Hooray for Hereford

[webber]

Last week I posted on another forum that I would be shooting with a group of forum members at Mickley Hall. However late on Friday morning I received a telephone call from a friend who made short work of making an invite, "Saturday, clays or pheasants?" It took me all of three milliseconds to respond with pheasants, what time?

 

We soon hatched a plan to leave mine at 6am to land us at the shoot near Hereford in good time for a 9am start. I put the webber wagon into our workshops for a quick check over and refuel.

 

I was in bed for 8:30, but could hardly sleep, I'd heard so much about this shoot, and waited about 5 years for an invite, I was like my grandson waiting for Ho Ho Ho to come ( he can't say Father Christmas). The alarm was soon rattling what remains of my ear drums at 5am, by 6am I'd done all I had to do and had my gear waiting in the hallway with the Rangie warming up awaiting the arrival of my host Jason, who arrived a little later than planned due to problems deicing his car, but we were soon headed towards the M6 and South.

 

The motorways were clear and well gritted. As we approached Hereford it was obvious that they had received far more snow than we had. Fortunately Jason had checked that the country lanes to the shoot were clear. We left the main road and traveled for several miles on narrow country lanes which were clear and well gritted passing through several chocolate box vistas. Shortly after a minor detour to allow a gritter truck to pass Jason said "thats our Kubota, park on your left.

 

I was soon ready for off and was introduced to several of the members and then taken to the shoot room; an annexe off a barn which was full of ewes and lambs. The room was rather rustic, but home from home, An urn was on the boil, and two gas heaters removed the chill. Following a quick brew and being introduced to the other member guns we made our way to the transport. The beaters set off in a specially converted covered trailer towed by a small tractor, a short while later it returned to collect the guns, I was given VIP treatment and rode shotgun as passenger in the Kubota driven by Jason.

 

The first drive was a disused railway embankment which once carried track over the river. I was end gun closest to the river, few birds broke cover, the one that came my way was missed with both barrels, not something that happens to often when webbers on the peg.

 

The drives are well spread across a sizable estate and shooting permissions. The next was from a cover strip, I found myself stood in an orchard waiting for birds to rise over a hedge. I saw no birds and heard only one shot. Jason collected me, we made our way to the beaters trailer where hot spiced pear cider was being dished out by Charlie. I'd never previously tried it, but seconds soon followed once I'd been assured that the alcohol had been boiled off.

 

The next drive also found me stood in an orchard facing a spinney on top of a hillock which I was assured was stuffed with birds that would present some testing shooting. Sadly due to a lack of beaters and stops caused by the weather dozens of birds escaped to one side, but at a height which wouldn't have presented a sporting shot, they'll be there for the next shoot. Some of the birds that came in our direction did present well. I accounted for two as did Jason.

 

I won't do a drive by drive blow by blow report, a couple of drives blanked, understandable given the time of season and weather conditions. Lunch was taken back in the shoot room; pork pie, mustard and game stew, very filling and much appreciated.

 

The final two drives of the day will probably stick in my memory for ever. The syndicate certainly saved the best till last.

Due to a snow drift it was impossible to get the Kubota anywhere near my peg, so the walk down a snow covered slope was both tiring and an adventure. The drive produced some spectacular pheasants. I had two shots, but failed to connect. The drive was soon over and I began my slow tiring walk back up the hill towards the Kubota parked on the road. Jason took my gun, but I was knackered by the time I'd reached the gate. As I put my cartridge bag onto the back I apologised for missing such well presented birds. I then remembered that there had been several shots, so I asked where the birds were. Jason managed a wry grin, "there is no bag-------------------- you weren't the only one to miss".

 

The final drive presented the best pheasants that I've ever witnessed. The guns were positioned about half way down a valley side, the birds were driven over the tree tops, I couldn't estimate the height, but they were high and fast. I missed with my first shot, but then manged a left and right as the drive came to an end, a perfect way to end an excellent days shooting in a marvelous part of Britain with like minded guns.

 

We made our way back to the farm for a final brew and tally up

The bag was 18 Pheasant for 176 shots, a testament to the conditions and testing birds. I managed 4 for 11 shots, Jason shot 3, but I'm not sure how many of the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant cartridges that he was trying for the first time he fired, but he was very impressed, and asked what had happened to the recoil? I'm built like a brick outhouse, I don't really notice recoil. Jason is quite slim, and could easily be knocked about by a punchy cartridge. He has sufficient to see the season out, but I do detect an order for more when the time is right.

 

Jason and I were invited back to the assistant keepers house for a brew and a chat whilst we awaited the fall of darkness. Throughout the day we had noticed fox tracks in the snow virtually everywhere. Jason suggested that we should go out with the Kubota and try to lamp some foxes. We covered a vast area, but the only fox that we saw was coming out of someones garden onto the road in front of us. At around 8 pm we returned the Kubota and headed for home, we were delayed by a series of roadworks and a minor smash. 11 pm and a very tired but very happy webber locked the gun away, had a brew and went to bed.

 

On reflection, I just written a report on the best days shooting that I've ever had. It wasn't the biggest bag by far, but quality and quantity are seldom good bed fellows.

 

webber

[Dirty Harry]

Sounds like a top day. I went out yesterday with a mate and the dogs. Very cold and snow everywhere. The dogs worked really well and we saw a good mix of game. I ended up with 2 pheasant, a mallard and my first snipe and my mate had a pigeon along with his first woodcock. We missed loads but it was a real good day out. I enjoy a good day rough shooting more than a driven day even if the bag is empty when you get home.

 

Harry