kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 13:31 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 13:31 This is what happens when you get 1 (or more) of the vital pieces of the jigsaw wrong- I needed to shoot this field again, lots of birds use it and they usually decoy quite well. Had 150 when it was stubble and about 45 off the rape 13 days ago. My mate Rick Conissance told me they were using the field straight after that, so on Sunday, Rick and I stopped by on the way to a family thing and pigeons were pouring onto the field. Yesterday, I was beating, so, on the way I took Rick over to check again. About 8.45. Sat there for 10 minutes, only 1 pigeon showed up but he swung round on the wind and dropped straight in, just over the brow of the hill. Change of viewpoint and the hidden part of the field was covered with pigeons. Decide to hit them today. Rick says they are up early, so I leave the house at 7.00, sun just rising in the East. Weather forecast says cloudy, may be sunny breaks, may be a spot of drizzle. Last time they said that I needed sun glasses! Arrive before 7.30, still dark, drag all my gear over 500 yards to a WWII bunker in the middle. (A gas gun at either end of the field has concentrated pigeons just where I want them.) It's a long carry but downhill (don't think about the uphill return with all the dead). Last time I was here a skein of Canadas flew right over during set-up, this time I am determined to load up with bismuth on arrival, just in case. Reach for the bismuth, DAMM left them in the truck, WITH THE GUN!!) Try to run back uphill, have to settle for a quick walk, get the stuff, come back, no geese to be seen. Still setting up and a few groups of pigeons fly over, high and never look down. The weather opts for the drizzle choice. Long pause. A little group arrive, have a look from a height and carry on. Another little group look by, 1 greedy one thinks about having a closer look but decides to stay with his mates and pulls out. I have a very speculative shot at him and get a few feathers. And then...... NOTHING HAPPENS! I do not want to blank! I am like a gambling addict, thinking a jackpot will happen soon. WRONG! The drizzle stops and a tiny number start to move but are totally unimpressed with my magnet and decoys, if they can see them in the murk. Even Nobby No Mates pulls out about 500 yards away. An occasional group will turn up and either have a look from a safe height before saying "thanks but no thanks", no panic or flaring away just "thanks but no thanks", or else they look from a safe height, fold winds and dive bomb through the pattern before saying "thanks but no thanks". Whilst these bombers get very close, they are generally swirling way too fast for me to get a bead on them, let alone pull the trigger. Anyway, after nearly 4 hours I have 3 birds down, call it a day and slink off the field (at least no number of birds to carry) and get ready to do it all again tomorrow, elsewhere. I hope you enjoy this narrative more than I enjoyed my morning! Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted Tuesday at 14:10 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 14:10 very truthful................im depressed now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted Tuesday at 14:20 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 14:20 sounds like my day yesterday, 3 hours for 4 pigeons and then they just stopped, only reason I stayed for 3 hours was the farmer texted me on Sunday to say there were thousands on his rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted Tuesday at 15:10 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 15:10 That’s a more common winter rape session right there. Very difficult to achieve the consistent results that you can at other times of the year, but hats off to you for keeping at it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellors Posted Tuesday at 15:22 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 15:22 Keep it up. Got to be in it to win it. Similar day here on Sunday. Its always the same this time if year. They'll start playing soon hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted Tuesday at 15:51 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 15:51 you gave it ago, better luck next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggy74 Posted Tuesday at 16:10 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 16:10 Still nice to be out though !!! could have been stuck in doors putting a sodding tree up for hours. (we dont even have any kids ***) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 16:38 Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 16:38 2 hours ago, ditchman said: very truthful................im depressed now Don't be depressed, I'm not. Tomorrow will be different. (Or Sunday, or next week....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted Tuesday at 17:28 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 17:28 blame rick he should have found the birds sitty tree so when they refused to commit you could have moved under it with birds now arriving to find an empty field most wouid have headed straight for your tree wake up Rick! