TOP day (and on the peas?)

[Topgunners]

We decided to try something different today as we are struggling to find birds as of late.

 

And that is an understatement!!!

 

We decided to travel to some of our outlying farms further south; that we don't visit enough of and on the way; anything we spotted, I would stop my jeep and COLD CALL the farms whilst Alan would move further on down the road.

 

First spot was a farm with a lot of "blackies" flying about and I got out to see if I could find the Farmer and when I eventually found him he was chatting to a man who I thought was one of his workers.

 

I stood back listening to them rabbiting on about "hectares and 200 litres of this and that required mixed with oil and water@etc and then the one chap asked if I could help him and I said that I was in the area carrying out pest control for 1 or 2 farms in the area and could I be of assistance.

 

He said no thanks he had some locals doing it for him and I said "no problem but if they were unable to come regularly or whatever here is my card , give me a call" The other chap said could he have a card as well and when he looked at it he was most impressed and said I could come and shoot on his Farm down the road( and I thought he was a worker for the 1st man).

 

He had 475 acres of mixed crop and to my surpise HE then said to the other Farmer that "old local Johnny boy" and his pal weren't doing that good a job on his land and then the other Farmer gave me permission to carry out his crop protection - 550 Acres.

 

Cracking stuff. I thanked them both sincerely and we arranged for us to visit one day this week to drive the land for boundaries , type of crops etc.

 

We then proceeded to go to our permision and have a look see.

 

Nothing there; had a quick chat with the Farmer's son and gave him one of my new cards and reminded him to ring me as soon as he had a problem.

 

We dropped back to a farm we visited earlier on, where we had seen about a dozen or so pigeons walking about on some drilling, and upon investigating properly found PEAS laying on top of the soil all over the place.

 

We sat having a coffee and watching their movements for over 1/2 hour and decide to set up 1 hide and Alan said there weren't enough for all of us so he would sit in the truck and watch for a while or go for a mooch.

 

 

We shot steadily for an hour or more and when Alan came back I said why don't you pop round the back of the barns where the Farmer had planted some TURNIP SEEDS as he said the "blackies" were battering it. and he went for a look.

 

After a short while we could hear the BANG! BANG! of Alan's gun and we carried on having a few more pigeons until the rain shower came and the wind suddenly changed direction to blowing straight in our faces and the pigeons stopped completely coming in to the deeks.

 

We picked up 35 pigeons and then drove down to the barn and watched as bird after bird fell out of the sky to Alan's gun and after an hour or so Alan packed up and had 42 dead ones in the pile.

 

A TOPDAY all round- 1,000 acres of new land and a decent days shooting in 2 different areas on 2 different crops.

 

A lot of mileage (and expensive diesel) but can't wait to go and inspect our new acreage.

 

SO if you are struggling; try SOMETHING DIFFERENT; it might just work for you as well.

 

 

Dave K

Edited April 13, 2008 by Topgunners

[Country Boy]

You know Dave it's all very well moving further out aquiring more farms, I can't help but wonder how long it will be before someone else latches on to the 'permission' you are now neglecting, one of the farmers you thought was in your back pocket might well be telling the "old local Johnny boy" story to some new youngblood out for a few scalps

 

Cheers, C.B.

 

 

N.B. : It might be me

Edited April 13, 2008 by Country Boy

[malkiserow]

I can see I'll have to check my farms tomorrow !!!!

 

If my name was Jonny I may be miffed...... good job it's not

[Topgunners]

I can see I'll have to check my farms tomorrow !!!!

 

If my name was Jonny I may be miffed...... good job it's not

 

 

those 3 trees in the background on your avatar look familiar.

 

 

NOW!!!!!

 

 

Dave K

[Topgunners]

You know Dave it's all very well moving further out aquiring more farms, I can't help but wonder how long it will be before someone else latches on to the 'permission' you are now neglecting, one of the farmers you thought was in your back pocket might well be telling the "old local Johnny boy" story to some new youngblood out for a few scalps

 

Cheers, C.B.

 

 

N.B. : It might be me

 

if you read what i said we went further SOUTH to our outlying farms not OUT and we never "neglect" any permission. If we don't visit one weekend, I ALWAYS ring them and ask how things are going

[malkiserow]

I can see I'll have to check my farms tomorrow !!!!

 

If my name was Jonny I may be miffed...... good job it's not

 

 

those 3 trees in the background on your avatar look familiar.

 

 

NOW!!!!!

 

 

Dave K

 

Oh dear........... that is my front drive

[Cranfield]

Clover seem to be the favourite here at the moment.

 

I shot over a field of peas that had just been drilled last Thursday and when I was putting out my decoys I couldn't find a single spilled pea.

Most of the birds I shot were overflying the field, they weren't that interested in feeding on it.

