Great day on laid barley

[Cosd]

Friday 21st August

Bakerboy (Terry) called me late Thursday afternoon asking if I could pop over to a farm to help out on some laid barley the pigeons had been gorging on, off course I had to oblige PhilR was also going over late morning and as Bakerboy does, he offered a day on the Forum for two more guns to come over too.

We met at 08:00 and headed to the farm where the farmer met us pointing out most of the fields being hit. Looking over the farm with the binos it looked pretty deserted with very few pigeons flying anywhere. Terry divided the fields between us and off we went. Terry showed me the way to my designated area and we got out, looked around and we saw.........not a bird Not one! I told Terry that I'd watch it for half hour and move on if nothing happened.

As Terry left I climbed the bank to get a proper look over the field which again seemed deserted, as I was about to turn away I saw a flitter of wings in the barley. I let out a very manly and butch scream (like a girl ) and around 40 birds lifted Decision made I started to unload the Landy.

 

I set up the hide and put out 10 flocked shells and 10 FUDS, 20 yards out in two random patterns and a Turbo flapper in between but closer to the hide.

 

As I sat down and loaded the semi a single bird came straight into the pattern and I dropped it with the first shot There wasn't a lot of birds to be fair but I was shooting steady every few minutes drawing in most of what went by. I added the magnet and this started pulling the birds in from even greater distance.

 

There was zero wind, and though they were dropping in exactly where I wanted them they were coming from every direction. I called Terry who had something to do in the morning (back sack and crack I think he said, no idea what that meant but its not relevant) and was due to return late morning, and told him to join me in the hide as I was on 40 odd but two guns would do better.

 

By the time Terry sat in it was midday and I'd shot 77 for three hours and the birds just kept increasing in frequency and decoying just perfectly.

 

Some great shots were had and some sitters were missed. Off course there was ribbing to be had every time we missed a bird or two

We shot, we ribbed each other and we belly laughed but by 3 O'Clock the bag was 230 odd We invited Alex over to join us making it three in the hide as his day wasn't as good for him, he didn't know us as we didn't know him other than meeting in the morning. Terry had told me he'd done pigeon shooting a couple of times, so I think we both expected a newbie who'd probably need some guidance.

 

First bird heading towards us, go on Alex, I say, you take this one. The bird is coming in at speed an still 35 yards out, I'm expecting him to wait till it comes right in and probably miss. Alex jumps up and drops this bird stone dead at 35 yards and still high :o excellent shot Terry and say almost almost synchronised. Beginners luck I thought to myself, good on him It wasn't until Alex drops a few more just as challenging when I asked " you sure you've only shot twice?" :hmm: No, he says, I've been shooting since I was 10 but just done the pigeons twice :lol:

He was a bloody ringer

 

Anyway we shot till 5:30 and lost count after 300

 

We had a great day thanks to Terry, and not just because of the bag size but because of the great company, banter and laughter!!

 

Unfortunately we lost over two thirds of what we shot in the long crop, some birds had already been taken to the car as we popped back for more cartridges, but we did take a picture with some of the days spoils.

 

Thanks again to Terry!!!!!!!

 

Cos

[bobby dazzler]

Well done lads good effort

[bakerboy]

The company was fantastic

The weather was good

The big bag a bonus

The fun and laughter was out of this world, and Alexbb joined in like he had known us for a long time, his shooting was better than his jokes, but you cannot have everything.

Anthony, oscarsdad did not have good day, and for that I am really sorry. I was able to make Alex' day better by moving him in with Cos and me, but Anthony had the long drive home "sorry anthony".

 

But overall a great day, some happy pigeon shooters , and a happy farmer.

[the crowman]

Sorry to gate crash your post keep it short and sweet was out to day with Terry Phil and sweet had an excellent day with Terry only took shot 45 and on the way back off the field in the 4x4 had a billy bonus my first fox with sp 3 great end to a top day with a top bloke :) :)

Cheers Mark

[bakerboy]

Sorry to gate crash your post keep it short and sweet was out to day with Terry Phil and sweet had an excellent day with Terry only took shot 45 and on the way back off the field in the 4x4 had a billy bonus my first fox with sp 3 great end to a top day with a top bloke :) :)

Cheers Mark

 

 

Hi Mark a great day had by all.

