Wilts#Dave
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Posts posted by Wilts#Dave
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After the longest lean spell I’ve had for some years, I finally spotted a few pigeons over the last couple of weeks appearing to drop onto a field of Lupins I pass most days on the way to work. Being a very difficult field to actually watch due to access I didn’t take a proper look but did glance every time I drove by and seeing odd ones in the air every time decided to take a closer look (well Dad did initially)!
This was earlier in the week and on inspection he’d seen none actually down feeding but lots in the surrounding trees so a couple of days later I decided to look myself after work at about 3 o clock, to find 50/100 birds down feeding and as before lots coming out of the trees……after watching for half an hour or so a flight line from several directions became obvious and I got the feeling a good. days shooting could be on the cards. Having shot the field before and being on a farm that shoots well I was eager to get at them so decided to go the next day. After covering many miles with very little to find since last Autumn I was excited to get out again, whatever the bag!
Getting to the field yesterday at midday on the nose, the wind didn’t favour where I planned on getting but I managed to set up in a spot with the wind coming from my right hand side which I hoped it would be the right place. Parking the truck up on the other side of the field I left Dad to finish setting up and by the time I was walking back at 12:30 pigeons were in on the decoys and he’d had a couple of shots.
Once in the hide, I was in the action within a minute or so and started shooting (poorly a first due to being a bit rusty I think) but soon got into them and was dropping plenty with the odd double thrown in for good measure. After shooting 20 or 30 we had a pick up and set up the dead birds in the pattern and this improved things further.
We didn’t pick up properly for the next 4 hours apart from the odd runner to dispatch and just left them where they fell, many belly up but it didn’t really affect how they came and with such regularity there was just never a right time to go out! I ran out of cartridges just before 5 o clock. By which time I’ll be honest I was pretty fatigued, the sun had been beating in the hide, having so many shots the gun was hot to touch at times and we had a lot of picking up to do!
I’d say 90% of pigeons that came to the field came to our set up, from three directions and was just one of those days where you’ve got it spot on and the pigeons are intent on that field / your position.
I’ve never shot over Lupins before, but it’s the only field in this area with an edible crop at the moment which they’ve clearly found and are enjoying……there’s been such a lack of pigeons in our area it was the most unexpected day I (and Dad) have ever had in 30 years of shooting.
We eventually picked up 233, with another dozen or so crashing into the thick undergrowth behind which couldn’t be picked. A wonderful day which I’ll never forget!
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Cracking session, I’ve shot over mustard in the past and had some great days….at this time of year pigeons go mad for anything like that if it’s available!
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12 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said:
Two tips
1. Go to your local electrical wholesaler and ask for what his regulars are using. It's a problem electricians have too, per @Wilts#Dave 's post. As soon as they find a brand they like that doesn't cause 'call backs', the manufacturers will invariably decide "oh hey, we're making these things too well. Let's add a point of failure".
2. Do what the professionals do. Have you noticed how these days sparkies are fitting a plastic junction box next to the outside light, so that if the light fails, it's a five minute job to swap out the light. Get a quality JB which is made from decent plastic, i.e. a Wiska. Don't, whatever you do, try to run twin and earth straight through a gland into the light fitting. That's just asking for trouble.
Point 2 arose mainly due to the led flood lights being fitted with pre-wired flex, where the old style halogen floods allowed cable entry to the fitting. The pre-wired flex on the new lights is so they can sell them as a specific ‘ip’ rating. It’s a much better idea as you say, if you use a wiska box or similar with a stuffing gland for the flex.
Sloppy workmanship is the biggest cause of outside light issues! -
Pir’s, as already mentioned above Steinel are the best if you don’t mind spending more!
outside lighting is a minefield though, I’ve fitted ‘designer’ lights worth hundreds of pounds that are equally poor in design as cheaper ones but there are better out there…..Jim Lawrence is good stuff but pricey, I have to say lights without sensors built in if fitted well shouldn’t fail in 6 months!
The classic up/down lights for example, I’ve fitted loads of Screwfix specials as well as more expensive variants and they’re all the same really but generally fiddly to install which is where a lot of the issues arise (outside lighting is the biggest thing I’ll attend to failure wise, it’s amazing how harsh the weather is and where water will find it’s way in). -
12 hours ago, yickdaz said:
Haven't had much to report shot next to nothing on rape all winter, spring drilling didn't produce much a few small days on the crows and pigeons they just haven't been around for the last 8 months
Been the same here, quietest spell since last September I’ve ever known!
See some on the Facebook group shooting big bags constantly so they’re obviously in certain places…..Lincolnshire seems to have a glut of pigeons!
Well done on your 34 though, that’s a nice little bag to keep you going for a few hours (I’d settle for that at the moment) 👍🏼 -
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Been the same in my area too. The acreage of peas on my farms is greatly reduced this year which is a shame as all the best fields seemed to get planted in peas over the last 3 or 4 years and yielded great sport from June through to harvest!
