Search the Community

Widgeon man (Brad) drove up from down south to bring me a load of steel shells and heavyweight shot for the upcoming wildfowling season. Rather than just drive up and then go straight home, I'd offered to find Brad some pigeons to shoot. I found a field of rape stubble in an area that had produced good results in the past. I felt under a bit of pressure, though, as I usually do when I invite someone for a shot. When I checked the field, there were enough birds down and more were arriving at regular intervals from where I expected. I decided to get to the field early, just in case someone else had their eye on the field. Brad turned up when I had just finished setting up. Everything was set for a good shoot. There was still more pressure to face. Brad is a top trap shooter and a shooting coach. I had to try not to let myself down. The first pair came in, and Brad took them like a pro. I missed my first chance. Typical. Luckily I redeemed myself and shot some nice birds, myself. That's not to say I didn't missed a few that I shouldn't have. I tried to get a few free tips from Brad and I have a few things to think about to sharpen up my technique. The pigeons came in a steady trickle all day and I reckon that if I had left the field alone (being the only rape stubble in the immediate area) the pigeons would have built up in sufficient number to offer a 200 bird day. But, as said before, I couldn't take the risk of leaving the field for someone else. Farma Geddon (Gerard) came to have a chat with Brad and myself. He brought his gun along and got a piece of the action - it was really good fun. At times, Gerard's sense of humour is a joy to behold. The bag was building nicely and with plenty still on the wing, another three figure score was inevitable. Gerard's dogs worked wonders again, picking up the pigeons from all over and leaving no stone unturned in their quest to find every bird. We drew stumps well before 5pm and had a bag of 121 pigeons.