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Squirrels and Magpies


Pykie
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Up at 6 today to have a wonder around our pheasant shoot. We are in the process of clearing the ponds to make better habitat for wild ducks and on the end pond, we have a brood of eight ducklings and the two parent mallard. We keep it as quiet as possible for them so hopefully they can bring up their young without interference. Anyway my main target as usual was the grey squirrel, and bagged one pretty soon. I have two Fenn traps running which have been catching well and as I knelt to check them, a mad scurry of leaves made me look as a squirrel darted away. Up went the 20 bore down went the grey. I reloaded and looked up to see another which also met its maker. As I went past the pond with the wild duck on, I heard the machine gun rattle of magpies and knew they were after the ducklings. I crept close but couldn't see the pied predators because of the thick canopy of leaves. I counted 8 little ducks though hiding in the reeds so at least they were safe. My only option was to stand on the gun ride at the end of the wood and try squeak them in as you would a fox. This I did and 5 mins later a magpie swept between a gap of about 6 foot. How I shot it ill never know but down he went. Excellent. I went through the hedge into a grass field where it lay to see another magpie coming in fast, decoying to the dead bird. I held my nerve and shot it as it came into range. Quickly reloading I waited a few minutes and yes you guessed it number 3 hurtled into an ounce of 6s. It all went quiet then so I picked up the three black and white raiders and walked back to the car, shooting a few more squirrels on the way ending the morning with 8 squirrels (not all pictured) and 3 magpies and a brood of safe ducklings :)

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