Some of our best fields have also been lost due to ownership change, but as you say there are just not pigeons to find at the moment in certain areas…..I’ve covered enough miles on a regular basis checking too 😂I hope I’m wrong but it’s looking to be the worst year numbers wise since I started accompanying my Dad some 30 odd years ago, certainly so far anyway.
I’m certainly missing finding those opportunities and getting out in the hide! -
I’m guessing that photo you were sent was at the beginning of the season?
I’d quite like to give that sort of thing a go at least once…..is it an expensive trip? Is it a no frills accommodation etc type affair with lots of shooting? -
24 minutes ago, mattsccm said:
How about real gold.ie Sovereigns? Yes there is the storage issue but it is gold and in years to come less likely to be "found" by the tax man. One would make a nice present for example.
Usual gold price fluctuations of course.
So, how are people doing this premium bond thing? Buying them and relying on winnings for the income?
That’s all you can do with premium bonds…..your numbers get entered into a monthly draw and if you’re lucky and yours is drawn you get from £25 up to a million pounds, obviously the more bonds you’ve got the greater chance and they average out the probability of winning into a %. Saying that you can get more or much less regardless of how much you’ve got in there…..but any winnings are tax free and your original amount never goes down so not all bad.
If you’re a high tax earner and have used your savings allowance elsewhere they’re not a bad place to put some money, but personally found you need 40-50k to get fairly regular winnings. -
The tax implications are one of the biggest considerations when you’ve got larger sums…..as already mentioned, ISA’s are a good place to stash some of your cash that you’ll not get taxed on any interest made so a good place to start.
fixed rate savings gives reasonable returns with no risk, but again look at what you might have to pay in tax on the interest!
Doesn’t seem like they want anyone to have any money without being penalised 🤷🏽😂 -
17 hours ago, 12gauge82 said:
If I don't like the service or food when I go somewhere, I don't make a fuss, I simply don't return again.
I find getting upset about it simply spoils what should be an enjoyable evening.
This. Sounds like you may have ruined your own evening as much as the restaurant had, with your demands over the bill etc.
A polite reminder of your lengthy wait should have been enough, although I do understand how frustrating it can be in that situation!
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21 hours ago, Centrepin said:
I do believe a good quality polish like Mer applied at frequent intervals is the best protection, washing it often helps too.
Basic hand polishing and washing won’t be likely to really deal with the sort of scratches you’ll sustain driving off road.
If you’re really fussed you’ll have to go down the route of ppf as the only way you’ll stop scratches getting to the paint is with a protective film of some sort!
Ceramic coating seals in the finish to the paint once ‘shiny’ and scratch free which is done before application by machine polishing…..it does help a little against light scratching but really more to protect the finish and make the shine last a lot longer with only the need to do a proper hand wash.
You may be better off just getting the truck machine polished / detailed prior to selling and live with the inevitable minor scratches that come with driving off road……I’d say the dealer are using it as leverage to knock money off and will just get it machine polished once you p/x. It’s hardly unusual to see trucks or vans in less than perfect condition when not very old! -
Cracking, lovely return to a spot of decoying that is by anyone’s standards 👍🏼
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Lovely job, 100 plus sessions are always nice 👍🏼
Been the leanest spell I’ve ever had here, can’t make it out…..to top it off last year had loads of peas to shoot over but they all seem to have put beans in this year instead which isn’t much use until they’re cut in September 😂
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49 minutes ago, benbobailey said:
Unless your income is large enough to reach the next level tax bracket, you will only pay 20% tax on any amount above you personal allowance. No different to any one else except you do not pay national insurance. you will still have 80% of your income, not a bad position to be in and many would be happy with that. Yes it is frustrating and annoying to pay tax but the governments need to raise income to successfully run the country for our benefit.( how they spend the money is another matter!).
regards
As above, it’s hardly a bad position to be in (retiring at 60 also)….if you’re earning above the 50k threshold to really be affected by tax then you’re even less hard done by 😂
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2 minutes ago, steve_b_wales said:
Apparantly, my yearly state pension (£9784:80) is being taken off my personal allowance of £12750:00 so I will pay tax on everything above £2965:20. I suppose it works out the same(?)
Same difference yes. You’d not pay any tax if the pension was your only form of income, but will do if you earn over the tax threshold including your pension.
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Cracking stuff Jdog!
I’ve shot a total of 16 pigeons in one outing just after the snow on rape all winter, never had such poor numbers here…..the novelty of driving round looking is wearing thin!
Went out this afternoon after seeing a good few going into some rough drilling but alas they weren’t there today in any numbers and I only managed 15.Your unexpected 35 in a short space of time is what pigeon shooting is all about, keep it up (maybe even take 100 shells next time) 👍🏼
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On 11/04/2023 at 20:51, Scully said:
Yes, I agree much of it’s down to money, but in this case the hypocrisy always jars on me, as the same policy never seems to apply to alcohol. If it’s down to NHS financial burdens then I’m pretty sure alcohol will be up there with cigarettes by comparison.
