flycoy Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Managed to get a day arranged with a friend of mine on some rape stubble that I have been watching all week at lunchtime while I let the dogs have a run. I had been out on the same field on Tuesday night and worked hard for 20, but it was very windy and the birds were difficult to decoy. since then the birds have been moving along a brook course and cutting through the hedge into the corner of the field, that is partly planted with clover. we got to the field around 10 am as it seems to be an afternoon haunt for the local woody population, checked the wind and it was coming over the chosen hide position from the left hand rear. We set the hide up just past the change from clover to rape stubble in the hedge they had been cutting through with their flightline. This meant they would be coming in from our right with the wind in their faces as they crossed in front of us. We set up a tick shaped pattern, with plenty of room between decoys, with the killing zone around 25 metres in front and the tail of the tick running away to the right towards their field entry point. we used all flock coated decoys and a Chris Green Bouncer on the approach. I set up a flapper and my mate set up his Rotary, normally these don't work in my area and I haven't used one for maybe 4 years, but thought we could give it a go. I went off to move the truck and bumped into the farmer and his son repairing the release pen, as I was telling him where we were, bang! bang! 2 birds down already left and right for the rotary, great start!. when I got back to the hide Clive had already got them on the frame and battery connected. we shot alternatively with the other gun unloaded and safe and had a steady flow, we are both coaches so were talking about work and probably missed a few too many chances, with birds taking off as we realised they were there!!! We had to move the approaching bouncer, as the birds were going around the back side of it, just a few yards made the difference, the birds came past closer, we also moved the rotary as the birds were tending to hover over its centre so we repositioned it more in front of us, good to see an alteration make an instant change. some more shooters arrived and rang me to see where they could go, so I sent them to the only other rape stubble in the area as the farmer said there were a few on it, this helped by moving more birds in our direction. we finished at 3.30 and had 55 picked up by the Lab and 2 year old Cocker. we had used 76 cartridges and if we had forgot the safety in the hide and shot at the same time we would have had over the 100 let alone the ones we missed while talking! So a good day and a happy farmer. the other guys had 20 aswel. More crops cut this week, shoot straight and stay safe Flycoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 A nice report and good banter by the sounds of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Well done, sounds like a good day but I have to ask, what's not safe with shooting at the same time? Do it all the time and have never had so much as a scare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Well done, sounds like a good day but I have to ask, what's not safe with shooting at the same time? Do it all the time and have never had so much as a scare! I was going to ask the same question. When I shot on Saturday, there were three of us in the hide - each with a loaded gun. Did I feel this was unsafe? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flycoy Posted August 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 Obviously guys that's up to you, but we discourage it on the intro days as there are many examples in our shotgun horror collection of when things go bad! really bad! we have one gun with the last six inches twisted beyond belief, wouldn't of done your head much good. best to unload the other gun and place it with you at the back of the hide while your mate shoots, too easy to get the red mist and swing through your mates position, especially with 3 in a hide. very experienced and long time hide sharers tend to learn what each other is doing but the risk is too high and mistakes are costly so I personally don't do it. stay safe Flycoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 well done very enjoyable day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 Better safe then sorry . Do what you are comfortable doing, if you are comfortable with two or shooting Ok but it is not for everyone. Good report and a great day out by the sounds of it. If you and Clive talk in the hide as much as you talk when we are all together I'd be surprised to see any pigeons shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 We nearly always operate on a one gun basis, don't know why, just always have done. I do however sit with a loaded gun if its not 'my turn'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flycoy Posted August 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 Better safe then sorry . Do what you are comfortable doing, if you are comfortable with two or shooting Ok but it is not for everyone. Good report and a great day out by the sounds of it. If you and Clive talk in the hide as much as you talk when we are all together I'd be surprised to see any pigeons shot That's good coming from you, old boy !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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