Just my bloody luck.

[The Sniper]

Two days ago I had the opportunity to go, with my mate, to some land he can shoot over in Lincolnshire.

 

I was really looking forward to it as I have not had much chance ,lately ,to shoot round where I live, as the crops are predominately cereals, rape or sugar beet.

 

So I was really pleased when we spoke to the gamekeeper ,who my mate knows , and he told us that the pigeons were hammering a couple of pea fields. ( I wish I could find some of them near me !)

 

So we duly reconned the fields and the pigeons were flying everywhere round these two fields.

 

After splitting up onto the two fields, I had set up under a hedgerow, and within 20 minutes I had 5 pigeons down. By this time it was about 1.00pm and they were coming in like good 'uns. I was looking forward to a few hours shooting by this time and was working out how long it would take to go back to the car to bring my box of 250 spare cartridges, as I was confident of a good afternoons shooting.

 

Then I heard some metallic noises behind me and went to see what was happening.

A man was there and was moving an irrigation pipe. When I asked him what was happening he said" Oh, the viners are their way"

 

Of all the days we had to pick to be there it was the day the viners were arriving. Which they did within the next 30 minutes and sure enough the birds then started to fly anywhere but on the pea fields.

 

I tried decoying on the field my mate was on, but it wasn't the same. I think I got another 6 all afternoon.

 

I enjoyed the day out and the shooting, but how frustrating :<

 

The good side of it is we will be returning next week, to have a look at the pea stubble :blink:

[lurcherboy]

Sniper, sometimes life sucks. Hope you get a result when you go back. :blink:

[crowstopper]

bad luck there is always next time

[The Sniper]

The sequel to the above story is that we went back yesterday. I was very unsure about the weather forecast and my mate talked me into going, as the forecast was rain all day.

 

When we got there the field still had pigeons all over it. So we set up and sure enough the rain came down, and came down, and came down. But during various lulls I did manage to shoot 29 pigeons and it was good sport.

 

I should have got a lot more, but the pigeons would insist on wanting the far end of the field where there was no cover at all to set up a hide. All those I managed to get were ones returning from feeding at the end of the field.

 

I had a brilliant day but found out one of my boots leaks, my army goretex is not as waterproof as I thought it was ( but after 7 hours in it what did I expect ? ), I've got all my clothing to dry out yet, and I managed to bottom my little van.

 

We'll be going back next week though......hopefully on a finer day

 

P.S. I'm taking two rope bangers to put on the far side of the field.

[eugene molloy]

Sniper

 

one of my boots leaks, my army goretex is not as waterproof as I thought it was ( but after 7 hours in it what did I expect ? ), I've got all my clothing to dry out yet, and I managed to bottom my little van.

 

You have two more tests before your Pigeon Shooter Passing Out Parade; ripping your hand open on some barbed wire, and wiping your bum with scratchy grass when you get caught short.

 

If you do the whole lot in one morning you get the VC (Verified Crazy)

 

Thats sport!

Eug

[The Sniper]

Eugene,

 

Nice one,mate.

 

Could I also add.........getting your shotgun cartridge boxes so wet they fall apart in your hands or you are just about to light a cig and a pigeon flies across the decoys and you throw the lighter and cig into the cup of coffe you have just poured. :(

[red_stag88]

I got a screeming bite when fishing. The alarm made me jump so much, I dropped my sarnie in the maggots and flicked my scissors into the lake

[The Sniper]

[eugene molloy]

Red,

 

You have stumbled on an ancient law known only to a select band of anglers.

 

"Mollops Laws of Proximal Causation" states that there are only three infallible ways of persuading fish to bite.

 

1 leave the rod unattended whilst having a Jimmy in the bushes.

 

2 pour a cup of coffee. This is only observed when the flask is in one hand, the cup in the other, and the coffee is in mid air.

 

3 dropping a jam sarnie in your lap (a lighted cigar is also effective)

 

 

Isaac Newton was going to posit this lot, but all the apples dropping on his bonce sent him punchy.

 

 

Sniper,

I'd forgotten the soggy squib box gambit! I take my shells in a canvas bag to avoid all that karzi, (as used by banks for cash, about 10" x 8")

 

Regards

Eug

[The Sniper]

Eugene,

 

We're thinking alike..... I've just dug out an old waterproof cartridge bag.

 

Plus I've dug out some old lightweight waterproof clothing ( you know the plasticy sort thats no good for stalking in as it rustles) but its waterproof. It can sit in the bottom of my bergen from here on.