A better effort

[soreshoulder]

Managed to get out today seeing as the weather was alright. Seems like most of the rape stubble is completely gone here so i had a go on some wheat stubble. I arrived at the field and there were a few flocks feeding on 3 big fields but a major flight-line across one of the fields but the only place i could of set up was along the hedgerow with the wind blowing into my face - not ideal. Most of the birds were flighing high across the wheat stubble and heading across two fields to get to what i think was a big fur wood about 1 mile away behind me. Not sure what they were looking for here but every-time i shot loads of birds would lift from the wood. Notice i called this a major flightline, i have never quite seen such a busy two way flight-line following a long line of oaks down the left hand side of the field. There were birds coming down the line of trees every minute and most were high and very difficult shots but if there was a slightly strong breeze some would slow and drop lower to the field, these were the majority of birds i shot - aswell as having a go at some high birds . I set up a hide directly under the flight-line and set out all of my decoys. As this was a very tricky position to decoy i didnt expect many to decoy, i was merely hoping that it might slow them down a bit for the shot. As i said birds moving everywhere, lots of ambitious shooting on my part but pulled off some cracking shots especially towards the end when i had the confidence to give them lots of extra lead. I set up first looking up the field - directly facing oncoming birds. Then almost out of nowhere a busy flight-line opened up on my left often providing some birds close enough to shoot but the majority kept just out of range. Also alot of birds were coming from behind me so i was constantly trying to look two ways at once which was a little frustrating at time but made for some busy shooting. Normally for decoying i can achieve 2:1 if i am on form or 3:1 but today it was more like 4-5:1 but it doesnt bother me because the birds were difficult by anyones standards so i just forgot about my ratio and go on with the job in hand. So knee-deep in shells i finally packed up even though bird were still occasionally passing over. The final count was 21 - in the picture but just as i was putting the gun in the slip i saw a pigeon heading straight for me and it was quite high too, i slipping in 2 cartridges and popped up missing with the first and pulling off an absolute corker of a shot with the second barrel as the bird looped and jinked away that made for 22, should of had more but thats just the way it goes.

 

P.S the game season is nearly upon us, i put the semi away and had the Beretta out today - i often do this around this time of year to get used to the gun and try and only shoot with one gun. It was a Joy to shoot with the 'delicacy' of the beretta but then again when i get the remington back out at the end of january it always seems like its a joy to shoot aswell. Roll on October the 1st

[A bolt 22.250]

Good on ya

[Darren h]

nice bag and the dog looks happy too

[yickdaz]