Good to be out again

[HIDENSEEK]

After a couple of months with not enough pigeons to make setting up worthwhile,finally had a day when there was a possibility of a shot.Took my son-in-law, Martin, out on one of my permissions which I had been watching for a week,drilled barley, just coming through in places.Lovely warm day,not enough wind for my liking,but we were both desperate to get out.

Martin has only been shooting live quarry for about 12 months,with a bit of clay shooting beforehand.He's only had a couple of sessions where he has got into double figures,partly because we don't have thousands of birds in our part of the world, and partly 'cos he found pigeon shooting much more challenging than clays and couldn't hit a cows **** with a paddle!

We set up a large hide against a thick hedge for background,lofted one flocked full body and set up a flapper with a dozen mixed flocked decoys.I left my gun in the slip and stood behind him in the hide to make sure the pattern was good enough to fool the pigeons, with the intention of moving away to cover the birds escape route later.

Within 3 minutes the first 2 were over the decoys,after a quick scramble,gun caught in net,loud swearing,exit unshot pigeon!

Birds decoyed well from set-up at 11am until we packed up due to family commitments at 5pm,only two or three at a time, and plenty of time to enjoy the spring weather in between.Martin had some easy birds missed,difficult birds hit,and had shots at all angles.What rounded off the day nicely was working his young springer.Charlie was steady in the hide,only hunting the hedgerow and grass field behind for a couple of runners when asked, all the birds picked (15 for Martin,4 for the old fella).Cracking day! just need a hot bath and a whisky now!

 

[Paul taylor]

Sounds like a good day, bath and whisky sounds just the ticket, only carling for me tonight though :(