Breathless.

[Cranfield]

I have said before that I don't shoot weekends, but one of my Saturday apprentices let me down today , so I had to turn out.

It is a farm with barley about a week from being harvested and some green wheat fields.

Problems with corvids and pigeons, but I shot the barley, which is a big field and I moved around it quite a bit and it was all pigeons.

I didn't build a hide, or use any decoys , I just sat in the hedges and shot the flight lines, I finished with 79 birds.

The reason for making this post is that in one of the locations I was in the shade, out of the stiff breeze and sun.

After about 10 minutes I had trouble breathing, now I have no respiratory issues and I tracked the problem down to flowering privet the otherside of the hedgerow.

With no breeze to shift it, the cloying scent just took your breath away, so I moved locations to get away from it.

We have some privet at home and the flowers do smell, but I have never experienced that strength before.

 

Also, today was one of the farms I shoot with wire fences and the top strand is barbed wire.

You invariably have to climb over these, with the ripped trouser crutch risks, or sit with them at your back with the torn jacket risks.

My grandfather (a shepherd) always had a length of split rubber garden hose, which he put over the barbed wire prior to cocking his leg over it.

A good lesson learned and I always have a length in my motor.

I needed it today as the hedge I was sitting in had a fence running through the middle of it, with the barbed wire across my shoulder blades.

I know this is not a new idea, but it is a good one.

 

[ditchman]

I have said before that I don't shoot weekends, but one of my Saturday apprentices let me down today , so I had to turn out.

It is a farm with barley about a week from being harvested and some green wheat fields.

Problems with corvids and pigeons, but I shot the barley, which is a big field and I moved around it quite a bit and it was all pigeons.

I didn't build a hide, or use any decoys , I just sat in the hedges and shot the flight lines, I finished with 79 birds.

The reason for making this post is that in one of the locations I was in the shade, out of the stiff breeze and sun.

After about 10 minutes I had trouble breathing, now I have no respiratory issues and I tracked the problem down to flowering privet the otherside of the hedgerow.

With no breeze to shift it, the cloying scent just took your breath away, so I moved locations to get away from it.

We have some privet at home and the flowers do smell, but I have never experienced that strength before.

 

Also, today was one of the farms I shoot with wire fences and the top strand is barbed wire.

You invariably have to climb over these, with the ripped trouser crutch risks, or sit with them at your back with the torn jacket risks.

My grandfather (a shepherd) always had a length of split rubber garden hose, which he put over the barbed wire prior to cocking his leg over it.

A good lesson learned and I always have a length in my motor.

I needed it today as the hedge I was sitting in had a fence running through the middle of it, with the barbed wire across my shoulder blades.

I know this is not a new idea, but it is a good one.

 

 

 

i did my hedge the other day...i usually do it before it flowers...but i have been busy and left it......so i cut it...................christ that slaughtered me...that cloying smell and my chest just started to pack up...used my inhalor about 10 times.............so i can understand what you mean

[Wilts#Dave]

Wow, 79 with no hide or decoys is very good going....well done!

[martindd]

Good shooting, is garden Hose large enough in diameter?, I've thought of trying pipe lagging, on our shoot we have to get over barbed wire regularlyand it's a pain sometimes literally!

[la bala]

Thats a very tidy bag with no kit

[Cranfield]

Standard 1/2" split garden hose will cover the top and side of all the barbed wire I have encountered, but my hose is 1" reinforced "builders" hose, this is available up to 3" dia.

 

I use a small pair of secateurs to cut my way into hedgerows and undergrowth and at times have to accept a slightly restricted area of shooting to ensure my concealment.

Dull clothing, face mask and gloves, but keeping still in the biggest factor, don't move until you are going to shoot.

I had birds coming straight at me to land in the tree behind me.

The three best lines on the field I shot yesterday were, where a telegraph line entered the field, adjacent to the tallest tree in the hedgerow and at the end of a spur of the hedge that protruded about 50 yards into the field.

Pretty obvious areas and easy to spot.

Having no kit, its easy to move if a line dries up, or a better one appears.

Ideal tactics for the older shooter.

[pigeon controller]

Well great result from minimal kit, result.

 

For crossing barbed wire fences, we have a number of German ex army double strap kit bags we use to carry pigeon , we lay these doubled to protect the Crown Jewels??

[eastdevon]

I do exactly the same myself, was out yesterday over the far side of the wheat field cutting into the hedge in readiness of the shoot ahead. Have NEVER used decoys to start with just a few shot birds here and there once I have got them. Its best way I think when ya need to walk across (don't have a 4x4!!!) the stupid huge field and need to be light!!