Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 A good friend of mine asked me if i would come and load for him on a driven grouse day on a private moor. There has been no shooting on this moor in derbyshire for 2 years due to low grouse numbers brought about by poor breeding seasons and the dreaded worm. Never being one to miss out on a freebie i of course accepted. i arrived in good time for an early start on the alloted day and we were on site at the keepers cottage for 0830hrs. there is a good wind blowing and i can hear grouse calling from the moor just a couple of hundred yards away, a good start if ever i heard one. After a quick talk on safety etc from the shoot captain the assembled guns climbed into a fleet of 4 wheel drives and headed up to the top moor. The scenery was simply stunning. The plan was for 2 drives in the morning and a break for lunch then 2 drives in the afternoon. Drive 1, first things first i have picked my piece of lucky heather but alas the drive was a bit of a disaster, despite some sterling work on my part handling with fine dexterity a matched pair of POWELLS (gulp) alas the grouse were more than a match for my pal in charge of the shooting side of things. As the little red blurs went whizzing by an impressive pile of empty cartridges were amassing. as the beaters came into view we had 6 grouse in the heather to be picked with a hit rate of around 1 in 6. Drive 2, this was more like it. a couple of right and lefts and we are away here. The grouse have a tail wind with them and are very, very quick. With plenty of shooting and the beaters eventually coming into sight we have 9 grouse in the heather to be picked and i still haven't stopped admiring those guns. After lunch we set off for drive 3 as the clouds begin to come over. Drive 3, we are in the swing of things now and with plenty of the red blurs whizzing past we are soon operating as a good team with plenty of birds in the heather. As the beaters come into view we have 12 grouse in the heather to be picked.And the heavens chuffin' opened. Drive 4, the rain has stopped and the sun is back out. As we load the guns my friend beckons me to the front to take the early birds as the drive commences. With knocking knees i take No1 gun and make ready........ GENTLEMEN THE STUFF OF DREAMS!!! we are almost driven to distraction by the hordes of midges but nothing can break my concentration as a red blur approaches. crossing at 30yds right to left at warp 6. I swing a long way in front and the first barrel twitches the tail feathers, my second barrel is true and my grouse tumbles into the heather. I hand No1 gun over and take No2 just in time for another red blur from the same direction. no mistake this time as grouse No2 tumbles into the heather at the first shot. 2 grouse for 3 shots My friend is suitably impressed and i have to resist the urge to do a lap of honour around the moor. WOO HOO!!!!! Aware that this is the first days shooting in 2 years i thank my friend profusely and beckon him back in time to take over as the birds come at what seems unimaginable speed. The shooting is thick and fast and at the end as the beaters come into view we have 8 in the heather plus my 2 to make an even 10. What a fantastic day, lots of shooting and the team of 10 guns all got a share of shooting. Back home and i have my 2 birds plus 2 from the bag with a celebratory beer as i reflect on the days shooting With the birds plucked and drawn plans are afoot to have 2 of them at xmas with some venison as a xmas dinner centrepiece. Bit of a long winded post, if you have stuck with me thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the pics. All the best, Adrian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRS Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 great post and pics mate , you know how to cook those grouse now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobyb525 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Another cracking write up as always. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveB916 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Bloody good read. Thanks Dave B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groach1234 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Great post and sounds like a great day, i had my first days walked up grouse yesterday and i got 1 they are hard to hit when you are more used to them coming towards you and fly like bullets the team of 6 guns ended up with 19 grouse and one gun got 8 it was a great day and if you don't mind me asking what was the total bag of the day? bring on the rest of the season. George Also just to add i ate my one grouse tonight and it was great and very very gamey Edited August 23, 2009 by groach1234 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomV Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 great shooting an interesting read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Excellent read!! thanks for sharing your day with us, I think this says it all >> GENTLEMEN THE STUFF OF DREAMS!!! << to right! Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Normally cba to read the long ones but that was a brilliant read enjoyed it alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davecooper1 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Great read, good pictures, and a good day aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digdeep Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Fantasic read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Well done - I think we're all very envious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitehackle Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 very good. where were you? was it near the cat and fiddle? mac to buxton road? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NICK76 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Great read that, Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 great post and pics mate , you know how to cook those grouse now ? Roast them in an oven, in and out as fast as they passed you B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samyw Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted August 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 thanks for the kind words everyone B) The moor is close to glossop for those who know the area. Fond, Fond memories indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 You are a very lucky guy , well done and a great write up B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NICK76 Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 thanks for the kind words everyone The moor is close to glossop for those who know the area. Fond, Fond memories indeed! Me and my shooting buddies go to the Boar shoot, (clay pigeon) near Glossop, A very very scenic part of the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Cracking pictures, Im very jealous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clydebuilt Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Cracking report wabbit, I can almost smell the heather, feel the excitement and wish I could taste the grouse Well done rigboot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossEM Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 You lucky, lucky g*t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Great pics and a great read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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