nd16 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Ok, first things first I'm a complete newbie to this site. This is not at all 'off topic' but it seems to be the busiest forum and I didn't think any of the other areas were appropriate for this post ... how did you get into shooting in the first place and what keeps you going back for more ? Before you think im a journalist wanting some insight into peoples minds etc im not at all, ive just moved out to the countryside after many years of living in a city, I stumbled upon this site and i'm amazed and pleased to find such a goldmine of knowledge/experience and diversity of people with the same interest and im just interested to know what people enjoy most. i will also add to this that i've never pulled the trigger of a shotgun, i have booked myself in for a clay shoot next weekend and hopefuly this will be the first of many great shooting experiences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 If you enter your location and where you are shooting, I suspect you will all the help and advice you can stand. Good luck and bear in mind the safety aspect. I cannot emphasise that enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfletch Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Hi For me its getting out in the fresh air and if I manage to shoot anything well that's a bonus. You can sit in the hide and just look at the wildlife its amazing what there is when you have a good look. Just remember to keep an eye out for the pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toombsy Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Welcome to the site Well in my case my father, uncle, grandad and all their mates shot, so I suppose it was inevitable that one day I'd have a go. And I really took to it, with an air rifle at first when I was 10-ish, then progressing to shotguns and now rimfire rifles too. And to be honest, I do prefer my own company, so the two (shooting and peace and quiet) go hand-in-hand really. I do shoot clays as well as live quarry. I prefer clays though - sometimes I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger at game... it don't happen very often, but on some occasions, even after setting up all the hide, putting out decoys and a rotary etc, I just sit and watch how the birds react without firing a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 For my birthday in 1984,a friend bought me a 'have a go' session at a local clay ground and that was me,hooked. I had always been interested in shooting but with rifle,both full bore and .22,but clay shooting really appealed to me. I also took up game shooting and had many a good day in the field where I enjoyed the rough shooting the most,with a few friends and a couple of dogs. I only shoot sporting clays now and the attractions are many.You always have a competitor and that's yourself.That and the many good friends I have made over the years. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Dad has always been a shooting man but we come from a huge farming background and dad and grandad done it to feed the family in there day. Non of this fun/sporting shooting, also in the forties pigeon shooting and rabbit catching was done to aid the war effort as reducing pests was a real crop saver. Cheers Cookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I grew up in the country and my Dad worked on the local farm, he had shotguns and a .22 rifle and he loved natural history and conservation, he taught me so much about birds, trees, butterflies, animals and the countryside in general. As a youth I had air rifles and ferrets but I grew up and moved into a Town and lost that side of life. When I had kids I wanted to move back to the country to give them a decent childhood, fresh air and good home cooking. For me shooting is a part of the bigger picture; it connects you to a place, to your food and to life, plus it's magical to be out early in the morning watching the sun rise and comming home with free, freerange meat that hasn't been kept in a cage and fed antibiotics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 well my parents have not realy had much to do with shooting my dad used to shoot targers for vickers,and my mothers side were cockle pickers! we moved to a small village where i found some one with ferrets, and then got one. since then ive joined the wcfc(now closed) worked on farms and become a gamekeeper every corner i take in life takes me more into the world of shooting and the country side. i used to love it just for the shooting and the challage of live quarry now as a gamekeeper guns and shooting pay the wage and cover my head,but my love now is makeing a diffrence to the countryside we have and call our own,too many people have the chance or power to make it a better place but dont and i will and do every thing i can to change that,hedge laying is one exsample, its such a ssmall thing but makes all the diffrence. even if i ever change paths in life i will always go shooting its the caveman thing in you,once he is out you cant put it away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Welcome.Can't remember a time when I haven't been involved in shooting.My dad and his mates were more 'poacher' than not,but with the death of his father when my dad was only 13,and a lot of mouths to feed,him and his brothers and sister got food whenever and wherever they could prior to the last war.I suppose I inherited the 'gene',if there is one. You can turn a 'good' walk in the countryside into a 'fabulous' one with the addition of a gun and a good dog. In the height of summer there's not a lot beats being out in the woods at 4 in the morning looking for a deer.No one else around,no hum of traffic,birds singing,a vast array of flora and fauna....magical. Be very careful,you are about to embark on one of the most addictive paths i know! