McF Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Well the day finally dawned, as reported earlier in the year, at our shoots AGM I had been promoted to a gun, after 4 years of beating. A lot of time as passed since then, along with a lot of work being carried out on the shoot by regular work party members, all be it by the same faces each week to make the shoot that bit better. I arrived at the farm yard at 11.15am to be greeted by Lancs lad, his dad and his dog, robo dog. Lancs lad being the best dressed beater in the north west, looked like he had just come out of the display window of a top market country clothing shop, and I could’nt pass on the opportunity of a photo of him doing a pose so I could post it on here as revenge for him keep slagging off the colour of my car. (Does he look smart or what) Webber, Ian (the game keeper) and Mike had gone off checking that the neighbouring shoot were keeping to the boundaries down at the bottom of our shoot. Next to arrive was Big Den a PW member Webber had recruited to be a beater, pleasantries were exchanged while we waited for the other members to arrive, and as usual captain Kelly was the last to arrive just before 12 bells. Pegs were drawn by the twelve guns, and this season it as been decided that only 10 guns would shoot any one drive meaning that at some point during the day you would be joining the beating line, as **** law goes, guess who’s joining the beating line on the first drive, yes yours truly. Webber was the other gun to miss out on this drive too. Nether mind I thought at least I’ll get it out of the way, then Ian (the game keeper) announced that the first drive would be the quarry, notoriously one of the best drives, you want to be standing that one mate said Ian. Shine a light I thought just my luck. :( However the quarry didn’t produce as thought and only a few birds were shot. Second drive was to be the ditch that runs along the bottom of the shoot, im on peg 2, the drive fails to produce a single bird but this is expected as the neighbouring shoot runs along the other side of the ditch and had shot it earlier, however a duck passed over Ians head appearing out of no were but he didn’t have a go at it, reason unknown. Third drive, firs wood peg 4 for me one of the hot pegs and on peg 6 is Webber in the pound seat. The drive begins and a duck crosses the guns and Mark on peg 8 brings it down, then the pheasant begin to fly, one comes just to the right of me and I give it both barrels and miss , cant believe it, it was a sitter and I’d missed it, quick break of the barrels and disaster one of the cartridges had gone behind the ejectors and wouldn’t eject, quick flick it out with your leatherman I thought, then it hit me I’d left it at home in the draw, I turn the gun upside down and start banging it with the palm of my hand, no joy, by this time there were pheasant passing over my head having a laugh, I manage to flick the cartridge out with my car key just before the drive draws to end , I get the gun loaded a bring my first pheasant down with the second barrel. I’m cursing my luck, in owning this gun for eight years I have had no problems what so ever and today of all days it plays up I’m gutted so many missed chances. Time for lunch. During lunch its brought to my attention that Webber whilest checking the neighbouring shoot were sticking to the rules had got his quad stuck, now there’s a story to this which I will tell when Mike sends the photos to me to post on here. I request a group photo for my scrap book everyone gathered round and the photo was taken. Back row left to right, Mike, Webber, & Big Den Front row from the centre to the right, Lord Wursik, Lancs Lad, robo dog & Ian (the game keeper) Forth drive is a duck drive, peg 6 for me, on my right is Mark and to my left is Webber. The shoot captain lord Wursik takes the time to let all the guns know that they are not to shoot until he sounds the whistle, this is to give the duck a chance to get some height. The duck get up off the pit and fly straight at me instinctivley I raise my gun to shoot, and at the last second I remember the lords words wait for the whistle, then from my right I hear bang and a bird hits the ground the lord shouts I said wait for the whistle looking straight at me, I reply it wasn’t me, although I must admit it very nearly was, the birds gain height, shots are fired, and I manage to bring one down. Fifth drive, square wood, peg 8 for me another one of the hot seats, so I thought, but only two birds came my way, one which was downed. Just before the last drive of the day, time for a quick drink, during this time the guns talk between themselves and ask each other which pegs there on, I’m asked and peg ten is my reply, that’s funny says Ronny one of the founder members so am I, no one seemed to want to sort the mistake out so Ronny and i share the peg, we had one shot each I missed Ronny hit, the bird came down in the woods so Robo dog was called for to retrieve it and duly abliged. Time for a count up 18 pheasant 8 duck and a wood cock . Not a large bag, I guess we are a bunch of **** shots and despite the chaos and bad luck that surrounded me through out the day I can honestly say I enjoyed it and cant wait for the next shoot. Colin (Delboys dad look a like ) with the bag and his woodcock. McF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Well done McF not a bad post, not entirley accurate, as you were waiting 3 years, it just felt like 4! Congratulations on making it to gun. Its a pity that the bag wasnt larger, but I missed 3 pheasants, all of them a foot underneath, I need to get my eye in! In defence of my getting the quad stuck; I went via a route that I had been avoiding for weeks. I only went that way as I had the keepers lad on the back and wanted to give him a bit of fun. Unfortunatley I forgot that I had the trailer on the back, which stuck in the ditch like an anchor. I almost got around to utilising the recently fitted winch to recover the quad, but with assistance from Ian and Mike the quad powered its self out of trouble. I did however need the winch to pull the trailer out! The shoot Vitara got stuck later in the day, exactly in a spot where I had predicted that it would. I was surprised that it didnt get stuck more often. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McF Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Webber Is this a case of you getting your side of the story in before it is published, Mike assures me the pictures will be sent soon so we can judge for ourselves watch this space. By the way your short term memory loss only seeems to work some times ?. (3 years not 4) McF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Seems to me that you had a really cracking day. Don't believe a word that Webber says - if he weighed a bit less the quad wouldn't have got bogged down :good: Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 A good read on the real world of shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigden Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Were you up all night preparing your report McF. It was a good read. Well done Glad to meet you all yesterday and making me welcome. The star of the show was Lancs lad robo dog - seeing him work in the woods at 100mph was worth it all, and he didn't slow down as the day went on. See you all soon - and I will bring my picnic this time!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Dear McF Mike has been round to my house. He has read this post, and I have reviewed his photograph. Its not that good, and proves little! However as insurance, I have reminded him as to just how much time his van has spent on our ramp in the last 6 months, not to mention his car. I doubt that your wish will be fulfilled, he is just about to leave, and is hurredly in the process of permanent deletion!.. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Were you up all night preparing your report McF. It was a good read. Well done Glad to meet you all yesterday and making me welcome. The star of the show was Lancs lad robo dog - seeing him work in the woods at 100mph was worth it all, and he didn't slow down as the day went on. See you all soon - and I will bring my picnic this time!! Me or robo dog Den................ May I just point out that we all notice that MCF has indeed failed to post a picture of his car....................I mean, 4x4...... I mean, gay waggon................ What is it again.............a yellow what........................CRV or something like that..........but its is..........YELLOW....that nice mustardy yellow.............you know the one that has been in the showroom for years......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McF Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Webber As usual you are willing to use underhand tactics to save your embaracement, im sure Mike as more balls than that, and wont wilt under the pressure. Lancslad It is upto you to post a picture of my car, and i see you are saving yourself further embaracement by not sending me the pictures of you in your fancy dress get up on Saturday as promised. Bigden Thanks for your advice but jurnalisum is not my forteh, your right it took all Saturday night and most of Sunday morning . Mcf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Dear McF Under hand, me; never! Mike may well have balls, but he also knows which side his bread is buttered. Oh, and don't forget about the discount! Under hand indeed. I am merely reminding persons that certain actions may lead to financial consequences. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McF Posted November 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 webber Threats dont scare me if i can get my hands on those pictures they will be published. Besides the discount is in the contract. Mcf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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