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At 7am this morning, I was watching over a field of beans that was sown on sunday afternoon. The field next to it had been drilled with oats 5 days ago, and the crows were mostly flying to their favoured spot on the oat field. Unfortunately, the exact spot they wanted to be in a 30 acre field was 70 yards from a house and its sleeping occupants Splitting the two fields was a dried ditch full of gorse and a smattering of trees. I watched for a while and picked a spot that was right under the flightline. I set up with three FB's on wires so they gently bobbed about in the breeze. I was using the 20g and home loaded shells, 28grms #6. It wasn't long before a dozen were on the deck. I was going to take in the FB's but they seemed to be pulling the birds so left them there. Then the gamekeeper appeared. After a natter, and a quick hide alteration, he joined me. We took it in turns to shoot, as you do. But with the slightly more exposed duo hide, the birds pulled out a bit. I had a quick swap round and brought out the 12g and some homeloaded, 32gmr #6 carts. We had some great shots and an hour or so later it switched off. Finished with these.

I called into the farm yesterday, to catch up with the lads and see what was being done. They were just finishing drilling the barley, and there were a few crows about. So after a bit of a natter, I said I would be up to have a go in the morning. The manager said there had been a lot of Canadas on the field over the last few days. I mentioned Underdogs favourite recipe and said that on that basis, I wouldn't bother if any came my way I arrived at the field for 7.30am, and sat and watched for 20 mins. There were a few favouring one spot, so I headed over with the gear. I set up backing onto an oak, and popped out my favoured number of 3 FB decoys, two on hangers and one beak down. Within 10 mins, I had two crows down, and wandered over with the empty gun,to peg them up. As I was doing so, there was the familiar distant honk of some geese, heading my way. I waited, standing in the middle of the decoys pattern, and in moments, a skein of 14 Canadas flew by, 25 yards up and over to my left. I swung the empty gun one to them and had an imaginary left and right I have no need for them, so let them be. Quite a sight though The birds were a bit wary, so as soon as I had few real birds down, the FB's came in. That helped I had some great shots, including a bonus pigeon that made the mistake of flying over the pattern. At 11am, the corvids had decided enough was enough and did one elsewhere. I finished with 15 crows, 8 Jackdaws and a pigeon. It was a nice quick outing and this afternoon I can reload some shells to replace the ones used.........double hobby Bit of a scruffy pile