Cosd Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 My day finally arrived, nearly five years since I started shooting, my Red Letter Day! I'm sitting here now with now still with the biggest grin on my face, my feet still haven't touched the ground either so please bear with me if I write jiberish Before I start I have to say a massive thanks to Terry (Bakerboy) whom I met at 9:00am at one of his permisions. this was the first time we've met even though we have chatted a number of times, but you can tell as soon as you meet him how passionate he is about the sport. We spent around half hour, forty five minutes walking the permision. He explained the land, showed me the usual flightlines and pointed out the permanent hides he's set up around the farm. Terry has invested time on his permision, and it shows. So Terry left me as he was busy that day, saying he'd seen some birds about whilst setting up his hide for wheelchair users, not great numbers but a steady stream; And advised if I put the hours in I could make a 20-25 bag day. Off he went and I picked my spot and headed down to set my self up. I put out 20 flocked decoys giving me a wide open ended "V" pattern, and as the wind was blowing in my face slightly from one side, my pattern was set accordingly in that direction. After a few birds came in from over my right shoulder I thinned out the right leg of the pattern and put more decoys on the left of the "V", allowing them to naturally swing in from their side of aproach and not have to correct themselves to much; Just a personal view but if they have to swing round to come in there is a chance they can change their minds. I was using my Benneli semi auto, 30g 6 Rio's and after I dropped a few added the Turbo Flapper and I use a remote to control it which convenently hangs round my neck. I set up my hide against a 6' hedge which gave me a good backdrop, set up 4 poles making myself a 1m by 2m wide comfy hide. I used a Stealth net up to neck height when seated then added a Clearview another 12" above the Stealth to give me a window to look through in all three directions. No sooner had I put three cartridges in my gun and a bird cam in over my shoulder, I wasn't quite ready and have hardly had anything to shoot at for months, I missed an easy shot and again with a second as it wizzed away from the pattern. A minute later and I missed two as they shot over my shoulder Two the decoyed perfectly and I dropped my first bird. They started to come in a steady stream and I was soon taking a shot every couple of minutes. My shooting improved as I became accustomed to my gun again and we were on the same wavelength. The day continued like this and I shot steady from 10:00am through to 5:00pm. The majority of the birds came in over my shoulder as Terry said they would, reactions needed to be quick on the ones that had no plan stopping. I shot pretty well with some excellent shots but missed some absolute sitters as well. I finished the day with 127 downed and 116 picked up, 10 left and rights and about 208 cartridges. By my standards I am really pleased, but I think having such a busy day allows you to hone in on your shooting; Going out and having a dozen shots over 8 hrs for example, doesn't help, and the long delay between shots adds to the anxiety of missing. It does for me anyway! I've taken a couple of pictures even though I won't need them to remember my day, and before someone says there's only 115 in the picture, you'll see why in the second one..... Thanks again Terry, definitely a day I won't forget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Great day Great write up great shooting just GREAT :good: :good: :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Excellent!! Well done Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remmy1100 Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 well done lad what crop were you shooting over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twitchynik Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Good shooting. I'm guessing that was over the alfalfa field and that you were on the hedge opposite the small lane, sort of looking toward the big tree and the new wheelchair hide. When I was there last there was a good flight line at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4eyes Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Good write up, enjoyed the read, and well done there! Fantastic day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie mac Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Good write up,glad you had a good days shooting,and well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Well done mate , payback for you persistance and all the quiet days of late weve had shooting together. Just glad you rememberd which way round to hold your gun A pretty good shot ratio too, guess I will have to improve my shooting now You definately didnt need any of my peckers yesterday And a for Bakerboy, good man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Brilliant. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garygreengrass Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Good write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Nice Darts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 good work fella! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 what crop where you shooting over btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) I was shooting over alfa alfa Edited May 22, 2011 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) Well done Cos. I hope you have by now stopped "buzzing" When I spoke with you, you sounded really excited, I would loved to have seen your face. I could not find the second picture, but no doubt it will pop up in a moment. And of course after many telephone calls and PM's it was a pleasure to meet up with you. I had a few beers last night to celebrate your success, I hope you had a few as well. I look forward to seeing you again soon, and I am wondering if you would cover the permission whilst I am on holiday, or is that a silly question. cheers Terry ps the crop is Alf Alfa also known as Lucerne, it has been harvested once this year is due to be harvested again in a couple of weeks and we should get another 1 maybe 2 harvests before the end of the season. Edited May 22, 2011 by bakerboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) Thanks Terry, the buz hasn't totally gone and I still keep replaying the day in my head. Would be more than happy to cover the permission whilst you're away, thanks again! I will put the other picture on shortly, for some reason it wouldn't let me load it. It a picture of the culprit who took one of the dropped birds! Edited May 22, 2011 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Brilliant write up, thanks and well done on your great shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 And here he is, a pack of these ascended the pattern and this hunting machine grabbed one of the downed birds and was gone like the wind OK maybe I exagerated a little, the farmers wife was out walking her dogs when this cheeky chapie thought he'd do a retreive, except he wouldn't give it back saw her walking back after about 45 minutes and he still had it in his mouth.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Another pigeon gone westie . You were lucky the other 5 westies were not hungry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 well done lad what crop were you shooting over Sorry for the late replies guys, had to go out and only just came back to read the replies properly. Was on Lucerne (Alf Alfa) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Good shooting. I'm guessing that was over the alfalfa field and that you were on the hedge opposite the small lane, sort of looking toward the big tree and the new wheelchair hide. When I was there last there was a good flight line at that point. That's right, except I went further along away from the corner, only because I don't like to the restriction shooting from a corner gives you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) Well done, good shooting and top marks for Baker Boy for the help. Thats one of those good stories from pigeon watch. Good luck to both of you on the shooting and friendship Edited May 22, 2011 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twitchynik Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 I remember that pack of marauding dogs!! Ate 3 and took one away for later from our pattern! Annoying but very amusing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Excellent write up and day by the look of things and a well done to baker boy :good: not a bad cart to kill ratio :good: BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Great report and a good read, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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