Bobba Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Old age doesn't come by itself! So, I am considering the scaling down to the minimalist approach to decoys and kit to lug over many fields. What, in your experience please is the minimum you would take in term of decoys i.e. shells, whole bodies, floaters etc.? And, how many of each? The lightweight hide is sorted. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 I have scaled down a lot on what I use to carry and have also got a small trolley. All my decoys are now shells, fullbodied decoys take up more room, are heavier and I don't think are any advantage. I have very recently switched to a lightweight Stealth camo net (from my ex MoD one). It is definitely a lot lighter, but as I have the front of my hide lower than the back , I am not happy that I blend in sufficiently against the black background. Its probable I will go back to the MoD net, but make it smaller (less weight). My old Pinewood rotary recently gave up the ghost and I have bought a new UKSW lightweight version (which is a few pounds lighter). I am often parked some distance from my hide and now only take 150 cartridges to the hide and not the 250 I use to carry, if I need any more I walk back and get them (there is always 1000 in the truck). Unless its really, really cold, I don't wear any of my padded waterproof shooting coats, its amazing what these things weigh. I also don't wear wellington boots, unless its really wet. I am also saving up for a Ghillie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Cutting down on weight is always an issue for me too. This is what I take: large carry bag bucket seat 12 shell decoys 12 eezy wobblers light weight poles and net bouncer cartridges flask sandwiches gun This still weighs a fair amount, but I cannot take anything less. If I decide to take the rotary as well, then the weight shoots up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 I have scaled down a lot on what I use to carry and have also got a small trolley. All my decoys are now shells, fullbodied decoys take up more room, are heavier and I don't think are any advantage. I have very recently switched to a lightweight Stealth camo net (from my ex MoD one). It is definitely a lot lighter, but as I have the front of my hide lower than the back , I am not happy that I blend in sufficiently against the black background. Its probable I will go back to the MoD net, but make it smaller (less weight). My old Pinewood rotary recently gave up the ghost and I have bought a new UKSW lightweight version (which is a few pounds lighter). I am often parked some distance from my hide and now only take 150 cartridges to the hide and not the 250 I use to carry, if I need any more I walk back and get them (there is always 1000 in the truck). Unless its really, really cold, I don't wear any of my padded waterproof shooting coats, its amazing what these things weigh. I also don't wear wellington boots, unless its really wet. I am also saving up for a Ghillie. Cranners, Regarding your stealth net, I use the same net along with a scrim net (bought from the forum), and I find these two either seperate or in conjunction are good for almost every situation. The scrim net weighs next to nothing and adds little bulk to the kit. I keep both my nets in one of those 'football' boot bags (smaller than a shoe box). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 i didnt feel 100% yesterday. i went with one messenger type bag. two flexi decoys. flapper & battery. two boxes of cartridges & 25 in a belt. one small bottle of water. and that was it. I had a great time for about 2 -3 hours. I did take the 12 bore ,if iam really worn out i will take a 16 or 20. if weight was a real problem i would say use only the 20 bore. as the gun and cartridges are much lighter. cheers scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 I forgot to mention that I leave my Beretta Urika semi (weight 7lb 8ozs) at home nowadays and take my Benelli 20 gauge semi (weight 6lb) and that makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 i try to adopt a light weight approach, i take 2x 25litre buckets inside each other, 1 with a lid fishing rod type holdall ive had specially made, with poles, magnet, gun in slip and bouncers small rucksack with 12 full body deeks with silosock jackets, 150 carts, nets and sundries i sit on the buckets and then carry 1 in each hand full of birds at the end, can get 25 in each bucket, the full bod deeks are to be replaced with shells when funds allow, i can carry my gear for quite some distance if required mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 (edited) I am no dedicated shooter like your fine selves, but I walk from home to my permission carrying all the stuff. Oh, I use a wheel-barrow by the way I take: Water Sarnies Gun 100 cartridges V light camo screen Poles (hazel sticks ) Clamps 15 shells with spring sticks Sometimes rotary and very heavy battery! (the small one dies too soon) This is light as it gets for me, as I do not own any other equipment! Such as bouncers, flappers etc. These will come soon enough mind you edit: And a camping stool which is pretty heavy, so avoid that. I have though about leaving the poles, net and clamps and wearing full camo, and sitting within the hedgerow. This would save on bulk and time, but the clamps and net weigh very little indeed. Edited September 15, 2009 by George1990 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted September 16, 2009 Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 [quote I have though about leaving the poles, net and clamps and wearing full camo, and sitting within the hedgerow. This would save on bulk and time, but the clamps and net weigh very little indeed. another couple of items to aid lightness of gear is a small saw and some clothes pegs (wooden not coloured plastic) you only really need 1 light net to which you can attach pieces of twigs and bunches of grass etc to make a much better hide imho than any net set up, i also use a barrow, more in winter if its cold when a few home comforts make the kit too heavy to drag too far, its one with a ball instead of a wheel which doesnt sink into soft ground mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted September 16, 2009 Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 I think saving up for the Ghillie is the best idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 16, 2009 Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 I think saving up for the Ghillie is the best idea Normal cammo is just as good, I use a "turkey seat" and just sit low down if the field margin is just a 3 strand fence and low weeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted September 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 Food for thought. Thank you one and all. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordofthewings Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 I was chatting with an old freind of mine about this very subject only yesterday, we both agreed that we have become consumers to an industry without really realising it. I can remember what I carried when I started decoying, I had 13 decoys made out of industial machinary belt, twice the size of a pigeon, a slasher for making hides, some twizle in case I needed to tie back a branch, and no more than 50 cartidges. If I needed more then I carried some shot birds back to the car to collect them (I could carry 21 birds in my bag), In those days you seldom even saw a gun being carried in a slip, So no poles, no netting, no rotary, no full size decoys, and no hassle from anyone. LOTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I think saving up for the Ghillie is the best idea Normal cammo is just as good, I use a "turkey seat" and just sit low down if the field margin is just a 3 strand fence and low weeds. H, The "Ghillie" mentioned would be a sturdy fellow capable of carrying the heavy stuff, not one of those Yeti outfits. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl50 Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Standard for me is 10 shell deeks with 3 on wobblers and 2 Hypaflaps on bouncers, seems to work for me and its light Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Normal cammo is just as good, I use a "turkey seat" and just sit low down if the field margin is just a 3 strand fence and low weeds. Henry was sitting like this 3 or 4 yards away from Jim and myself in the hide last Friday with his (white) dog sitting beside him roughly covered. This was with a brambly dry stone wall behind him as a backdrop. The birds were coming in at least as well as before he sat there! Nial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Henry was sitting like this 3 or 4 yards away from Jim and myself in the hide last Fridaywith his (white) dog sitting beside him roughly covered. This was with a brambly dry stone wall behind him as a backdrop. The birds were coming in at least as well as before he sat there! Nial. But it is easier and more comfortable in a hide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 i've been looking at some sort of ghilli suit the jack pyke LLCS system looks good, could do with a bit more green on it though for summer as it just looks like fallen oak leaves to me very brown looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Its surprising how standard cammo trousers and jacket, hat, face mask and gloves , plus keeping still against a good backdrop, works just as well as a ghillie suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Its surprising how standard cammo trousers and jacket, hat, face mask and gloves , plus keeping still against a good backdrop, works just as well as a ghillie suit. I'll second that, was shooting last week, but watching a great *** to my right, he flew straight towards me, and his wing brushed against the back of my neck, realtree jack, cap and face veil as for minimal gear 2 boxes of carts 10 shell deeks 1 bouncer lightweight hide/blind motion decoy shotgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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