Out on The Glorious Twelfth yesterday

[Old Boggy]

There I was, standing in my butt eagerly awaiting the first covey of grouse to come through, they were upon me quickly but I managed to shoot a handsome right and left before they were gone, then ...... the radio alarm went off reminding me that it was time to make the wife her early morning cup of tea.

Of course my grouse shooting was but a dream and one which I doubt now will ever be realised, but I wish those lucky enough to shoot grouse, whether driven or walked up, good luck and the best of sport.

 

However, the next best thing, in my opinion, was achievable and with the wind having done an about turn, now quite brisk from the North East was a perfect opportunity to revisit the wheat stubble field of last week's foray to set up in the lee of the same elder bush and try to decoy a few pigeons.

So, being able to drive to my hide position, thought that I would maximise my chances by adding any available movement to the pattern to lure the birds in from the flightline which was roughly 80 or so yards from my position. Having watched steady pigeon traffic from my garden the previous day going roughly in the direction of my chosen field, further investigation showed that they were overflying my proposed position to a rape stubble field unfortunately currently inaccessible to me about a mile away.

With the wind coming over my right shoulder slightly from right to left meant that any birds decoying would be approaching left to right which was ideal for me, being a leftie shooting from left to right.

 

The forecast was that the rain in the morning would clear, so went out and was set up by 1.30pm.

 

The whirly was set upwind to my right, two floaters set wide apart downwind to my left, a dozen dead ( breasted) birds set on cradles in a rough U slightly to my right a flapper set mid pattern with a few more flocked full bodied decoys which all showed up well on the stubble.

No sooner was I back in the hide than the first pigeon arrived to decoy in text book fashion. This continued with the next few which being easy shots were duly accounted for. Then complacency set in and the next couple of easy ones missed cleanly. Enough small lead but not allowing for them dropping, so with this in mind, started to concentrate more and to hit them again.

As I was only out for a few hours and having only 50 cartridges in the hide, I thought that with 15 on the clicker in just 45 minutes if they continued to come in, I would soon have to fetch the slab left in the car, but as if someone had turned off the tap, the flightline dried up at about 3.30pm.

 

I ended up with just 22, not a great bag to others on PW but nevertheless a very enjoyable few hours and a reasonable enough bag for me. Not normally one to count the empties when back at home, I thought that I had shot well and counted out 35, which I thought very good for 22, although all were very easy shots, and a couple were 'coup de gras' from the hide on potential runners as I do not like to be in and out of the hide too much and disturb the flightline.

 

All in all, not a day at driven grouse, but surely the next best thing.

[JDog]

I enjoyed your writing style and the story behind yesterday's outing.

 

On rare days in windy conditions flighted pigeons can be as good as driven grouse.

[Old Boggy]

Thank you JDog.

 

However, I will have to take your word for the fact that flighted pigeons can be as good as driven grouse, having never experienced ( or never likely to) the latter.

I can agree that flighting pigeons in windy conditions can be very exciting and a bonus for cartridge manufacturers !!

[grrclark]

On the pigeons you watched and learned the flight line, you built your hide and set out the decoys to bring them in and then had sporting shots.

 

To my mind that is more noble than standing in a butt and having birds driven over you, not to mention a hell of a lot cheaper

 

I hope that you do manage to have a day on the grouse to make the dream come true.

[Whitebridges]

With a fair wind i'll be shooting "the poor man's grouse" tomorrow.