London Best Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 Two magpies have been hanging around my garden for three days. This is, obviously, verboten. They were there when I let the dog out this morning and I knew they would be back at some point during the day, so I opened the window and nearly closed the curtains. I kept half an eye out virtually all day. They were back about 11.30 but I was spotted as I slid the rifle through the gap in the curtains. I didn’t see them again until about 5.45 when I caught one offside on the shed roof. He failed to spot the barrel poke out. I picked it up and set him up on the hedge where it’s mate would spot it and, sure enough, I had the pair by 6.00. Most satisfying, outwitting magpies. Mark 1 HW77K Venom .22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 Nice one. I fail to remember how many I have shot which have flown in and squawked at their dead mate totally unawre of anyhting else around them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 20 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Nice one. I fail to remember how many I have shot which have flown in and squawked at their dead mate totally unawre of anyhting else around them. Yep, rarely fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 (edited) I've shot lots in my garden, they hit the bird feeders. Shoot one and wait for the rest. I've noticed one that's been around for months hiding out of my way. Makes some funny noises, like car alarm beeping when doors are locked, it has a full repartoir on a morning. I've made noises back to it and it happily sits and copies me. It stayed hidden in next doors shrubs for a while. Now it calls me when I go in the garden, wife says your little mates here again. When I get a few in the garden I wait to hear which is the one that calls me then I shoot one or two of others. One day I'll end up shooting it but for now I'm enjoying it. It's learning the duck feeding chatter lately. 😂 Edited September 22, 2020 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 They can be clever devils. Shooter I know in Spalding tells of one he wounded which flew up into a tree out of his reach and was fed by other magpies for a couple of days before it eventually died. they can usually tell the difference between a gun and a stick too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 When they come into my garden there normally in and out, the slightest movement and there off, normally into the trees on the gardens border laughing at me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol p Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 I popped one off the tv aerial while his mate was on the roof line. The dead one fell on the roof tiles, the second one went nuts and danced around it. Unfortunately, he took a round to the head and fell to the ground. That was 10 years ago and magpies have never landed on my roof again. They’re happy to sit on surrounding roofs but will not come near my one. Very strangle creatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 Had a record couple of weeks on Magpies - after failing dismally all year to reduce the local population (hands up - poor marksmanship and a Spaniel that runs around the garden yapping every time I pick up the gun) I have shot 5 for 5 shots, I'm on a roll! One was a bit fluky - he sat for about 1/2 hour making bubbling noises while we were having a family BBQ so I put a shot his way hoping to scare him off (wasn't a serious shot - he was a good 60 yards away) - aimed about a foot above him hoping that the pellet rattling through the Hawthorn would do the job when surprise, surprise a solid thud preceded him dropping like a stone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 Well done Chris! Keep at ‘em, I hate them with a passion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 On 22/09/2020 at 19:37, London Best said: Two magpies have been hanging around my garden for three days. This is, obviously, verboten. They were there when I let the dog out this morning and I knew they would be back at some point during the day, so I opened the window and nearly closed the curtains. I kept half an eye out virtually all day. They were back about 11.30 but I was spotted as I slid the rifle through the gap in the curtains. I didn’t see them again until about 5.45 when I caught one offside on the shed roof. He failed to spot the barrel poke out. I picked it up and set him up on the hedge where it’s mate would spot it and, sure enough, I had the pair by 6.00. Most satisfying, outwitting magpies. Mark 1 HW77K Venom .22. that brings "curtain twitcher" to an all new level.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 Another one has just bit the dust. No curtains this time! Just eased the window open an inch, which it didn’t hear because of the wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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