the lizard Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Hi all, At the end of a perfect day..... what do you do ? Answer - write a little story about it to the Pigeon Watch Forums, what else. On the way to post a letter this morning, I call in to my local NFU office, (where I just happen to know the manager). He gives me the names, addresses and phone numbers of 3 farmers who he reckons would welcome "pest control services" on their land. All 3 are mostly arable farms, (some livestock) and all grow Rape. I call first farmer on list (Mr. R. - who has a big arable farm, over 2,000 acres with split parcels of land). He's away for a few days, but his wife says she doesn't think there'd be any problem. They already have various people over to shoot around their land. Shottys mostly. Pls call back in a few days. "No problem" and "thank you very much" say I. And I give her my name and phone no. etc. I've already given the usual spiel over the phone - i.e. I’m a member of BASC, hold a DEFRA license*, member of NFU, using Air Rifle only, so no noisy bangs or shot disturbing the lambs, etc. * As members of Pigeon Watch probably know, the DEFRA open licence can be downloaded from DEFRA's website and printed out for free. It's only 3 pages and I always carry it in my rifle bag. Anyway, less than 1/2 hour later, I receive a call back from Mrs.R. She’s just spoken to her husband on the phone and she relayed my recent enquiry. Mr. Farmer has told her to phone me right back and tell me that I’m welcome anytime. “The sooner the better” - in a nutshell. I then told Mrs. Farmer that after visiting the local county town later today, I would try and call in person and introduce myself. At lunchtime, I visit my local Fieldsports shop. They zero my scope with their collimator machine at 25 metres (abt 27.3 yds) and top-up the pressure on the S410-C, and I buy another tin of .22 pellets. As planned, on the way back home, I visit and introduce myself to Mrs. Farmer. (This is a VERY big farm - the farmhouse is the size of a hotel, with more outbuildings than you can shake a stick at!) Anyway, after being shown (on an OS map), the extent of this farm, I offer to visit one of the locations - as invited. I drive a few miles and come to some grain silos and sheds. When I say sheds, let me explain that you could hide a World War I Zeppelin inside one of these things. I switch off the engine and get out of my car. And what do I hear - well, I hear “cooing”. So, the question is THIS, folks. I have a fully charged AA S410-C, newly sighted scope and plenty of pellets. I am in a very quiet area of rural west Wales, just off a one-track B road. And I have Permission to shoot. Do I drive home and watch TV, or do I go and shoot pigeons ? OK - so you know the answer folks. Six vermin in the main big.shed. Quite a few smaller birds, but they exit fairly rapidly through large holes in the roof. It takes me a while to adjust for range and hold-over/under. I shoot a whole magazine without hitting anything except the roof. Light level inside is low (mid-afternoon) so I can’t use magnification on the scope. The pigeons are now “under notice” and have started to perceive me as a threat. There are 4 ferals and 2 Collared Doves. Ok, to cut a long story short - I got 5 of ‘em. Three ferals and both Collared Lovey-Doveys. One of the ferals must have figured out what was going on, and hid away quietly. However, as me and the S410 knocked ‘em off, I threw the carcasses on an old piece of roofing lying in the yard, just outside the doorway. After 2 ferals and 1 Lovey-Dovey were sunning themselves on the deck, I just managed to fluke a Corker of a head-shot on Lovey-Dovey no. 2 Well people - and I just COULDN’T make this up - Collared Dove number 2 then just fluttered straight down onto the piece of roof where I’d been collecting his fallen comrades. What can I say - what a polite pigeon !! Now, is that a SHOT or what ? Got one more feral, then I stopped for a chat with one of the farm workers, who showed up on his tractor. Gave him the S410 to try out. Got it back eventually.. A perfect day…………….. asked about Permission this morning got it by lunchtime sorted rifle / location / scope / details by early afternoon found & shot 5 pigeons by evening went home told Pigeon Watch Forums goodnight Welcome to West Wales Croeso y Cymru Gorllewin the Lizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 it dont get no better than that. good man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 A good end to good day. Nice shooting! I have learnt never to trust thoes bore sighting kits. I always zero my rifles properly before every hunt.. seems you did ok though, other then the pellets stuck in the roof on the first day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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