Wilts#Dave Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Well It's certainly been a bit lean on the pigeon front for us over the last few months since the drillings (which weren't great either), and they haven't touched the few fields of peas we've got to go at so been looking forward to some pigeons turning up again as they always do.....just a matter of when and what on!? Reading lots of reports over the past month or so from people filling their boots I was itching to get back out again and was a tad envious if I'm honest! After moderate success on a block of sugar beat over the past fortnight we were looking forward to any barley going down, and as luck would have it for a change, the storms/wind and rain did us a favour and laid some down in a couple of really good locations so in theory it was just a matter of when the pigeons would find it, tming it right and getting there before anyone else. So keeping an eye on it to see only the odd pigeon interested, it might not be as soon as we'd hoped. A week away on holiday last week for me meant it was down to Dad to do the rounds and keep an eye out, and that he did with me coming home to a phone call to inform me that numbers had been building nicely on a field of laid barley and he'd made the arrangements for us to shoot it the following day (Saturday just gone). The 20 bore came out of the cabinet for a change, as it does every year particularly for barley shooting where it's usually much closer range than normal along with the hushpower pump .410 for a bit of fun. On arrival at 11.30 it was pretty apparent that the flight had already started and pigeons were on the move....good signs all round and exactly what you love to see! Next up the hide location, which ended in a decision to make a longer walk for a more favourable position as it just seemed worth the extra effort in the long run. Hateful stuff to walk through, we eventually made it and offloaded the kit to start setting up at by now, 12 o clock. Neither of us were 100% sure we'd made the right choice but we were here now so had to give it a fair go, so started with the magnet and a flapper. Within 5 minutes the first bird had showed up and dispatched followed by several more in quick succession....things started to feel good! With ten or so decoys out on cradles by now in a flattened area the first hour produced almost non stop shooting, with us retrieving each bird as soon as it was down obviously slowing up the kill rate to a point.....but every time one of us was back in the hide the next pigeon seemed to be coming and so that pattern carried on for almost the entire afternoon. The action slowed a little by 4 o clock but picked up again with a final steady flurry before we packed in at 5 on the nose. The little .410 came out for a spell and accounted for probably getting on 20 birds with the rest being dispatched by the awesome little beretta 20 gauge loaded up with 26g RC Sipe. I absolutely love the way they shoot and how quickly you can whip them up for snap shots and quick rights and lefts, it's Dad's he's had for over 25 years and I keep saying I'll buy one of my own! I knew we'd shot a good amount by the pile of birds lined up outside the hide and the fact there was only one box left out of an entire slab of shells. Birds picked up came to 178, with no more than half a dozen lost in the thick hedge behind. The best day we've had together this year by some margin and being so unexpected made it all the more special! Unfortunately a few fellow pigeon shooters turned up to watch throughout the day and the keeper has told us the beaters are going out there this week so that will be the end of that field for another bag. Perhaps we should have used the silenced gun all day then no one would have been any the wiser haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 A great write up and a cracking bag, well done you two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) I enjoy your reports greatly, especially reading of such an excellent outing. I also like the understated title. If that is 'a few.....'. Edited July 5, 2016 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Well done , a great report of a very good day and well done on picking almost all of them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Great report Dave, sounds knackering that looks like a very nice patch of laid barley to shoot over. Top bag, very well picked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshgun Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Well done to you both,a great session of shooting and a decent bag of pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Great read brilliant day well done both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 great bag very similar to our day on sunday on the barley not number wise I will say but the situation , been almost a drought all year for us then the barley turned things around, I,m in the process of getting myself a 20g o/u been after one for a while but never took the plunge I have made up my mind now though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Really good write up. Everyone seems to be shooting plenty just now. Let's hope that continues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Cracking day and bag well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Excellent day ! I've been watching pigeons build on standing barley for a week or so now but on land I've not got permission. Been looking for any flat spots but there's nothing so not worth asking farmer if I can have a do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 What a cracking day and result , well worth the wait but what a result. Descriptive report which made feel I was shooting with you. Pity that you alerted the other shooters, that's a problem we all have to contend with, again well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted July 7, 2016 Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 Victim of your own success! Nice write up and lovely pictures - could almost imagine myself there...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted July 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 I enjoy your reports greatly, especially reading of such an excellent outing. I also like the understated title. If that is 'a few.....'. Thanks JDog , was a very much tongue in cheek title! Well done , a great report of a very good day and well done on picking almost all of them . Thanks, I only count the ones we pick and don't go a lot on the whole shoot all day then have a go at picking up what you can at the end, just seems such a waste to me. it just proves you can go out religiously each time you shoot a bird and still knock up a good bag....with doubles whoever is shooting goes find the second bird! great bag very similar to our day on sunday on the barley not number wise I will say but the situation , been almost a drought all year for us then the barley turned things around, I,m in the process of getting myself a 20g o/u been after one for a while but never took the plunge I have made up my mind now though Do it, I've always LOVED using the 20g and funnily enough went and looked at a beretta 690 this week.....very temping! Really good write up. Everyone seems to be shooting plenty just now. Let's hope that continues. Thanks motty, yes there certainly doesn't seem to be any shortage of pigeons to go at all of a sudden......it's gone from looking at scraps of odd birds on fields to good numbers in lots of places. It's a shame business is so busy at the moment as I could be going out lots more at the moment if time allowed....typical eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted July 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 What a cracking day and result , well worth the wait but what a result. Descriptive report which made feel I was shooting with you. Pity that you alerted the other shooters, that's a problem we all have to contend with, again well done. Thanks PC , certainly was worth the wait for such a great bag....think it's our biggest on laid barley in fact although we did shoot 160 on the same field the last time it was in winter barley and went flat. Real shame about the other shooters, but sadly as soon as you do well and a have a good day everyone wants a go! Dad watched 2 chaps there yesterday but weren't having anything like the sport we did, surprisingly enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 Blimey, very well done. A 'few' LOL!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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