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd16 Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Thanks for the responses so far and all the friendly welcomes. I love being by the sea and as a consequence i go surfing a lot, it gives me a purpose to be out there, im not going to get all hippy and tell you how cosmic it is but nothing beats a day off work, an early morning start with no one around and nature in all its glory to yourself , i equally enjoy a busy day when there are many people out there to chat to and enjoy the same things i also tried sea fishing, i didnt much care if i caught anything but it was all about being out there and having a good time regardless. im hoping that with shooting i get the same satisfaction. I love being outdoors, walking is ok but shooting seems to give you a reason to be out there, doing something meaningful and enjoying all that nature has to offer i can also appreciate the shooting for survival posts, not thats theres any shortage of supermarkets ready to flog you a pale flacid discount chicken at the moment. theres definitely something appealing to be able to shoot something take it home and cook it up and know where it came form etc , with food prices going the way they are maybe its something more people will be taking up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 If you do get to like clay shooting and you enjoy sea fishing, then get yourself a permit ticket through a local wildfowling club and next season give it ago.....something totaly different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd16 Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 sounds like the best of both worlds, roll on next weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 i grew up in the middle of a big city (birmingham), my grandfather came from the country (for work), introduced me to shooting, and other 'country ways' - always enjoyed holidays in the country, loved fishing from the age of 3, started shooting myself in my early teens - air rifles, stayed on farms during holidays - generally felt much more 'at home' surrounded by green... went to uni, moved out to a fairly rural area as soon as i could. shooting / fishing 'feed' something in me that i suspect every huMAN has... afterall - we have evolved over a very long time carrying out the basic elements of these activities for survival. Modern life has meant if we so choose we can ignore these - but i find it is much more satisfying to enjoy them! its also the reason i really struggle to begin to understand people who are 'anti' (i can tolerate the indifferent people). that is basically why i shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 How did I get into shooting? Just because I've always been interested but my parents were dead-set against any kind of 'weapon' (I see them more as tools for a job). They wouldn't even allow an airpistol in the house. As a teen, I was a cadet in the CCF at Kings which gave me rifle shooting at military ranges and I shot with mates air rifles too and loved it, then went off to uni and only shot through the Uni OTC. It wasn't until years later, living in rural norfolk, married with wee kids and being a regular member at a decent FT club did I buddy up with a decent chap and he suggested going after bunnies. Soon, the dormant hunter gatherer genes in me fired up and I relished the holistic approach to food - growing fresh vegetables and fruits, harvesting wild food and garnering items from natures fresh meat larder with clinical, humane precision. FT training and plenty of other rifle experience held me in good stead for marksmanship, but learning the necessary field skills to get within range was a fascinating challenge. I'd always been an outdoors 'up the fields' kind of kid and keenly interested in flora and fauna and my local environment with an underlying interest in guns generally, so with hindsight, it is no surprise what hobby I have as an adult. I may have shot rifles most of my life, but only very recently have I got into shotguns - another challenge! I echo the sentiments of several on this thread that being out in the open air with peace and solitude and the potential for harvesting something for the pot (and therefore belly!) in itself is a wonderful happy thing to do. Plus, sitting still and concealed in the wilds encourages nature to throw you a few surprises - I've had wrens sitting on my hat and running up and down my back, whilst lying in ambush on hay in a dutch barn (for example) - some of natures gifts this way lodge in the memory for life!. Sorry If I ramble! But that's my story. Cheers Duncan :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluke2 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I was born on lord mowbray stortons estate my dad was a tenant farmer of his and I guess the hunting and shooting came as part of everyday life. I grew up with it and as well as a way of feeding the family and making a bit extra money by selling stuff on, it was a part of life we had to learn at a very young age, I could kill and clean anything at 7-8 year old rabbits/pigeons/chickens/etc and once got a bloody good slap round the head for taking my dads gun out of the pantry and shooting a fox on the school field I was 7 at the time (ouch),my dad still gave me the tail later that night so wasnt so bad.Another of the things I remember most was riding on top of a chocka full game cart after a days pheasant shooting and picking up after the guns there was no restriction on numbers then and shoots went on from first light until dark,my mum says I would have been around 4 years old at the time and my younger brother was sitting with me on the back with my two older brothers steering the carts.These were big events then and I guess it just