 

With regard to picking up permissions where the present shooters have been neglecting it.

I have recently acquired quite a bit of land where this has happened.

Every 6 months for 4 years I appeared at the Farmyard and was told, "I have a few chaps that shoot the pigeons", but a few weeks ago I made the regular call and was given permission as, "I haven't seen them for a while".

Do I feel bad about this............................. ....................................No.

[lurcherboy]

You have inspired me Dave So I am going to take up golf and start wearing Pringles.

 

BTW, I will be making a surprise visit with Tiercel, although he dosen't know it yet, in May so have everything ready and shipshape

 

 

 

 

 

LB

[MC]

LB,

 

I would advise abainst wearing pringles, they tend to get crushed when you move about and you end up with crumbs in your underpants.

 

After shooting with you on several occasions I firmly believe that Golf would be a good sport for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cause you ain't no good at shooting

[Topgunners]

I can see I'll have to check my farms tomorrow !!!!

 

If my name was Jonny I may be miffed...... good job it's not

 

 

those 3 trees in the background on your avatar look familiar.

 

 

NOW!!!!!

 

 

Dave K

 

Oh dear........... that is my front drive

 

 

oooops. you must have been out when I called,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then who did I speak to coming out of your "gaff"?

 

 

 

when the CAT'S away ......................

 

Dave K

Edited April 17, 2008 by Topgunners

[chrispti]

We decided to try something different today as we are struggling to find birds as of late.

 

And that is an understatement!!!

 

We decided to travel to some of our outlying farms further south; that we don't visit enough of and on the way; anything we spotted, I would stop my jeep and COLD CALL the farms whilst Alan would move further on down the road.

 

First spot was a farm with a lot of "blackies" flying about and I got out to see if I could find the Farmer and when I eventually found him he was chatting to a man who I thought was one of his workers.

 

I stood back listening to them rabbiting on about "hectares and 200 litres of this and that required mixed with oil and water@etc and then the one chap asked if I could help him and I said that I was in the area carrying out pest control for 1 or 2 farms in the area and could I be of assistance.

 

He said no thanks he had some locals doing it for him and I said "no problem but if they were unable to come regularly or whatever here is my card , give me a call" The other chap said could he have a card as well and when he looked at it he was most impressed and said I could come and shoot on his Farm down the road( and I thought he was a worker for the 1st man).

 

He had 475 acres of mixed crop and to my surpise HE then said to the other Farmer that "old local Johnny boy" and his pal weren't doing that good a job on his land and then the other Farmer gave me permission to carry out his crop protection - 550 Acres.

 

Cracking stuff. I thanked them both sincerely and we arranged for us to visit one day this week to drive the land for boundaries , type of crops etc.

 

We then proceeded to go to our permision and have a look see.

 

Nothing there; had a quick chat with the Farmer's son and gave him one of my new cards and reminded him to ring me as soon as he had a problem.

 

We dropped back to a farm we visited earlier on, where we had seen about a dozen or so pigeons walking about on some drilling, and upon investigating properly found PEAS laying on top of the soil all over the place.

 

We sat having a coffee and watching their movements for over 1/2 hour and decide to set up 1 hide and Alan said there weren't enough for all of us so he would sit in the truck and watch for a while or go for a mooch.

 

 

We shot steadily for an hour or more and when Alan came back I said why don't you pop round the back of the barns where the Farmer had planted some TURNIP SEEDS as he said the "blackies" were battering it. and he went for a look.

 

After a short while we could hear the BANG! BANG! of Alan's gun and we carried on having a few more pigeons until the rain shower came and the wind suddenly changed direction to blowing straight in our faces and the pigeons stopped completely coming in to the deeks.

 

We picked up 35 pigeons and then drove down to the barn and watched as bird after bird fell out of the sky to Alan's gun and after an hour or so Alan packed up and had 42 dead ones in the pile.

 

A TOPDAY all round- 1,000 acres of new land and a decent days shooting in 2 different areas on 2 different crops.

 

A lot of mileage (and expensive diesel) but can't wait to go and inspect our new acreage.

 

SO if you are struggling; try SOMETHING DIFFERENT; it might just work for you as well.

 

 

Dave K

dave,

May I ask what you had written on those cards of yours? I was just going to get some printed and re-visit some local farms which have previously declined my offer of assistance.

 

cheers

chris

[Topgunners]

dave,

May I ask what you had written on those cards of yours? I was just going to get some printed and re-visit some local farms which have previously declined my offer of assistance.

 

cheers

chris

 

Just the usual -- xxx years of experience, BASC cover, all property and livestock respected, immediate response to telephone call and --- pictures of pests fox,rabbits, pigeons and crows. and don't forget the most important word of all -- FREE crop protection.

 

 

Good luck.

 

 

Dave K

Edited May 4, 2008 by Topgunners