ShropshireSam

Mentioned it the farmer's wife. She said she had a dog walker nowhere near a public footpath in the next field. When advised of the fact they said "Well I've been walking my dog on this field for 15 years and never had a problem with the farmer." She replied "Well I've been farming this field for 35 years and I've always had a problem with dog walkers!"

Out shooting over peas yesterday. They were early drilled and now 4ft tall and in full flower. It is one of two large pea fields bordering a local town. Not many options where to shoot as footpaths at the top and bottom of the field. But I found a patch of thin crop I could shoot over away from the town and set-up by about 2:30. I had been shooting for about an hour when a lady walks towards me down a tramline. I left my gun and face shield in the hide walked towards her and advised her there was no right of way where she was walking and she needed to return to the footpath at the top of the field. She replied "Can't dog walkers use the field?" I advised her no, and advised her where the paths were and that she had to stay on the footpaths. I collected a few dead birds and returned to the hide. She stood and watched for awhile then slowly walked up the hill then stopped 100 yards off watching. I had a few birds come over me but did not want to start shooting with her watching. She eventually made her way across the field, still not on the path and I started shooting again. I was not very comfortable shooting as I was aware I may get complaints about the noise and was limited where I could shoot with no chance of taking shots at second birds - which is usually the challenging shots. Had a few nice 1/4 crosses heading for a nearby tree. Pigeons slowed by 5 and I packed up and home by 6. Around 6:30 had a bobby at the door about a complaint about someone shooting in the vicinity of dog walkers and he had clocked my vehicle near-by. I told him the situation as described above, clarified exactly where I was shooting and he agreed I was well within the law and that he would visit the lady and "educate" her as regards the law. Several times I have thought about getting a 20g hushpower for these kind of situations - but do you have problems with these guns not keeping the pigeons on the move - as I had lots of pigeons heading for trees in this field and once one went in a tree the rest would follow until I took a shot. Picked 36 from 68 shots. This farmer routinely drills peas early and they attract high numbers of pigeons when in flower. Also had a good day 2 weeks ago on some thin late drilled peas about 6 inches high.

Out again this morning to intercept the flightline on corner of wood. Had a busy hour from 8 til 9 then all over. Not as windy and birds more in big flocks and flying higher. In a better position so had much more variety of shots. Again started slow then got swinging and shot well including two fast doubles. Finished with 23. Best sport for a long time.

Have seen lots of pigeons on a small rape field in last few days. One of few rape fields round here without a banger on. Pigeons all arriving in big flocks but thought worth ago today as wind would break them up. Set up in tall hedge with wind to my side. Pigeons came in continuous streams for the first 2 hours but most stayed down centre of field and headed to next wood up wind which was full of ivy. Managed to pull a few near to decoys and some came along hedge line . Made for some good sport. I was slow to start but then got my eye in and finished with 29. Many were around 40 yard mark and flying slowly into wind but still needed 3 ft of lead.....I assume the shot was been blown sideways by about a foot over 40 yards?? BY 12:00 the traffic had stopped completely. Packed up and drove round wood. Full of 1000's of pigeons. Had a walk in wood and bagged another 2. Will be out again tomorrow to try and intercept the flightline to the wood. (Didn't find it cold today. Plenty of layers on, some good boots on and kept gloves on while setting up)

Love to re-cycle/re-use. It is an art form that is sadly in decline these days. My parents generation were much more make do and mend .... my Uncle had a nice little earner converting combine bed crates into garden sheds. Re-used all the timber and the nails.

Thanks for photo. I will take if still available.

Rabbit numbers well down on my permissions. Stopped going out as struggling to get 4-5 by end of harvest. Finished year with about 50 compared to over 500 in 2016.

Back to woodcock - small shoot in Shropshire with fewer numbers this year and most people opting not to shoot them. Only beaters day to go and not one woodcock shot yet...most seasons we would shoot about 6. I often see a pair just after dusk fly up a stream between woods as I watch for teal flighting to a pool. A beautiful sight. Another local shoot I was guest on this week are not shooting woodcock. Saw a couple and had one fly back down a woodside as I was walking gun. Happily tipped my hat to it and watched it on its way.

