lakeside1000 Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 After a few decent days on the rape and with the forecast being pretty good for today I decided to go back to a favourite spot at the top of a large rape field under a large conifer hedge, which gave me shelter from the cool south easterly but left me sitting nicely in the sunshine, I arrived around 10.00 am and set up, 20 shells with their new sillosock pullovers on, and the magnet with 2 dead birds mounted, The first 2 hours were slow to say the least, just taking 6 birds , they seemed very nervous and slow to commit to the pattern, even though there were large numbers moving back and forth across the field, by 12.30 it got worse , nothing moving at all and it remained quiet until around 1.45pm, At last a few birds appeared and began feeding , bringing all their friends in a few minutes later. While it was quiet I had taken the chance for a coffee and reorganise the pattern, I have noticed that on rape in particular the birds seem to prefer feeding in very dense groups, not spreading out much at all, so I brought all the shells and the 6 birds on frames into a much tighter pattern, ignoring the normal kill zone, I also moved the magnet well up wind as I had noticed in the morning they were shying away as they got near to it, the result was spectacular, within minutes I had a nice left and right and several singles down, quickly adding them to the growing pattern, A lone bird came downwind turning into the pattern but deciding not to stay it caught the wind and lifted away, I leaned over the hide front, gave it a massive lead and fired, by now it was well out and moving, it took a perfect head shot, tuned over and hit the ground, I had to do a double take as I realised just how far out it was, I paced it from the hide, it was on the ground 75 yards out, I turned and estimated the point the shot had taken it, give or take a yard it was around 60 yards, with a 6 shot 28 gram steel, amazing. So back to the hide very pleased with myself, I poured another coffee and sat waiting but not for long, over my left shoulder coming in down wind appeared 3 birds, they flared out into the back of the pattern two close together and one slightly out to the left, I took the far right directly over the decoys quickly followed by its friend just to the left, swing through the second bird as it fell I realised the third was still in range, quickly pulling over to line it up as it fled the scene, I fired the last shot from my Hatsan escort and killed it dead in the air, My first ever triple . I quickly picked them up and returned to the hide but no sooner was I in and sitting but a large group dropped in over the decoys, I took the nearest and then a second , surely it couldn't happen again, two down and several still in range I pulled up ito a bird coming overhead ,fired and missed, ah well maybe next time . So the session ended with 19 picked, not a big number, but two doubles , a triple and a long range shot I still cant believe, what a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Well done, good write up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitty Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Terrific report and congratulations on some excellent shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 altering the pattern worked well for you well dnoe nice shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Happy bunny lakeside. You had some nice shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columba Grey Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Great day well done and well told! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Impressive indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 A day you'll remember forever. Nice one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Good report , and some very good shooting Alan , them ole steel shells will be your best friend now , where as last week they were your worse enemy I was a couple of miles away from you today and it was very quite with very little moving about , only managed to shoot 8 and didn't really see that many, so went home and put my apron and marigolds on and had a tidy up before the wife come home tomorrow . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Good report , and some very good shooting Alan , them ole steel shells will be your best friend now , where as last week they were your worse enemy I was a couple of miles away from you today and it was very quite with very little moving about , only managed to shoot 8 and didn't really see that many, so went home and put my apron and marigolds on and had a tidy up before the wife come home tomorrow . Browny points always worth banking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted March 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Good report , and some very good shooting Alan , them ole steel shells will be your best friend now , where as last week they were your worse enemy I was a couple of miles away from you today and it was very quite with very little moving about , only managed to shoot 8 and didn't really see that many, so went home and put my apron and marigolds on and had a tidy up before the wife come home tomorrow . Good on you John, got your priorities right, shoot first, clean later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Browny points always worth banking. If I do get any TIGHTCHOKE they will be the first ones in nearly 40 years of married bliss . Good on you John, got your priorities right, shoot first, clean later. I started off with good intentions , got the dyson out and decided to have a cup of tea first , then started to watch a Chriss Green pigeon d v d , when it was over it was time to take the dogs out so the cleaning is on hold till tomorrow morning as they forecast a wet day , hopefully I will then be in the good books for a days shooting Thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoxs Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 super report we have also noticed a tighter pattern seams to help on rape this winter. Another day another field totally different.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Not wanting to pour scorn, but i doubt the tighter pattern had much to do with the result. Nice work on the triple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passionforangling Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 A very enthusiastic post, easy to tell you really enjoyed your day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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