The role of governments in my opinion is to only interfere in the lives of those who break laws, and for the remainder of the time to mind their own business.
I wouldn’t mind, but when they introduced the smoking ban, exemptions were made for ( amongst other places and occasions ) palaces, and as chance 🤔 would have it, Westminster is a palace!Does make me laugh that alcohol is never targeted in the same way…..because so many of the top brass are hooked on it and would never give it up! Yet alcohol causes far more wider problems than the health implications of smoking.
I no longer smoke and haven’t done for years, but did enjoy it in my youth when we could all smoke inside pubs etc.Drinking, again I used to recreationally fairly heavily when I was younger as most do and should be able to experience, but could live without it now.
Things that don’t affect those who make the rules are easy for them to target, the same goes for shooting…..we’re in the minority and those who have no desire to do so are more than happy for it to be banished forever!
Obviously some rules need to be in place, but where do you draw the line is a tricky subject.
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13 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:
My mum just had a big surgery done private as she’s been waiting a year already and had another 18 months to go.
She was waiting until it caused complications and she was rushed to Hospital and almost died.
Whilst in the NHS hospital it was rammed full of **** heads and idiots, it looked like it was falling down, it was hard to actually speak to a Doctor and the nurses were all busy and she was hardly seen.
Booked in private, had the surgery within a month, pretty much had 1:1 nursing post op, the surgeon who did the op came to check on her himself 3-4 times, they had an on-site restaurant with excellent food, the building was spotless and looked brand new and the overall experience was nothing short of amazing.
It’s amazing how you can get such a huge difference … is the issue the NHS? Or the people using the NHS?
Interestingly, the junior Doctor strikes are on at the moment, we are in close contact with the Hospitals and supporting as we can… they have informed us their A&E is pretty quiet, as people are staying away so as not to overburden them.
Fair play but what were people going for there previously? 🤷♂️🤣
The last two paragraphs of your post make perfect sense….there are a huge amount of people that troop off to A and E at a slight cough let alone anything serious (don’t get me started on the pissheads etc draining healthcare).
The other part where you’re amazed at the difference between paying stupid amounts of money for private healthcare over the nhs though…..really 😂🤣?!
My mum had a hip replacement done at a private clinic and as you say the care is second to none, but I wouldn’t expect anything less…..I’ll fall over myself in my line of work even (tradesman) for customers with lots of money who are happy to pay for a certain level of service, it’s the same with almost everything if you’ve got ‘money’ so hardly surprising! -
On 06/04/2023 at 10:36, Wylye said:
From all the messing around we have done with 28gauges, Hull High Pheasant 23gms 6 through half or three-quarter chokes consistently give the best results. No question.
Those particular shells kill unbelievably well through mine too. Whether or not it’s considered a ‘heavy’ load, they’re very smooth shooting with little felt recoil through my silver pigeon so certainly don’t feel it!
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I must admit, I’ve not shot a big bag on spring drillings for a good few years now….peas can produce, but find drilling not as productive as it used to be!
Going back 10-20 years ago spring drillings used to produce some great shooting…..as you say a lot is due to the advance in farming technology, which makes sense.
I remember one farm we used to shoot on, the chap only had a few fields and used really old kit , open top combine etc and his ground used to produce some brilliant shooting! -
1 hour ago, stumfelter said:
In a cashless society how can tradesmen still do cash jobs? I'd sooner have more money in my back pocket than give it to rishi in vat.
That’s kind of the point 😂
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6 hours ago, Mattheius said:
I use Hull High Pheasant 23g 6's and they also do a 25g 5 for anything a bit higher. I find them a really nice cartridge to shoot with a good pattern in my gun (Beretta Silver Pigeon) I use the same carts - 23g but in 7's for clays too.
100% recommend the 23g 6's - I used my 28 bore and these carts for all my days game shooting last season.
This, 100%. Used a good few thousand of the Hull High Pheasant 23g 6’s and 5’s on pigeons mainly and they kill unbelievably well for a light load (again silver pigeon, I only use 1/4 and 1/2 choke).
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7 hours ago, Scully said:
That’s their problem. I’m heartily sick and tired of lazy legislation which encompasses all because of a minority.
my comment was agreeing with you, tongue in cheek ‘that would involve some effort’….and wouldn’t be difficult to know where to start!
The drought appears to be over.... at least temporarily.
in Talk From The Field
Posted
Nothing better than an unexpected turnout when it comes to pigeon shooting….that will have been a nice busy two hours shooting Jdog, then off the field. It’s certainly hard going shooting in the heat for any length of time, plenty of water needed!
I think you’ll be getting busier with those peas from now on.