A Varied Week.

[London Best]

Last Saturday I was at one of my favourite places in Lincolnshire for a “150 bird” Partridge/Pheasant day. Two friends went with me, neither of whom had shot there before. The forecast was so appalling I left my regular game gun at home and took my 48 year old Spanish L.I.G. , which has been used and abused from Scotland to the Eastern Cape. With hindsight, I need not have bothered as the rain was not too bad. There was a gale of wind blowing with gusts to nearly 50mph. I drew No.1, and on the first drive was placed on No.3 peg as the wind was blowing R to L down the line. Numbers 5,6 and 7 were curled forward and had straight downwind birds. No.8 was a back gun behind No.4 on 6 peg. As the end gun on the ‘wrong’ end for the wind I did not expect much if any shooting, but the host knows his job and his ground and birds, and I managed half a dozen, mostly “flying” sideways diagonally across my front on the wind. On the second drive I was No.3, but still was placed on the R hand end of the line because 2 and 3 were back guns along with No.8. So we had a line of five, with three back guns. The host was right again, as the birds came through on a very narrow front, straight down the gale. The partridges were out of control, with their tails blown over their heads and quite unable to steer. To say it played havoc with kill/cartridge ratios is an understatement. I fired 44 cartridges on that drive, and am ashamed to say I only had ten to pick. (This after a season during which I have consistently shot better than one for two)  We had a sloe gin and pressed on quickly to the third, as the weather was worsening. Again, a straight downwind drive, a line of six and two back guns. I was No. 5 and put eight on the floor, 24 empties! The rain came heavier and we were taken to a barn for soup and pork pie. Whilst we were in the barn the heavens opened and there was a huge downpour. As soon as it stopped we were loaded up and taken to the fourth drive. I was pleased to see we were going to do what I always think is the best drive on the place, both for quality and quantity. But I knew the bag was mounting and we could not possibly need many more, if any. This drive really needs wind, which we had in spades all morning, but as we debussed the wind died to very little. I was No.7 on the L end of the line, 1 and 8 being back guns. The ‘keeper only really did a part of the drive before “pulling” the beaters out, obviously because the bag was getting on a bit. No.7 is a good peg on this drive and I had some good shooting, picking another seven partridges. Back to the shoot room for drinks followed by a very welcome sausage and mash dinner with bread and butter pudding after. The bag came in at 202, of which 168 partridge and 34 pheasants. Both my friends were impressed with their new venue and both are asking to return next season. Incidentally, my totals that day were 94 shots for only 31 picked! I put it down to the gale.

On Tuesday I was a guest at a rough shooting day in the Ashbourne area of Derbyshire. The day could not have been more different. The weather was so mild that sweaters were being removed by elevense’s and there was no wind. Not expecting much shooting, and having to walk all day, I took along my double hammerless .410, made in 1902 for Army and Navy Stores Ltd. I fired four shots all day. During the first manoeuvre I was pleased to shoot a walked-up hen pheasant which curled round to cross me R to L at around 25/30 yards. I had no further shooting until after our break, which, traditionally on this shoot, is the main event. Everyone contributes something, preferably home made. We were 13 in number, 10 of us armed and 3 beating, so there was great diversity in the food offered. It varied from pheasant, partridge and chorizo sausage rolls to walnut and Stilton biscuits. And sloe gin, obviously.
After the break we did a long, complicated pincer movement, at the end of which I was presented with a shot at a partridge which had cleared a belt of high firs and was maybe over thirty yards away. Quite an ask with only 14 grams of No.7 shot. I don’t know who was the more surprised at the result, me, the partridge or the spectators. Shortly afterwards, I had my only other chance of the day, a walked-up partridge which completely got the better of me and I promptly missed with both barrels. Everyone was invited back to the hosts house after the shooting. Drinks were provided and we all sat down to a delicious lasagne made by his wife. The bag for the day was 12 pheasants and one partridge, so just exactly enough for one bird each to take home. Perfect.

On Thursday, I had yet another different kind of outing, although this one failed completely. I woke at 4.20 am and drove 90 miles to take part in a Muntjac culling operation for a Wildlife Trust. After an uneventful journey I arrived to find thick, freezing fog for the last two miles. We met at the gate to the ancient woodland we were supposed to be protecting. Only three of us had made it out of the six of us involved. We chose our spots and blundered into the dark, foggy wood to deploy our high seats, nearly an hour before the scheduled sunrise. As it became light I could see only 30/40 yards through the trees. After a couple of (very cold) hours the fog lifted and visibility improved to 60 yards or so, for about fifteen minutes when the fog came down again. Sunrise never happened. Suddenly a tiny Muntjac walked round a tree only 25 yards from me. It had me spotted as soon as I had it spotted. It stood with tail raised in alarm whilst still standing still. I had not seen that done before. My rifle was resting on the seat rail, pointing to ten o’clock. The deer was at one o’clock. It was never going to work. I slid the rifle slowly into position and as I dropped my head to look through the Leupold, Bambi was away. The deer was so small, if it had been any smaller it would still have had stripes. In fact, I have seen bigger ones still wearing their stripes. I would not normally consider taking such an animal, but we were supposed to be culling for the protection of the woodland. That was all I saw. Actually, it was all any of us saw. Nothing. Zilch. Complete failure. I climbed down and packed the seat back in the Land Rover. Meeting up again, we had a brew and a butty and set off for home. And yes, in less than two miles the sun was shining all the way home. I had become so cold, even with thermals, long johns, woolly hat and hand warmers that I put the truck heater on full belt blowing directly on me and kept it like that for fifty miles until I was medium rare.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Well two out of three is not a bad return.

Glad you enjoyed the driven and the walked up days.

[7daysinaweek]

A very enjoyable read and what a packed week that was. I could have not stood still in a such a forceful wind, it must have been an experience. Some round trips can feel like a 'killer', it is all part of the day out whatever the outcome. Good on you for making the effort for the Munty foray.

Two separate trips up north last year found me a daily round trip not far off the 400 mile mark with no beasts or trigger pulled. Still was enjoyable to be out.

Once again, cheers for posting up.

atb

7diaw

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by 7daysinaweek

[marsh man]

A very good detailed report on three different days of sport .

I know exactly what the weather was like on your first driven day as we also had one , it was easily the wettest and coldest day we have had this season , a complete contrast than today , not a breath of wind , cloudy and fairly mild , the birds flew well and we managed two drives after lunch before it got anywhere near dark , this helped to push the bag up a bit by giving the picker up's some daylight to look for any runners .

Your second day created a fair bit of exercise and kept you on tender hooks while waiting for a chance for a shot , I do like these sort of days as much if not more than a full driven day .

Your third day is not really my cup of tea and I have never shot a deer , although I do understand with the numbers multiplying at a very fast rate that they do need to be controlled .

THANKS for sharing

[Scully]

Enjoyed that LB. A good few days out shooting with mixed results. 👍

Knowing Landrovers as I do I can understand it taking fifty miles before you got warm! 🙂

Only joking, mine has heated seats! 

[London Best]

Belting heater in my Puma 110. 
Normally can’t stand it on full belt.

[Scully]

23 hours ago, London Best said:

Belting heater in my Puma 110. 
Normally can’t stand it on full belt.

As is mine. 🙂‘Twas a jest.