sticks with you theres been a lot of changes since,Happy days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 i shoot because i like making things go "BANG" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Sometimes I find its just nice to be away from people for a few hours. Also theres normally a nice dinner or two at the end of the day to be cooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) My grandad shot, my dad shot I never realy got to do the father-son thing I just got on with it on my own but an looking forward to spending some fun times pigeon shooting and beating with my grandad this year. I also try to encourage my kids as much as possible. The eldest one has more of an interest in fishing but the younger one loves the idea of shooting. I remember last season plucking and prepping 100+ pigeons with the two of them in the late evening sun.On top of it all I love eating what i have killed fish, fur or feather and the whole family enjoy it too. Weirdly my mum is a devout vegetarian and an animal lover ( she doesn't REALY understand how the country side works and has her own clouded view but she's my mum ) even my 1 1/2 year old knows a pheasant dead or alive. I have a 8 month old lab who is coming along nicely. I will always shoot and hope my kids will to, living in the city it's nice to get away to just shoot and forget about the daily grind. A bit of beating this season and getting the youngest one his first gun. Edited February 25, 2011 by mpk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Hi ND ( You are less than 6 miles away from me ) When I was 10/11 Years old My parents bought and moved to a small holding (about 10/15 acres) - I had to change schools etc and they bought me off with an airgun We kept a few hundred chickens ducks geese etc, and of course Foxy eventually paid us a visit, My Mother was totally against guns until this point - she borrowed a side by side shotgun from the local farmer and waited patiently for several nights and eventually shot him :blink: . (and put a bl00dy great big hole in a shed!) My Dad took me out with the shotgun and I had a crack at a gatepost - from there I was hooked,through My new school I met lots of new pals who were sons of farmers so I have always had lots of ground to shoot on I now enjoy Foxing/rabbit/occasional deer shooting with the rifles, game shooting - and of course a fair amount of target shooting, I would like to get out more but most of My pals have Young Kids and time is limited now, but still get out at least once a week Welcome to the forum & enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I've seen this question asked on a couple of forums, usually there are a lot of answers saying that the vermin need to be controlled, crops need protecting etc., etc. It's true of course, but it's not the reason I hunt. I hunt because I enjoy it. There, I've said it, I enjoy hunting. I shoot squirrels and rabbits that damage my trees, but I have two other shooters who can do that for me. Willy1 on this site does a damned good job of shooting squirrels for me. He actually shoots my land more often than I do . In fact, I shoot on someone else's land which is full of rabbits and pigeons whilst my own land is being raided, because I enjoy it. So let's be honest here, we shoot because we enjoy the hunt. We love to bring home the meat, and there's nothing wrong with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Ok, first things first I'm a complete newbie to this site. This is not at all 'off topic' but it seems to be the busiest forum and I didn't think any of the other areas were appropriate for this post ... how did you get into shooting in the first place and what keeps you going back for more ? Before you think im a journalist wanting some insight into peoples minds etc im not at all, ive just moved out to the countryside after many years of living in a city, I stumbled upon this site and i'm amazed and pleased to find such a goldmine of knowledge/experience and diversity of people with the same interest and im just interested to know what people enjoy most. Welcome, i will also add to this that i've never pulled the trigger of a shotgun, i have booked myself in for a clay shoot next weekend and hopefuly this will be the first of many great shooting experiences You find the answer to your question some where between dusting number one and number two! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosshair Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 A lot of us country bumpkins shoot to protect our livestock, we keep the predators down, therefore conserving our more endangered wildlife, Skylarks and all ground nesting birds are vulnerable to foxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackthorn Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 born and bred on a village, seems it is something i have done all my life, from my first air rifle to shotguns, its a life i would not like to give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Was bought an airrifle as a young teen and when at my Grandparents, in the country, was told to shoot rabbits for tea. Never succeeded but as with fishing years before, I was hooked. I now supply myself and my family, and sometimes friends, with top quality meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 its in my dna. Granddad was a game keeper dad shoots so its only natural I shot altho I do remember my dad trying to put me off and wouldn't let me have an air gun. One of my earlyest memories was form been 5ish and my grandad shot a munti it ran a short distance and I **** my pants and hid in the truck. Its a way of life for me I've met people from all backgrounds from the poorest to royalty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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