 

Alistair (blackla) was the other gun, I noticed you called him "sweet" is this something that Philr and I should be a little wary of ? is this gun love young love,at first sight

See you again soon, crayfish next time I think

Edited July 22, 2012 by bakerboy

[Herr Plinker]

Great write up Cos and for me, being someone who is only just starting out on the journey, it's inspiring.

 

1x weekend = 2 x big bags = 2 x happy farmers - Nice!!

[PhilR]

I'll gate crash this thread too. Sweet Blackla and I went to the other side of the farm where big bags had been shot earlier in the week but there was nothing to be seen on our side of the barley field although there were two guns shooting steadily on the far side about 1/4 mile away.

 

We packed up after an hour and drove round the farm to another field of maize that's been getting hammered by crows. As we drove in we could see plenty on the telephone cables overhead and as drove up the headland to find a spot to set up a huge black cloud lifted off the ground. Blackla set the deeks out and I put up the hide we managed a pair each quite quickly. The phone rang, it was the farm manager to say he could see pigeons steadily dropping into a field of standing wheat which was out of our sight the other side of the hill but in sight of his cottage.

 

I walked over to recce and sure enough there they were. I nipped back and we hurriedly chucked everything into the back of the Disco for the trip round to the next field. We were finally set up with our backs to the hedgerow with a 12m wide cover crop between us and the wheat, we put the magnet just inside the wheat with eight shell decoys on long sticks, the remainder we put in two clumps on the cover crop we were ready to shoot by 1.30pm and stayed until about 6.00pm.

 

We shot 68 pigeons and a crow between us, I knocked up 40 and Blackla was desperate to get to his thirty, but I think it'd have been dark by the time he managed that

 

We picked up 48 pigeons and the crow, the rest fell into the standing crop and were inaccessible.

 

We both had a good time and I notice Blackla's shooting has improved since we were last out together, if it continues it might mean he'll hit a few pheasants when the season starts in a couple of months.

[hushpower]

Friday 21st August? back to the future ,well done lads good shooting

[the crowman]

Hi Mark a great day had by all.

 

Alistair (blackla) was the other gun, I noticed you called him "sweet" is this something that Philr and I should be a little wary of ? is this gun love young love,at first sight

See you again soon, crayfish next time I think

No No No bloody predictive text and coming off a night shift lol :)

[AlistairB]

I'll gate crash this thread too. Sweet Blackla and I went to the other side of the farm where big bags had been shot earlier in the week but there was nothing to be seen on our side of the barley field although there were two guns shooting steadily on the far side about 1/4 mile away. We packed up after an hour and drove round the farm to another field of maize that's been getting hammered by crows. As we drove in we could see plenty on the telephone cables overhead and as drove up the headland to find a spot to set up a huge black cloud lifted off the ground. Blackla set the deeks out and I put up the hide we managed a pair each quite quickly. The phone rang, it was the farm manager to say he could see pigeons steadily dropping into a field of standing wheat which was out of our sight the other side of the hill but in sight of his cottage.I walked over to recce and sure enough there they were. I nipped back and we hurriedly chucked everything into the back of the Disco for the trip round to the next field. We were finally set up with our backs to the hedgerow with a 12m wide cover crop between us and the wheat, we put the magnet just inside the wheat with eight shell decoys on long sticks, the remainder we put in two clumps on the cover crop we were ready to shoot by 1.30pm and stayed until about 6.00pm. We shot 68 pigeons and a crow between us, I knocked up 40 and Blackla was desperate to get to his thirty, but I think it'd have been dark by the time he managed that We picked up 48 pigeons and the crow, the rest fell into the standing crop and were inaccessible.We both had a good time and I notice Blackla's shooting has improved since we were last out together, if it continues it might mean he'll hit a few pheasants when the season starts in a couple of months.

 

It was a lovely day out, thanks for the invite Terry. I did notice that Phils shooting has dropped off somewhat since we were last out together, he may well leave some pheasants for the rest of us this season!!! :lol:

 

No No No bloody predictive text and coming off a night shift lol :)

 

Nice to meet you Mark, and you can call me what you like sweet cheeks! :blush:

[Alexbb]

Would like to just say that I had a fantastic day, slow to start but great to be out all the same. However later in the day certainly made up for that. When invited to shoot with Terry and Cos I had my reservations not just because three in a hide could potentially could be a bit crowded but concious that Terry, freshly waxed may be a bit tetchy. As it turned out the pigeons did not stop coming in nor did the banter, all in all a great experience.

