Ferret664 Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 (edited) Well today was my rough beaters day . As I am the keeper on this small shoot I walk all day and work my 3 jack russels and act as a walking gun . First drive of the day I and a couple of beaters pushed a small spinney into a pond that is surrounded by tall conifers which usually hold a few wild duck but as the front guns were getting round the duck got off and escaped unscathed! But this drive normally holds a.few pheasants as well . So I walked down and actually ending up stand on peg 1 as the beaters pushed through the conifers . And several pheasants were flushed mostly hen but a few cocks provided some shooting for the standing guns . I had several hens pass by then a cock bird went over my neighbouring gun too low for him but started to climb once past him . I swung round and at around 40-50 yards hit him square and he folded . That was it for me for the first drive one for one so pleased with that . And the standing guns had 2 more to show for the shooting. Our second drive we blanked a bit of maize into a wood . The wind was starting to pick up now as we pushed the maize down into the wood 8 hens went into the maize but 2 cocks snuck out low and wide typical !!! So we lined out along the wood and pushed it down into the left had corner. As soon as the drive started I heard a few shots from the front guns and as I was bringing down the left had side ditch of the wood I heard cock bird and just turned to see a towering cock pheasant rocketing over me ! I just managed to lean back and got a shot of which abosultey folded him in the air ! Carried on pushing the wood and a good few birds were pushed over the guns and a couple more cock birds were added . Just as we were about to finish the drive a jay tried to sneak past me but was unsuccessful falling to my first shot. Next drive a long walk bringing in hedges into a long cover crop . Here we pushed a long grass cover one side and a maize the other. This drive normally holds a lot of partridge but was quiet today. Anyway a few pheasants mostly hens showed and really climbed in the wind but a few cock pheasants also showed and my dad took a cracker of a crosser must have been a good 50 plus yards . Just as we were about to finish this drive a cock bird flushed from the ditch behind the last beater and began to go back I was on the other hedge and as he got a good 50 yards thought I will take him and to my amazement he crumbled dead to my first barrel ! What a start to the day 4 shots 4 birds ! Next couple of drives were quiet for me. pushed a wood that had a good few cock birds in but these birds were elusive and mostly snuck through the line unscathed think only 3 were added here . Then another cover crop along the river was done and again I didn't fire a shot but there was a bit of shooting on this drive and boy were those pheasants motoring !!best part of this drive was seeing my sister take a cock bird that after a 10 minute search for was account for. Next we pushed a cover crop with a pond hole along it where most of the birds from that last drive flew into so hopes were high here . Just as we were about to start though around 30 partridge snuck out the side!! we pushed on with a few pheasant going over the line but with only 4 standers on this drive as we had 2 walking guns on the flanks cause of the wind the managed to escape . One partridge came rocketing my was I swung through and hit it with my first and to my amazement it carried on swung and fired again and hit again but still it carried on I called back to my sister who was a walking gun back behind me and she finished it off neatly with her second barrel!! This was her first ever partridge and made the day for me . last drive was quiet a few birds in but they kept low or escaped out the side and I managed to miss a pigeon and two shots at a duck !! but a enjoyable day ending with 20 pheasant 1 partridge and a Jay. A few of us stayed for a bit of roosting and was rewarded with some challenging birds in the wind . I was pleased to end with 15 pigeons for 20 shots on the roost Edited January 16, 2019 by Ferret664 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prem1234 Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 A great write up......and 20 shots for 15 birds was a very good kill rate !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Great write up. Sounds like a really nice little shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Thank you for taking the time to post such an excellent report of your day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Sounds like a cracking day. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookandrabbit Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Enjoyable read great to enjoy fantastic sport well done 👍thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret664 Posted January 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 Thank you all for your kind words . I have a few more beaters/rough days on a couple of other shoots and hopefully we report back how they go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.