Cosd Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Took a newbie out to have a go on the woodies over some sugar beet; He has never shot anything other than an air rifle when he was younger, so had to start from the basics. Got to the farm just before 10am and though no great numbers were on the ground, there was a fair bit of flighting birds, so after watching them for 1/2 hour we chose our spot and starting building our hide. Gun safety was lesson 1 and that was done to death in the car on the way there, so reccy and how to choose our spot followed. We set up a simple four pole hide beneath trees and bushes which gave us great cover. The sugar beat was around 15" high so we could still walk between it's rows without causing damage, but tall enough to lose shot birds if they weren't collected before forgetting where they dropped. We set up a large U shape pattern being limited to placing the silosocks wherever there was a half decent gap and tram lines. There was little or no wind so I set the pattern hoping the birds would fly toward us into the pattern. I put a couple of Hyperflaps on the magnet about 15 yards to the right of the hide and 5 yards out which were later changed to real birds. My student for the day listened eagerly and asked loads of questions as we settled into the hide and begun by showing him how to hold the 12g O/U Bettinsolli he would be shooting. It wasn't long before the first birds decoyed and he chose not to shoot straight away and to watch, I dropped 3 for the first 4 carts and put one straight out on a bouncer as well. Ozzie's turn came and he stood up on my command and took a perfect bird which came in right to left over shooting the pattern!! His face lit up and I think he is still carrying the grin today!! We took turns shooting all day and Ozzie finished the day with 5 and I with 27 including a left and right , we couldn't find 2 more. Ozzie got to take about 35 shots in total so he had a good feel of the gun, and the birds played ball decoying perfectly following three movements of the magnet's position. Overall the day was really enjoyable, and I can honestly say Ozzie has been well and truly bitten by the bug. He's now getting his SGC application form and scouring the net reading up on shooting. I was pleased not only because it was a great day out, but because everything worked to the letter and Ozzie actually saw everything we spoke about first hand, he listened, took it all in and came away saying "what a fantastic day" again and again as we drove home..... The one thing I didn't do was take pictures!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Spot on, nice one cosd. Always really satisfying to get new people involved in the sport, good to hear he managed to bag a few as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Well done, sounds like him a day to remember Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Well done Cos, i can remember the beam on a fairly newbies face with his best ever bag and 1st left and rights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Took a newbie out to have a go on the woodies over some sugar beet; He has never shot anything other than an air rifle when he was younger, so had to start from the basics. Got to the farm just before 10am and though no great numbers were on the ground, there was a fair bit of flighting birds, so after watching them for 1/2 hour we chose our spot and starting building our hide. Gun safety was lesson 1 and that was done to death in the car on the way there, so reccy and how to choose our spot followed. We set up a simple four pole hide beneath trees and bushes which gave us great cover. The sugar beat was around 15" high so we could still walk between it's rows without causing damage, but tall enough to lose shot birds if they weren't collected before forgetting where they dropped. We set up a large U shape pattern being limited to placing the silosocks wherever there was a half decent gap and tram lines. There was little or no wind so I set the pattern hoping the birds would fly toward us into the pattern. I put a couple of Hyperflaps on the magnet about 15 yards to the right of the hide and 5 yards out which were later changed to real birds. My student for the day listened eagerly and asked loads of questions as we settled into the hide and begun by showing him how to hold the 12g O/U Bettinsolli he would be shooting. It wasn't long before the first birds decoyed and he chose not to shoot straight away and to watch, I dropped 3 for the first 4 carts and put one straight out on a bouncer as well. Ozzie's turn came and he stood up on my command and took a perfect bird which came in right to left over shooting the pattern!! His face lit up and I think he is still carrying the grin today!! We took turns shooting all day and Ozzie finished the day with 5 and I with 27 including a left and right , we couldn't find 2 more. Ozzie got to take about 35 shots in total so he had a good feel of the gun, and the birds played ball decoying perfectly following three movements of the magnet's position. Overall the day was really enjoyable, and I can honestly say Ozzie has been well and truly bitten by the bug. He's now getting his SGC application form and scouring the net reading up on shooting. I was pleased not only because it was a great day out, but because everything worked to the letter and Ozzie actually saw everything we spoke about first hand, he listened, took it all in and came away saying "what a fantastic day" again and again as we drove home..... The one thing I didn't do was take pictures!! fair play to yer fella showing someone the ropes you only learn fieldcraft from experience and you have taught him the fundamentals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soreshoulder Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 once you been bitten there is NO going back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Well done cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminator69 Posted June 17, 2010 Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 Took a newbie out to have a go on the woodies over some sugar beet; He has never shot anything other than an air rifle when he was younger, so had to start from the basics. Got to the farm just before 10am and though no great numbers were on the ground, there was a fair bit of flighting birds, so after watching them for 1/2 hour we chose our spot and starting building our hide. Gun safety was lesson 1 and that was done to death in the car on the way there, so reccy and how to choose our spot followed. We set up a simple four pole hide beneath trees and bushes which gave us great cover. The sugar beat was around 15" high so we could still walk between it's rows without causing damage, but tall enough to lose shot birds if they weren't collected before forgetting where they dropped. We set up a large U shape pattern being limited to placing the silosocks wherever there was a half decent gap and tram lines. There was little or no wind so I set the pattern hoping the birds would fly toward us into the pattern. I put a couple of Hyperflaps on the magnet about 15 yards to the right of the hide and 5 yards out which were later changed to real birds. My student for the day listened eagerly and asked loads of questions as we settled into the hide and begun by showing him how to hold the 12g O/U Bettinsolli he would be shooting. It wasn't long before the first birds decoyed and he chose not to shoot straight away and to watch, I dropped 3 for the first 4 carts and put one straight out on a bouncer as well. Ozzie's turn came and he stood up on my command and took a perfect bird which came in right to left over shooting the pattern!! His face lit up and I think he is still carrying the grin today!! We took turns shooting all day and Ozzie finished the day with 5 and I with 27 including a left and right , we couldn't find 2 more. Ozzie got to take about 35 shots in total so he had a good feel of the gun, and the birds played ball decoying perfectly following three movements of the magnet's position. Overall the day was really enjoyable, and I can honestly say Ozzie has been well and truly bitten by the bug. He's now getting his SGC application form and scouring the net reading up on shooting. I was pleased not only because it was a great day out, but because everything worked to the letter and Ozzie actually saw everything we spoke about first hand, he listened, took it all in and came away saying "what a fantastic day" again and again as we drove home..... The one thing I didn't do was take pictures!! Well done fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanks Posted June 17, 2010 Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 I too took a friend out last summer, he's got his ticket now and is looking forward to some shoots over the peas. Sounds like you guys had a great day, there arent many about down here at the mo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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