Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 The weatherman forecast 30mph winds and light snowfall this morning in my part of Lincolnshire. I have had little time for a proper recce. but having had a phone call from my farmer friend last night, telling me that there were a few on his Rape I thought I would give it a go. So off I went in the dark with driving snow and sleet. The journey is normally 10 minutes but the conditions made it a 30 minute drive. I decided not set up on the Rape but to set up under some Willow trees at the base of a steep bank that runs up to the Rape.These trees were sheltered from the driving snow and sleet and past experiences have shown that the birds often head for these trees before going off to feed. Having put 10 shells I my pocket, I told myself that if I fired all 10 I would be happy. I fired these off in the first 10 mins. as birds came sailing over me high and fast on the wind. My shooting was terrible, 2 birds down for 10 shots, must try harder. My excuse was that I was using my semi auto which has not been out the cabinet in over a year but that was not really valid as I normally shoot well with it. After giving myself a good talking too I managed to get the gun moving better and put more birds on the ground. Boosting the bag by shooting a couple that landed in the trees made my average look better, well it is pest control after all. I had every shot in the book. Missed a few more than I hit but some how managed to finish with 27 pigeons and 1 Carrion crow picked. 3 more birds ended up at the top of the steep bank that I could not retrieve as I kept slipping down on my backside. I do miss having a dog! This is certainly a change for this area as the birds have been very difficult to get to grips with so far this winter. Thanks for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Every one well deserved I am sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 16 minutes ago, JDog said: Every one well deserved I am sure. You would have been ridiculing me for missing so many “Doddlers”. But instead you opted for the warmth of your bed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Don't blame him. Its cold up there. Good on you for going out and bagging a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Nice write up 👍🏻 Good to see effort rewarded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 This early mornings weather would have sorted out the men from the boys and sadly I am now one of the boys and a old one at that , I did take my gun with me at a little after seven when the snow had just started but time I got down to the wood the Pigeons had already left so I had a wander over the marsh and it wasn't that bad with the wind behind me but when I turned round to make my way back it was freezing and I was glad in a way that the shoot planed for today was cancelled due to the restrictions . As Mr JDog rightly pointed out , everyone well deserved and I was glad you had a nice lot of shooting in what little free time you have got . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Having been stuck in a factory all week it was just nice to be out. I didn’t care what the weather was doing but I always think there is something special about shooting in the snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 25 minutes ago, Clodhopper said: You would have been ridiculing me for missing so many “Doddlers”. But instead you opted for the warmth of your bed!! The choice was either a warm bed with my warm wife or a dangerous drive to stand in the cold with Clodhopper. I should have made the drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon6ppc Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Nice one well deserved i would of said, I was once pigeon shooting in the snow and i couldn't find all my decoys when packing up it came on that bad.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hitman Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Nice write up- well shot, 27 is a decent bag at any time of year plus a bonus of the crow. I love shooting in the snow, and recall getting up to go goose shooting with hail stones clattering the bedroom window- my wife said “ your not seriously going out in that “ my reply “ it’s the call of the wild my love (it was a long time ago) you either have it or you don’t. Hitman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 22 minutes ago, the hitman said: Nice write up- well shot, 27 is a decent bag at any time of year plus a bonus of the crow. I love shooting in the snow, and recall getting up to go goose shooting with hail stones clattering the bedroom window- my wife said “ your not seriously going out in that “ my reply “ it’s the call of the wild my love (it was a long time ago) you either have it or you don’t. Hitman. There is something about shooting in horrible weather that gives me a buzz. My good lady told me that I was mad going out this morning. That is probably true but you don’t get any shooting sat at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 good shout to get 27 at the moment snow must have made the day feel extra special Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 4 minutes ago, clangerman said: good shout to get 27 at the moment snow must have made the day feel extra special There must be some guys out there shooting a few although it does seem to be a strange year and the birds are not following their normal patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 7 minutes ago, Clodhopper said: There must be some guys out there shooting a few although it does seem to be a strange year and the birds are not following their normal patterns. this winter seems to follow the trend of numbers falling usual rape or ivy perms all but empty today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 20 minutes ago, clangerman said: this winter seems to follow the trend of numbers falling usual rape or ivy perms all but empty today That’s interesting as we seem to have the same, maybe even more birds around but shooting them is a totally different ball game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 make the effort , get a result, well done , i will send you a rocket propelled grapling hook for those high banks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 20 minutes ago, kenholland said: make the effort , get a result, well done , i will send you a rocket propelled grapling hook for those high banks. 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon addict Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 Glad to hear someone is banging up on the OSR albeit hard going. In my area they’re just nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they are here but just spread thin over lots of woodland. Anyway the two I did shoot tonight were both stuffed with germinating acorns. The second bird had obviously crammed them in as he was struggling to gain loft when I flushed him from his fir roost. It’s not often that the odds are in our favour as a pigeon shooter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymariner Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 On 16/01/2021 at 13:45, Clodhopper said: The weatherman forecast 30mph winds and light snowfall this morning in my part of Lincolnshire. I have had little time for a proper recce. but having had a phone call from my farmer friend last night, telling me that there were a few on his Rape I thought I would give it a go. So off I went in the dark with driving snow and sleet. The journey is normally 10 minutes but the conditions made it a 30 minute drive. I decided not set up on the Rape but to set up under some Willow trees at the base of a steep bank that runs up to the Rape.These trees were sheltered from the driving snow and sleet and past experiences have shown that the birds often head for these trees before going off to feed. Having put 10 shells I my pocket, I told myself that if I fired all 10 I would be happy. I fired these off in the first 10 mins. as birds came sailing over me high and fast on the wind. My shooting was terrible, 2 birds down for 10 shots, must try harder. My excuse was that I was using my semi auto which has not been out the cabinet in over a year but that was not really valid as I normally shoot well with it. After giving myself a good talking too I managed to get the gun moving better and put more birds on the ground. Boosting the bag by shooting a couple that landed in the trees made my average look better, well it is pest control after all. I had every shot in the book. Missed a few more than I hit but some how managed to finish with 27 pigeons and 1 Carrion crow picked. 3 more birds ended up at the top of the steep bank that I could not retrieve as I kept slipping down on my backside. I do miss having a dog! This is certainly a change for this area as the birds have been very difficult to get to grips with so far this winter. Thanks for reading. Good on you for getting out. You could have retrieved those three to make it thirty if JDog had gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clodhopper Posted January 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 21 minutes ago, Mightymariner said: Good on you for getting out. You could have retrieved those three to make it thirty if JDog had gone. Your are quite correct, he would have had his man climb up there and retrieve them for me!😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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