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 17:40 Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 17:40 10 minutes ago, clangerman said: blame rick he should have found the birds sitty tree so when they refused to commit you could have moved under it with birds now arriving to find an empty field most wouid have headed straight for your tree wake up Rick! lol Good thinking, I'll suggest it to him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted Tuesday at 17:47 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 17:47 1 minute ago, kitchrat said: Good thinking, I'll suggest it to him! he’s not a bad lad does his best sometimes even spots the tree birds are actually using! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 17:53 Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 17:53 1 minute ago, clangerman said: he’s not a bad lad does his best sometimes even spots the tree birds are actually using! That's not the Rick I know. He spends ages sitting in the truck with the binoculars glued to his face, says he's watching pigeons flying about. He does have a nice pair of planks which he bashed together to spook birds from far and wide so he can see where there were hiding or feeding. So he's quite smart but not very good company or very talkative. Drinks too much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted Tuesday at 17:56 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 17:56 Nicely written and easy reading, you only got 3 but it's not ever all about numbers as you know, shooting experiences are priceless regardless of the outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted Tuesday at 17:57 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 17:57 (edited) I am more impressed with your commitment than depressed with your post , if anyone deserve a good day then you should be a main contender , you will come across a good day when you least expect it , you could be a fair way from home when you connect another one with your last cartridge , after a count up you find you are one short from the long awaited ton , then we will really look forward to your write up . Edited Tuesday at 17:58 by marsh man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellors Posted Tuesday at 18:12 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 18:12 Just re read your adventure. Blimey 500 yds that's true commitment. I'm glad we don't have fields that big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 18:33 Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 18:33 32 minutes ago, marsh man said: I am more impressed with your commitment than depressed with your post , if anyone deserve a good day then you should be a main contender , you will come across a good day when you least expect it , you could be a fair way from home when you connect another one with your last cartridge , after a count up you find you are one short from the long awaited ton , then we will really look forward to your write up . I've had my moments this year! Actually, I am finding I get the most enjoyment not from the mega days but those with a decent supply, not lining up to get shot but fairly regular. The anticipation is far greater that way, seeing something near, will it, won't it, yes, no etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted Tuesday at 18:51 Report Share Posted Tuesday at 18:51 10 minutes ago, kitchrat said: I've had my moments this year! Actually, I am finding I get the most enjoyment not from the mega days but those with a decent supply, not lining up to get shot but fairly regular. The anticipation is far greater that way, seeing something near, will it, won't it, yes, no etc. I know exactly what you mean , I am also impressed with how you make full use of these dull Winter days , beating one day , on the look out the next and then having ago the following day , a day off and then the whole process start again , my week is similar although the gun now mainly stay at home , on the shoot last Saturday , a Christmas drink and get together on Thursday night and then on Friday is the last shoot before Christmas , this retirement lark is not as bad as some people make out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 19:59 Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 19:59 58 minutes ago, marsh man said: I know exactly what you mean , I am also impressed with how you make full use of these dull Winter days , beating one day , on the look out the next and then having ago the following day , a day off and then the whole process start again , my week is similar although the gun now mainly stay at home , on the shoot last Saturday , a Christmas drink and get together on Thursday night and then on Friday is the last shoot before Christmas , this retirement lark is not as bad as some people make out Yes, I've been retired for 17 years believe it or not. Initially I spent a lot of time being a playboy in Canada, dirt biking, skiing, snowmobiling, ATV riding, goose hunting etc etc. As I've got older, the things I could do at the level I wanted to, have disappeared, so I came back to the UK the get old and die! (not yet). I don't know what the future holds but I;m sure it isn't good, so I'm doing what I still can, whilst I still can!! Hopefully, entertaining you chaps is one thing I can still do!! Cheers, JK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted Tuesday at 20:19 Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 20:19 2 hours ago, bruno22rf said: Nicely written and easy reading, you only got 3 but it's not ever all about numbers as you know, shooting experiences are priceless regardless of the outcome. And I've failed in some fantastic places in Canada! 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.