Yes...still for sale

'SOLD'

Would like to buy...sent a PM

Free to good home...only postage to pay....£2. Esky EC170-25 car camera - can be used for front or rear camera on car. Easy to install. Bought for a nightvision project but not suitable. Comes boxed with instructions. See link for camera details: https://flash.newegg.com/Product/9SIA1PK37Z3674

I have had to buy a bigger cabinet so this is for sale. JFC GB5 5 Gun Cabinet 1325H x 301W x 221D (mm) See link for full details and image: http://www.safesecurityservices.co.uk/jfc-gb5-5-gun-cabinet-p-1707.html 2 sets of keys. Advertised as a 5 gun cabinet but this would be a squash. This will fit 3 guns comfortable including a .22 LR with scope but not deep enough for a CF rifle with scope. Retails at £184, for sale at £80. Buyer to collect - Newport, Shropshire. Will consider courier if buyer will cover courier fees.

I had a couple of sessions on ivy last year in late Feb. Fastened a flapper to lofting poles with a long wire down to the battery on the floor and placed at top of an ivy covered tree trunk. Helped to pull more birds in range and had two good afternoons of about 20 birds. Need to take care raising the flapper by supporting against the tree while you add each section of the pole.

Well done on getting out. Haven't had time to look for flightlines yet this winter....usually wait until they start on the rape, I keep an eye out on where they are going and then go out only when the wind is up. Certainly the best sport in my opinion.

Very few rabbits on my permissions in Shropshire this year. Shot about 500 last year and about 30 this year ..... only had a couple of sessions on the stubbles as drove round for 4 hours for about a maximum of 10 rabbits

Used half shell decoys since I started decoying 4 years ago. Bought mine from AA decoys and they work well if you have a decent breeze to give them some movement. Look particularly good on new drilling when the stand out from the bare soil really well. Always build up a pattern with dead birds but as not out very regular I do not have a stock of dead birds as decoys apart from a couple of weeks over harvest. I never knew what the hook was for and found it a nuisance to remove sticks from the decoy so broke the hook off. Only issue is they can blow off the sticks in high winds.

Eventually managed to find some pigeons on a bean stubble last week. A first for me as they are usually cultivated before the pigeons find them...and a pleasant surprise after a quiet harvest. Farmer gratefully let me shoot even though he has partridge and pheasants nearby...very kind of him. I spotted a good number on the field last Tuesday at about 2 pm and decided to shoot on Wed to get a full afternoon on them and it was a stronger wind. A lot on the field when I arrived at 12:30. Not easy to choose where to shoot as a long narrow field surrounded by oaks in the hedges and two small woods I wanted to avoid as pheasants release pens in them. Moved them off and set up in the hedge close to a big old oak tree. Pigeons soon returned in big numbers and had a busy 20 min and then settled down to a steady trickle. Finished with 62 picked. Had some good sport as many pigeons came in on the wind and curled sharply into the pattern or dived in from a good height. The field was cultivated the next day so got in just in time. Another field of beans was cut the same day but cultivated the next day. One field of beans still to be cut but that will be cultivated/drilled within a day now.

I use google maps to consider options of where to site hides when going on a new field. You can measure distance to any roads and houses and get an idea of potential flightlines.

Quite a few brassica cover crops now grown to control soil borne pest and pathogens. The main one being potato eelworm or potato cyst nematode.

Beans still not cut on my permissions and will be cultivated within days once cut .... never shot a bean stubble yet. Hopefully may get a chance if farmers are rained off cultivating the fields but currently rained off harvesting them.

I lamp foxes on my own sometimes, however I have noticed that having a mate spot out the sun roof results in some foxes spotted I haven't seen from the cab. When on my own I use a red lamp to spot and then go to NV kit on rifle - all done from the drivers window.

Mid-shires Game are back in business after a buy-out from a group of large local shoots. Hopefully will be back to business as usually. Hope so as only game dealer for many miles.

Met another pigeon shooter whilst loading the car with kit this morning. Very nice bloke, shooting nearby but not too close if you know what I mean! ... not a PW member so advised him to have a look at this site. He delivered to Mid-shires this week so they must be back in business, but not answering the phone and no answer machine on.

Our local game dealer (Willo/Midshires) has stopped taking game (think in administration??). I have a freezer nearly full and the harvest is about to start. I have searched on the internet but can find no game dealer anywhere near me. Anyone know of a dealer anywhere in the west midlands???