Salop Matt Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I would just like to say a massive: thank you publically to Terry as he has on several occasions invited me to join him shooting. Well I took him up on the offer as a treat to myself as my birthday is tomorrow and being a bit old for hats, cake and party poppers I thought a shooting weekend was the best way to celebrate. So I took last Friday off work and headed off to Terry’s where I had been invited to stay the weekend. I took with me my FAC Daystate .22 Huntsman Classic for the bunny’s and the shotgun (Browning b525 12g) for some crows. Come night time it was Terry’s Browning .223 & T8 combo for Charlie. As I got nearer Terry’s estate (most of North Wales or so it felt) the scenery was beautiful and will I was taking in the views as I drove I was suddenly “buzzed” as a trio of low flying USAF F-18`s? Tore threw the valley low level making an impressive noise. This alone put a smile on my face. On arrival at Terry’s 20 min later the fast jets were still passing threw the valleys and low over head which was fantastic.Terry and his wife were fantastic hosts and brilliant to stay with, I loved every minute and I am just waiting to take up the invite given of a return journey.The schedule for the weekend was:Friday – Afternoon = Bunny shooting with Daystate FAC Huntsman.- Night time = Lamp for Charlie in the surrounding mountains and valleys with the Browning .223, T8 & Archer NV.Saturday – Brekki at the local café for a fry up and head out on the crows.- Night time= back out lamping / foxing heading higher into the hills / mountains.Sunday – Brekki again at the café and a mid morning head for home as I had pheasants in a pen to check on and the task of signing off and paying for the new kitchen installed in our house last week. Well Friday afternoon 3 bunny’s fell to the Huntsman in a good side wind on the hill side at about 40-50 yards. We then headed back for tea and to get kitted up for Lamping / Foxing. We headed out and as we went I shot another 3 bunny’s with the Huntsman again only 50ish yards but a good quartering wind from left to right but still the bunny’s fell. I have shot fox before but it’s always been with the shotgun or with the HMR but never a Fox with a CF or using NV. I have shot a variety of CF rounds in rifle and pistol but all on paper and metal targets so this was set to be a first for me. Sure enough after about 40 minutes Terry spotted in the NV a Fox coming down off a hill side, we got in position and Terry invited me to take the shot, I did and sadly missed. Terry took over and that was it lights out, Fox No.1 in the bag. We hadn’t got up and moved more than 50 yards and a second followed on down the hillside 50 yards further along and not 5 minutes since the first shot. Again Terry offered me the shot, this time though I opted to shoot under the lamp rather than via the NV. 100 ish yards and the fox fell to a nice head shot, my first ever with a CF! I was well chuffed, no pulled shot and one very dead fox. The NV image was clear and great but alien to me and I am sure I pulled that first shot. But as a memento I have the spent brass from my first CF Fox. We didn’t see any further Fox that evening and the rain started to come in so we headed off back to Terry’s. Saturday we got to the farm Terry had eyed up with some crows on. On arrival there was 100-150 crows on the freshly cut silage so all looked good. We spoke with the farmer briefly and got setup, I haven’t had a day in the hide in the last 10-15 years other than a brief attempt on morning with Paul (Shropshire lad) which just didn’t happen. So it was a bit strange and it was instantly clear that my 3 legged little camp chair was quire literally going to be a pain in the bum, sure enough it was terrible and the seating position saw my legs go to sleep so when I went to leave the hide I nearly fell over. Shooting from the sitting position sure is strange when your used to standing for clays. So with some help from Terry I am sorting myself a more appropriate seat out to save such silly issues in the future. I opened the book with a first shot first kill on a crow while Terry was off the other side of the farm lighting a banger rope to keep things moving. I was set up with a slab of carts and so was Terry. We got to about 8 birds and it dried up very quickly with the crows leaving the area completely which is just how shooting goes some times, but we should have been there earlier rather than me sleeping in and us both chewing a full fry up first as we didn’t get to the field until 9:45. So the after noon was spent adding a few more bunny’s to the bag for the Huntsman. The rain started so we headed back to Terry’s where we ate and got ready for a night in the mountains, how far in them we went was dependant on the weather as there was a lot of rain about. I opted to leave the Huntsman at home as the CF foxing was brilliant and so much more exciting. Well the weather gave a very small break and being keen or daft we took it and set out. We walked into the hills and had a few stops along the way as it was tough going and proper hills/mountains and hard work for a sight of a fox let alone a shot at one. One up here must equate to 5-10 off the stubbles in a 4x4, hard earned indeed. Alas we only saw one fox but it was a wise old one who didn’t stick around for anything. We did see lots of other wild life which was great but no second CF fox for me! At about 11:30 the rain cam in and came in heavy, we walked back down to the car and by the time we got there we were near drown from the wind and driving rain. We all know what dead fox’s look like and a .223 BT round head shot fox doesn’t make for a suitable image to post either so no dead stuff photos here. I will how ever later add some scenery photos I briefly took on my phone. The sheer amount of lad Terry has to shoot over is incredible, it must be most of North Wales, or that’s how it felt as we walked and drove around the bits we did. So once again Terry Eccles, thank you very much it was a fantastic experience and I hope to be back soon for Crows and especially fox number. 2! A true gent a friend for life indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Good write up Yep some good guys on here,but sadly we see less and less of them lately sounds like a cracking weekend BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontastic Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Yep some good guys on here,but sadly we see less and less of them lately There are still quite a few up my way, when I needed help recently several members offered assistance. Edited July 14, 2015 by toontastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I know the good guys are about what I meant was most of the good posters on PW seem to have taken a back seat of late and we see less of them posting Maybe lots are getting fed up of all the bitching in off topic BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I've spent a weekend with Terry and his good wife, and enjoyed it very much. I also went up for a day on the Crows with another PW member. We shot loads between us, and another enjoyable day was had by all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I was wondering where Eccles was. A good report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Terry is an absolute gentleman .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Terry's a great guy been out with him a few years ago woodcock shooting wouldn't even let me buy him a coffee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Great write up Matt could not have done better myself. As i said your more than welcome to come anytime you got a chance. Same goes to others that have been for some shooting,or had invites. Daf book Matt in for some more shooting lessons. Hope your keeping well bud give us a shout if you up in Pennal . I don't post on here no more but pop on now and again to see post and check Pm's. If anyone needs to contact me Pm me or FB Terry Eccles Lewis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Terry is a real gent and was always available for a Facebook chat when I went thru my divorce...not many like him about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Great write up Matt could not have done better myself. As i said your more than welcome to come anytime you got a chance. Same goes to others that have been for some shooting,or had invites. Daf book Matt in for some more shooting lessons. Hope your keeping well bud give us a shout if you up in Pennal . I don't post on here no more but pop on now and again to see post and check Pm's. If anyone needs to contact me Pm me or FB Terry Eccles Lewis. Terry I'll give you a PM in December when Im coming up there again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 Terry I'll give you a PM in December when Im coming up there again. Will be looking forward to it Daf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 Great write up sounds like a cracking bit of sport, well done to salop sniper and Terry, shame you are not posting on here any more Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 Great write up sounds like a cracking bit of sport, well done to salop sniper and Terry, shame you are not posting on here any more Terry. Cheers Mike I'm still whacking the crows atvb Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 You do whack'em as well Terry .. yea a good shot mate .. atb Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 16, 2015 Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 Cheers Mike I'm still whacking the crows atvb Terry good man. I finally managed to get into this crow shooting lark tail end of last year and love it. Went out last night wanting 17 to make it 1000 for the year so far and only managed 10. day off tomorrow so back out nice and early. look after yourself mate and keep up the good work on the crows (and everything else) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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