A tale of two fields

[GingerCat]

Earlier yesterday I got the directions, left here, right after 2 miles, in the lay-by opposite the big tree just outside the village. It was a bit like being in the SOE in 1942 during the German occupation of France. I found the lay-by but this was no dead letter drop or secret arms cache; “The Dog” was waiting.

There were two fields of peas and a couple of steady flight lines. JDog explained he had seen a fair number of Pigeons on the fields with the larger field being busier, the second was on a slope and going down into a steep valley. Today was different though, today it was 12.c not 25.c and there was low cloud with poor wind and generally everything was a bit damp and closing.

We watched for 30 minutes or so and a good steady line was evident on the edge of the larger field. They flew up a slight hill from a wood some half mile or so away and then behind a hedge, before looping over and into the field 200 yards from a road and eventually settling down 20 yards from the edge of the field. Any birds shot would come from behind or to the right; mostly behind.

The second line ran up the steep valley and almost followed the power lines, this was considerably less busy. JDog being the gent he is sent me off to the busier line and he went to the power lines.

30 minutes or so later and armed with two fresh decoys JDog had prepared earlier; my rotary was spinning and the pattern was out. I had already heard shots from the power lines a minute or so earlier; J “I've shot so many pigeons its not funny” Dog (not his words of course) was clearly on the ball.

I wasn't so lucky, the line that was clearly there not long ago had, for whatever reason, dried up. I stuck it out and it paid off with a few coming in. Not as busy as earlier, but they were coming in to the decoys and decoying well. However they were now all from the right with few from behind. An interesting shot presented itself. A pigeon came from the right and behind, she pitched high over the hedge and closed her wings before inverting and turning 180 degrees into the decoys. It reminded me of a FW109 trying to out-turn a Spitfire, something that I imagine happened with much regularity in this part of the world some years ago. I folded her up nicely at 25 years and was well chuffed, that shot made my day.

The visibility was by now clearly an issue with a cloud base of less than 150 feet and I could at best see 400 yards with the zero wind. What a difference 30 minutes makes.

JDog was having a better time and I saw some birds dropping to his shots. An hour 20 in and he appeared,. Being such a gent he decided that he was having too much shooting and didn't want me left out. He set his hide up to my left and said “Don't worry I'll just watch”. Now for any that don't know, when JDog turns up and says he will “just watch”, knowing that he has been shooting pigeons longer than I've walked the earth.... well there's a touch of pressure!

There was also the matter of the pattern. As stated, he's been shooting pigeons longer than I've been alive, when he says the pattern is a touch far out and the rotary could be 6 yards closer, it's worth listening. Duly corrected and with a mental note to get an overly large flat cap from the overly large flat cap shop, the birds came drifting in in dribs and drabs.

What was good was that they really came in, and I mean right in, really right in to the decoys, almost as if on rails following the bird before it. What a pleasure to see and especially despite the bad weather that was somewhat less than ideal. A reasonable bag was formed and a most enjoyable afternoon unfolded.

One memorable shot also happened, a right to left crosser about 35 yards out from my hide. I took a shot, then another, she was by now quartering away from me and was a good 50 yards (easy) from JDogs hide. I heard the shot and didn't need to look as I knew the result. He had folded it up dead in the air. An excellent shot. I was about to leave the hide and pace it out but to spare his modesty he sent the furry rocket (codenamed Jasper) to grab it in.

With the weather progressively getting worse we called it a day 3.5 hours in and a bag well into double figures.

Could JDog have easily doubled this by staying where he was? Easily. He's just too good a host to worry about such things.

[motty]

A great, detailed post, but please, take your tongue out of JDog's ****!

[GingerCat]

Ha ha. It was a really good shot and he could have easily doubled his bag. Thats hardly up his ***.

[aga man]

A great report, very enthusiastic

 

Motty what you like

[JDog]

Ha ha. It was a really good shot and he could have easily doubled his bag. Thats hardly up his ***.

Don't worry about Motty. He is just jealous and he still hasn't given me the day he promised more than two years on.

[Wilksy II]

Nice detailed report and nice to see cats and dogs getting on so well!

[Cranfield]

An interesting read, as Motty said, your appreciation for being taken out was most apparent.

[motty]

Very jealous, JD.

I may well have promised you a day. I will make sure that I can provide you with a worthwhile outing at some point this year.

[lloydi73]

Excellent report there from Ginger cat. I can heartedly back him up when he says J Dog is a true shooting gent, I've been fortunate to be in his good books and have been invited out on several shooting excursions with him around his old stomping ground of the Cotswolds. I know what you mean Ginger, when JDog says move this touch that etc, he's usually spot on, we decoyed last time and within 2 minutes of setting up they were coming straight in. JDog's great company in the pub too, he likes the long shot in there, I.e. he stands 50 yards from the bar whilst you buy

 

Only kidding, great write up, and hope you get out with J dog again.....

[GingerCat]

Cheers for the replies. I thought a bit of effort in the write up was far better than a bland and boring report of an interesting day in poor conditions.

[Mightymariner]

Great report, and nice to see some punctuation.