Shoot report from Coxford Abbey, Norfolk.

[ehb102]

Coxford Abbey 60 bird day

Tuesday 16th January 2024

A clear and cold day greeted us when we arrived at the shoot barn at the Coxford Abbey shoot. Only findable by a WhatThreeWords location, it shares the land with a pig farm. A wrong turn meant I had a lovely drive around the area, ending up on the wrong side of the barn, thankful that the frozen ground had meant my little Kia had managed the journey. 

The day was the gift of the Coxford Abbey shoot after our ladies’ partridge day on 1st September had suffered from winds refusing to go above 6mph. The company and the tea had both been excellent, so we were grateful for another chance to head out on this family-run shoot. 

My man (loader/bag carrier/on the peg coach) for the day had arrived at a suitably respectful time before me. I set him to work picking out the cartridges - he only likes red ones. He selected the RC Professional Game 28g 6s that he says are quite enough for January pheasant if you put them in the right place. Whilst he did that the traditional bacon rolls were served. I did let him have breakfast once he had organised the bags and I think he managed three bacon rolls, even if they were already buttered. 

There were seven guns in the line for a 60 bird day, although of course at the end of the season we would be grateful for what we could find. Once seated on the gun bus we had much discussion over how the partridges had fled the shoot this year whilst the pheasants had stayed in contrast to the previous years and how the shoot would start the next season in October because of this. I did allow my man on the gun bus as it was a short line and as the dogs preferred to sit on the floor he was lucky enough to acquire a seat. 

I drew a lucky peg number 3 and we were to move up 4. My man kept saying “Three - Seven - Eleven…” I thought he was being humorous but apparently he was under the impression we would have twelve pegs despite there being only seven people clutching guns. It would of course go pegs 3, 7, 4, 1, 5, 2 and 6. 

The ground was hard underfoot, so the walking was easy. My man carried the bags and gun and I carried my stick. He doesn’t often need a prod these days but can get a little excited after elevenses if there are new ladies to meet. The stick that was so useful in the soft fields of Bedfordshire was a little tall for the flint and frozen soil of Norfolk but I was confident it would still be useful if necessary. 

Drive 1 started and the sun was bright. Both I and my man were smug behind our polarized lenses. A pheasant to my right side started me off well but was shortly followed by a wasted two cartridges after a bird to my left. My man’s countenance let me know I had panicked and had fruitlessly chased after a bird instead of picking it. I redeemed myself with two more birds that drive though, a good start to the day. An extremely high crow was felled by a gun a little up the line, an impressive shot of which we had a splendid view. My man didn’t say “Why can’t you shoot like that?” out loud, so I didn’t need to use the stick, but he did point out every crow he saw for the rest of the shoot.

Drive 2 and peg 7 was up in the next field facing a small spinney of the tall pines. A nice pheasant headed out and I used a cartridge to fell it to my left. Thanks to a quick reload I managed the one following along to my right. 

The sun disappeared for a while leaving me wishing I had thermal socks. Drive 3 was a blank for us but a beautiful partridge flew out just after the whistle blew. “Why didn’t you?” was asked but frankly anyone shooting after the whistle blows deserves the beating stick. Shame, because it was a nice one. My man was a credit to me, helping all the ladies over the steep Norfolk stile, both to and from the drive. I let him have beer when he was back on the gun bus. 

Brunch was delicious hot sausage rolls, a cheese board plus enormous squares of lemon cake. They were kind enough to allow my man to eat with us and he and a new friend attacked the pickled onions with gusto. I thought the lady was going to offer to take him home but apparently there was only enough room in the landy for her and the dogs.

Drive four was another two birds for us. Out on the end on peg 1 we watched the beaters sweep down a hedgerow. A hen pheasant flew towards me and I took it out in front. It folded up beautifully and if he had been a labrador my man’s tail would have wagged. A cock pheasant fell behind us, picked by the gorgeous red lab. I had redeemed myself after wasting two cartridges by not moving my feet correctly. 

Thankfully the sun came back out and warmed us up a little. Drive 5 there was nothing for us; the birds were flying very well, but they were all at the other end of the line.  Drive 6 shot one was a partridge dead in the middle between myself and the next gun. “You shared it,” said my man. “I shot it first though” I informed him. “No need to mention that” he advised sagely. Another pheasant too. “The other one!” yelled my man before I pulled the trigger, and I shot the higher bird, to his approval. 

Drive 7 was held in the “triangle”, historically named because the trees had since been cut in a U shape. Nothing for us to shoot at but a partridge fell into the trees and an entire team of dogs was launched searching for it. I think they found it!

Tea and Eccles cakes greeted us back at the barn. The bag was 28 birds for 128 shots. I had 9 birds for 14 shots, four wasted cartridges which didn’t trouble any bird and one double-barreled bird. The Shoot kindly let my man fill up his car boot with the birds leftover from another day so he could further his good works distributing game to the poor and needy. 

It was particularly interesting to see how the Shoot had changed the drives since we were there on a very warm and still day on 1st September. Then we had been shooting in and around the pig pens, chasing after partridges that were only just reaching sporting heights. This time we were in open fields and only got to spy piglets from the windows of the gun bus. My man was disappointed he wasn’t allowed to take one to add to his stash, but was comforted by a tip of half an eccles cake for his journey home. 

I enjoyed my day out greatly, and my George Bate sxs from @Wabbitbosher is doing me proud.

Numbers: 14 cartridges, 9 birds, bag of 28 for 128 team shots.

Times my man pointed out a pigeon: 7. 

Apologies if the photo is rotated. I tried several versions and it always goes like that.  That's Uncle @TIGHTCHOKEthere, looking smart. 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Sounds wonderful.   

[London Best]

A very entertaining read, and well written. Thank you.

[Bigbob]

nice post really sounds like you enjoyed it 

[jall25]

Great write up 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Leaning over like that was starting to hurt................

[marsh man]

Lovely ole job and a good kill cartridge ratio , plus the right up was superb , T C isn't a bad ole boy despite him being the grand master of securing the available Red cartridges on the forum 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

NOT ONLY the RED ones..............