activeviii Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 popped out to a field of wheat that has just about totally flattened. My gosh was it hot. 7 lts of fluid for the dogs and same for me. plus a 1/2 hour on the floor in pain for rolling the ankle on a rut. pain killers and stiff upper lip was in order birds came in bits and pieces so doubles and triples need to make a bag. we had 20 minutes shooting then 20 minutes nothing coming. this happened all day but when they did come we couldnt load fast enough, at one time a took a triple and and only managed to get two carts back in the gun for two more birds dropping in to be shot. missed some stupid easy shots, ok a lot of easy birds but smashed some cracking right lefts. gave up at 4pm with little liquid left and a ankle swelling in the boots. just glad i wore them or i thing it could have been a lot worse. still enjoyed the day but should have done better on the cartridge count. 2 of us take turns in the one hide, 165 cart for me and 169 for matey. not sure on total birds yet as i was more interested in getting home and getting foot looked at. going by the bucket filled i think final count will be 150'ish, tell you later when i know. the dogs just sat in the shade all day and then did a sweep at the end so not to over cook them, i think i lost about 12 birds behind in the other flat wheat field and 10 or so under the wheat in the shot field. dogs did well but i would rather leave a few birds for mr fox than burning two dogs out in the heat. wish we shot the other field as there was hundreds still feeding as we we driving away. bring on wednesday. sorry if its a little hard to read but its tuff. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted June 27, 2011 Report Share Posted June 27, 2011 Sounds like an excellent day Hope the ankle heals quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted June 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 It better heal quick, i want to shoot on wednesday Bad news....Bl00dy freezer has just packed up. tripping the meter every time the switch at the plug is flicked on. anyone know where i can pick up a cheap on please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted June 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 had another go today. 179 in the bag, dozen lost. they didnt decoy as well as i was hoping but still plated the doubles game all day. over 350 birds off this feild in two trips this week. still loads but think a new approach is needed as they didnt want it today. flying by at range with wind up their bum. some very good birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Good result. Nice one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 had another go today. 179 in the bag, dozen lost. they didnt decoy as well as i was hoping but still plated the doubles game all day. over 350 birds off this feild in two trips this week. still loads but think a new approach is needed as they didnt want it today. flying by at range with wind up their bum. some very good birds some birds round your area i take it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 this little area has had birds on it all winter, it seams like they have liked the plating this year, down side it that it will be 6 years before the rotation of crop is right again. good news is that a friend phoned to say the farmer has just sprayed the rape off on another farm so might be a little bag there to go at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Nice write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caeser Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 some birds round your area i take it Not any more !!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Its been one of the best year every for us. the crops on all the farms seam to be in the right rotation plus a couple more farms added to the book. we have had a few smaller bags but since the snow it has been just about 100+ every time we have been out. been very spoilt and i know next year will be hard times once again but at the moment im firing in pain killers and getting out there. i just wish i had kept a record of what where and when but matey says dont beat myself up over it and just get out and enjoy the good time. i think he's right. Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminator69 Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Gid day fella, not so good about your ankle,a lot of darts fired Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby dazzler Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Nice one Phil good shooting get a bag of frozen peas on your ankle all ways seems to do the job I am having a go at the pigeons tomorrow first time in a while got a new farm to shoot so going to give it a go and it's on peas happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Top job Bobby. put some birds on top of the tall peas as well as i have been taking them off the top with the rimfire.lol. I turned the ankle again wednesday. it is kin killing me but painkillers are great.lol. Cirencester show tomorrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby dazzler Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Yea is the country fair tomorrow good luck on that one it's not the best I got offered some free tickets but turned them down cus it ain't worth going to in my eyes but hay ho each to their own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 (edited) Its been one of the best year every for us. the crops on all the farms seam to be in the right rotation plus a couple more farms added to the book. we have had a few smaller bags but since the snow it has been just about 100+ every time we have been out. been very spoilt and i know next year will be hard times once again but at the moment im firing in pain killers and getting out there. i just wish i had kept a record of what where and when but matey says dont beat myself up over it and just get out and enjoy the good time. i think he's right. Phil. I do a write up of every day's shooting i do - good or bad. I have 5 years of full diaries. It helps remember the good days and also gives a reminder of when to start checking certain areas or crops. I wish i had started writing in the diaries sooner, as i have forgotten alot of the good days from a few years back. Edited July 1, 2011 by motty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2011 Another 158 today on the same field. dogs worked well. gunners shot like a tart. Over 500 since last sunday. photo on the relevant section. Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Another day yesterday. we decided that we need the two fields shot as the birds had started to drop in on the far edge with a small number dropping in to where i shot on Monday. after watching for a while i pulled the short straw and ended on the old field with very little hope as the birds wanted to be on the other field. oh well! someone had to do it so i set off to the place i was hoping to be able to pull a few birds off the flight line that runs to the other field. Gutted, there was clearing in the hedge with feathers all around, someone had shot the day before as the feathers were dry. now i was just going to be a scare crow as i knew these birds would jinks as the slightest thing. I went though the motions, set hide with roof, peg in for the dogs as one is still young and learning. put a pattern in of 4 home flocked shells on long springs, 20 dead bird cradle with half shells on them, replacing the shells with real birds if i ever get any. i put up the pinewood rotary with a pair of real birds and i modified flapper on the long pole so it can been seen from over the hedge. got back in the hide and took a seat. didnt even get the gun out the bag as i didnt think it was going to happen. 10 minutes later, still just sat there, a single bird came for a look. then another and then another. none landing but possible shots. out the hide and adjust the tail of the pattern to allow them in a little easier. now back in hide with beretta loaded and watch the birds heading down to the other field when a bird took of out the pattern. ***! where he come from?? few minutes later another bird swung in for a look, it changed its style and was looking to land, up with gun and down it dropped. one in bag. i always try to wait until the birds brain switches from looking as the pattern to looking where to land as its at this time you can do a jig as the bird just doesn't seam to care. a few minutes later an other bird came to the beretta. then another, and another. first box of cartridges gone for 25 birds. bet i couldn't do that again. to dame right, next box of carts gone and only 10 birds.OMG! whats happening..... wind had changed so birds were not playing the same game. out and adjust pattern again and the birds came a little better. i was still to hear a shot from matey over in the other field. not sure what was happening so on the radio to him. bird didnt like him or something he was doing and didnt come close to his pattern. a friend came for a look, hadn't shot pigeon in over 10 years so i told him to come and have a go. put my gun away and let him shoot he was soon back into the swing of things with his old side/side beagle that needed putting down but he shot ok with it so i shouldn't take the pee....should i?.lol. wind changed again so out to sort the pattern and let the dogs do some work.. i use hessian on the floor and then lay the birds out on that and then a wet layer of hessian on top to try and cool birds and stop flies. all in all it turned out to be a good day. matey over the way said he was packing up as the birds didnt want to play with him so with me running out of carts and couldn't be bothered to walk back to the truck to get more i said we would give it a little longer to my friend could have a bit more shooting. then the heavens opened. my god didnt it rain. the dogs hid under my chair and tom did a runner to his car for a water proof coat a bit late as it stopped just as he got back to the hide. lmao. my phone was in my so caller waterproof coat and now its knackered. i couldn't sit as my trousers where stuck to my legs and water had run down the chair and soaked my ****. no good, time to call it a day at 3.30pm it took 1.5 hours to get everything back to the motors and pick all the birds, dogs knackered as well. matey got soaked so cleared off, didnt really come over to me and tom. glad tom came as he was a star in getting the birds back to the car. by 7.30pm i had finished laying the birds out to chill down and got all the wet gear out to dry. long day for me but well worth it for tom, he had a good day and couldn't thank me enough...for me, thats what its about at times, putting smiles on peoples faces. Tom, if you read this ' Your more than welcome' I should start doing guided shooting as this year its been all ton ups.lol. Anyway, how many i hear you ask. well matey over the way, that was on the hot field took 16, not a big bag but still a bit of shooting. i counted 159 chilling and we reckon around 20 lost due to rain masking scent and birds dropping in standing wheat behind us that i will not let the dogs trash. still this area is being kind to us with over 660 birds in 4 trips in 2 weeks. I have photos on my phone but it be wet and doing funny things so not sure if i can get them off. we will see. all the best Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby dazzler Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Nice Phil the birds are getting a bit better for decoying now had good bag last weekend on peas and a good bag this weekend on wheat and they were on new permissions as well happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Nice Phil the birds are getting a bit better for decoying now had good bag last weekend on peas and a good bag this weekend on wheat and they were on new permissions as well happy days Top job. good times acoming i hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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