give it a chance to find a quiet bush somewhere to lie down and die. If you follow up immediately you may keep pushing the deer deeper into cover, especially if the animal is gut shot. If you suspect a gut shot (plop sound and a hunched back reaction) then wait 30 mins or more before following up. It will allow for the adrenaline to wear off and allow toxic shock to take effect, the animal will then cease up making a follow-up easier. One last thing about muntjac runners. If you have a dog I would be very wary of letting a (loose) dog track a wounded muntjac buck. You may find that the muntjac has enough energy left to gore the dog. Hope this helps EF

Speaking with the keeper on the estate who took the animal to the gamedealers said the deer weighed 110Lbs clean (Head & feet off) He received £68 for it. Is that about right for an animal that size? Also, as I dont shoot fallow I take it, that this a normal weight for a mature animal.

Holland&Holland The buck suspected something, when he turned broadside I gave him one in the chest. He trotted off and dropped about 70 yards away. I was confident that it was a good strike, but its still un-nerving to see him heading away and almost out of sight from you before dropping.

The rifle is a Remington 700 Police .243 with nightforce scopes using 100 grain bullets.

Took this Saturday morning. Well Chuffed. My legs were shaking after I pulled the trigger

I've met Richard Faulds on a number of occassions He beats and picks up on my local estate. Don't think much of the bloke myself.

Yes you strap it to a tree. I use rope or a ratchet strap does the job quite well. Remember to secure your highseat with chain and padlock. The highseat in the picture was stolen, but I've managed to get it back. EF

Uprights are 1" horizontals are 3/4" Just weighed the highseat. It weighs 58Lbs