decroyffe Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Has anyone recently bought a let day at hooton pagnell??? If so what are your thoughts please. I was there last week and to say I'm disappointed is an understatement. In fact I feel stitched up and robbed. Ill post why later when I have more time but I'd like to hear what others have experienced, Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorianbuilders Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I was there yesterday for a walk one stand one and had a cracking day, 16 guns good bunch of lads and finished the day with 119 and was well looked after whilst there with good food etc. Planning going back next year! What was your problem/issue? Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decroyffe Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I was there yesterday for a walk one stand one and had a cracking day, 16 guns good bunch of lads and finished the day with 119 and was well looked after whilst there with good food etc. Planning going back next year! What was your problem/issue? Adrian Hello Adrian. I'm trying to piece together myself why it was so poor so I'm going to let the comments roll first. Did all 16 guns know each other or was there two teams that came??? Also how many drives did you have and how many bird day was it??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorianbuilders Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 100 plus bird day one group of 11 or 12 guns a couple of singles Inc myself and another group of 2 or 3. 6 drives stand 3 each and walking gun on 1 so shot 4 drives. All the beaters and picker ups were helpful and friendly and Richard and Angela good hosts. I'd be interested to know how your day went? Did you complain on the day? Pm me if you don't want to write on here. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decroyffe Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Our venture started as two teams of nine. A gun from the other team knew the keeper so he did all the organising. We were lead to believe it was a 130 bird day to include breakfast, lunch, tea and cakes. Stand one walk one, and each gun would be a walking gun at least once. As it turned out it was an 100 bird day, no breakfast but lunch, tea and cakes which was still good value, so no complaints so far. From the off it was clear that all the other team knew the keeper, in fact most beat for him. He also had one beater as a full walking gun so there were 19 in total. It was per arranged we would all bring dogs to ensure a good cover both sides, but that little fact seemed to have slipped the other teams mind as there was only two between them:-(( They stood first and had a fantastic drive which I was included in as a walking gun. Our team got amongst the birds and the three walking guns only shot birds coming back. The second drive, our first was **** poor to say the least. We were put out on pegs and it was clear there was very little between us and the beating line. Not only that there was nothing behind for the birds to make to. Over to the far left and far right stood woodland which I predicted the pheasants would make for, and the partridge were always going to drop in the hedge line 100 years to our front. I wasn't far wrong, the two end guns on each side had six shots between them. Not only that but all three drives we stood we were facing into the sun, making it almost impossible to shoot if the birds had come over. There beating line was none existent. Bunch together having a good old chin wagg with the keeper. This went on all day. Each drive they did was well worked by us, and thought through by the keeper. Each we did was into the sun, not worked for us by the beaters, and no thought on the keepers part. There walking guns were shooting birds going forwards, and by the end it was a 70 odd bag, 112 shots from our team, and over 300 from there's!!!!! We were advised to take birds behind because of the sun, and as long as the shot was safe, not to worry about the height!!!!!!!! Since then I've learned the same team shot last year with another team of nine who had a similar day to us, hence them not returning this year. Obviously Adrian had a good day yesterday so I'm guessing the moral to this story is if your going to shoot hooton pagnell, take a full team so the keeper has no loyalties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorianbuilders Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'm sorry you felt like that and you had such a bad experience, all I can do is comment on the day we had which was great and well worked by both the beaters and keeper, showing some good birds, admittedly there were some low birds but enough higher ones to pick out some good shooting. Most of the guns I spoke with said they would be coming back next year, me included. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decroyffe Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'm sorry you felt like that and you had such a bad experience, all I can do is comment on the day we had which was great and well worked by both the beaters and keeper, showing some good birds, admittedly there were some low birds but enough higher ones to pick out some good shooting. Most of the guns I spoke with said they would be coming back next year, me included. Adrian We live and learn, I'll stick to wentworth mi thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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