I'm off to the library to get a new book on jokes and also researching how to put Knobblies on my 4X4..

 

Thank you Terry for your incredibly generous offer and all your help it really made my day.

 

Cos, it's time to buy an expensive gun....

 

A

[chrispti]

Well done everyone

[bakerboy]

Would like to just say that I had a fantastic day, slow to start but great to be out all the same. However later in the day certainly made up for that. When invited to shoot with Terry and Cos I had my reservations not just because three in a hide could potentially could be a bit crowded but concious that Terry, freshly waxed may be a bit tetchy. As it turned out the pigeons did not stop coming in nor did the banter, all in all a great experience.

I'm off to the library to get a new book on jokes and also researching how to put Knobblies on my 4X4..

 

Thank you Terry for your incredibly generous offer and all your help it really made my day.

 

Cos, it's time to buy an expensive gun....

 

A

I am looking forward to seeing a Porsche Boxter (may be wrong model, but I can't spell Carrera? ) with raised suspension and big Knobblies on board . I bet that is the first Porsche to have 4 birds in and a male driver. Albeit Pigeons :lol:

[oscarsdad]

Glad you all managed more than me lads. Next time I think you should share some of your lady pigeon pheromone terry...the birds were suicidal coming to you.

 

I still had a great day with great company and was very grateful for the opportunity to see how it should be done!

 

I did get the only bunny as a consolation though and then completed my mini mcnab by going and catching a trout when I got home.

 

Anthony

[the crowman]

Would like to just say that I had a fantastic day, slow to start but great to be out all the same. However later in the day certainly made up for that. When invited to shoot with Terry and Cos I had my reservations not just because three in a hide could potentially could be a bit crowded but concious that Terry, freshly waxed may be a bit tetchy. As it turned out the pigeons did not stop coming in nor did the banter, all in all a great experience.

I'm off to the library to get a new book on jokes and also researching how to put Knobblies on my 4X4..

 

Thank you Terry for your incredibly generous offer and all your help it really made my day.

 

Cos, it's time to buy an expensive gun....

 

A

I've got a lovely sp3 for sale Terry's seen it short:)

[motty]

Well done on a good day. I'm sorry but i must be slightly critical. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot pigeons if i wasn't fairly sure that i could pick them. I hate to lose even one bird, so for you to leave that many in the crop is a real shame.

A mate of mine and myself have spoken about a field just up the road from me that has been covered in pigeons for days, but we both know - even though a big bag is likely - that we would lose most of what we shot. Therefore we are leaving it.

I know some would have a different opinion on this, that the farmer wants them shot and that pigeons are just pests, but for me, leaving that many birds behind just wouldn't sit right with me.

[bakerboy]

Well done on a good day. I'm sorry but i must be slightly critical. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot pigeons if i wasn't fairly sure that i could pick them. I hate to lose even one bird, so for you to leave that many in the crop is a real shame.

A mate of mine and myself have spoken about a field just up the road from me that has been covered in pigeons for days, but we both know - even though a big bag is likely - that we would lose most of what we shot. Therefore we are leaving it.

I know some would have a different opinion on this, that the farmer wants them shot and that pigeons are just pests, but for me, leaving that many birds behind just wouldn't sit right with me.

It is hard to justify leaving birds behind, but when the Farmer wants them shot and the pigeons are there doing the damage you are in between a rock and a hard place.

 

The past week has seen me leave more pigeons behind that I have ever had to in the past, but being conscious of the damage my size 11's would do to the crop it was the best thing.

 

The farmer was aware that this was the case and was OK with it.

Edited July 23, 2012 by bakerboy

[PhilR]

On one field of laid barley I was trying to shoot over there were so many dead birds left clearly visible on the flattened bits by a previous shooter that the place stinks to high heaven, if I can see them I'll pick them. However, I'm not going to go wading through a standing crop in full view of the farm manager's house with him sitting in it. I think I'd be losing a permission if I told him I'm not going to shoot those pigeons hammering your crop because I can't pick them up. As much as I'd like a dog to assist unfortunately owning one is not a practical proposition.

[Cosd]

Well done on a good day. I'm sorry but i must be slightly critical. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot pigeons if i wasn't fairly sure that i could pick them. I hate to lose even one bird, so for you to leave that many in the crop is a real shame.

A mate of mine and myself have spoken about a field just up the road from me that has been covered in pigeons for days, but we both know - even though a big bag is likely - that we would lose most of what we shot. Therefore we are leaving it.

I know some would have a different opinion on this, that the farmer wants them shot and that pigeons are just pests, but for me, leaving that many birds behind just wouldn't sit right with me.

 

 

I totally respect your view Motty, and as a general rule I follow the same principle. Unfortunately as Terry said, this farm is so large and becuase the birds are there in their thousands, we have to respect the farmers wishes else principles could end up with the farmer getting someone else in instead.

I think we all accept that if you are going to decoy we will cause a certain amount of damage ourselves. Once some tracks have been made setting up and with use of tram lines you try to keep to those so as not to trample the area to bits. Though we left a large number of birds, this was not out of being lazy or having collected enough birds, we collected as many as we could without causing more damage.

 

Cos

[bakerboy]

On one field of laid barley I was trying to shoot over there were so many dead birds left clearly visible on the flattened bits by a previous shooter that the place stinks to high heaven, if I can see them I'll pick them. However, I'm not going to go wading through a standing crop in full view of the farm manager's house with him sitting in it. I think I'd be losing a permission if I told him I'm not going to shoot those pigeons hammering your crop because I can't pick them up. As much as I'd like a dog to assist unfortunately owning one is not a practical proposition.

 

I would point out that the birds left by a previous shooter was neither Cos or I.

[PhilR]

I would point out that the birds left by a previous shooter was neither Cos or I.

 

Sorry Terry, should have said 'not as far as I'm aware another PW member' that'd cover all bases.

[bakerboy]

Sorry Terry, should have said 'not as far as I'm aware another PW member' that'd cover all bases.

 

Thanks for clarifying that, will see you there later today all being well.

 

Terry

[motty]

I totally respect your view Motty, and as a general rule I follow the same principle. Unfortunately as Terry said, this farm is so large and becuase the birds are there in their thousands, we have to respect the farmers wishes else principles could end up with the farmer getting someone else in instead.

I think we all accept that if you are going to decoy we will cause a certain amount of damage ourselves. Once some tracks have been made setting up and with use of tram lines you try to keep to those so as not to trample the area to bits. Though we left a large number of birds, this was not out of being lazy or having collected enough birds, we collected as many as we could without causing more damage.

 

Cos

Fair enough. At least you tried to retrieve as many as you could. There are some that wouldn't even bother to do that.

[fenboy]

Well done on a good day. I'm sorry but i must be slightly critical. I just couldn't bring myself to shoot pigeons if i wasn't fairly sure that i could pick them. I hate to lose even one bird, so for you to leave that many in the crop is a real shame.

A mate of mine and myself have spoken about a field just up the road from me that has been covered in pigeons for days, but we both know - even though a big bag is likely - that we would lose most of what we shot. Therefore we are leaving it.

I know some would have a different opinion on this, that the farmer wants them shot and that pigeons are just pests, but for me, leaving that many birds behind just wouldn't sit right with me.

 

I must admit I thought the same more than two thirds is a awful lot of birds to lose , what would lie heavy on my conscience is the fact that no doubt several of those were not clean kills ,being honest no one is going to shoot that many clean dead , those will be suffering a slow death.

While I can appreciate your reasons for shooting them you really need to be very selective when shooting over laid crops the very fact you are there is preventing crop damage and shooting birds you stand a chance of picking will still keep the others away.

But at the end of the day its pest control I suppose and each to there own , not for me though.

[Cosd]

Fair enough. At least you tried to retrieve as many as you could. There are some that wouldn't even bother to do that.

 

No, we did our best to pick up as many as was possible, the birds were coming in pretty much all day. So much so that i asked Terry to stay in the hide whilst i pick up since hes suffering with a bad leg, but he would t have it and was out every time I was.

We would take breaks where we would go out and pick up as many as we could see. And at the end of the day three of us spent a fair while looking to pick up as much as we possibly could.

 

I totally appreciate the views on the matter, I like to think We are responsible shooters and would always respect our quarry; All that said we also have to respect the farmer too.

 

Cos