Shooting

[TonyN]

Just had a brilliant couple of days helping out on a local shoot... Whilst it's local to me, calling it a local shoot doesn't really set the scene properly... The last two days were shot back-to-back by a team of old boys. There was a measly 1200 in the bag by the end of the second day...



Been there on and off this season - whilst I'm still building the business some pocket money from loading and beating is most welcome - and a couple of experienced keepers to bounce ideas and names off are a bonus. Also hoping that by helping out I can get one of the rare as hens' teeth January days they let for my roving syndicate. It will, of course, be a FAR smaller day.

Don't realy know killing that many birds is a sport more like a massacre just my opinion
maybe it's to do with seeing between 250 to 300 birds shot where me and my son go.

[Tucky]

Perfect for informal walked up though i'd imagine.... More an armed ramble than a structured shoot day?

That would have probably been better. Also found the local boys were often in the right places (one in particular). The massive flat fields were also quite challenging as I found watching the bird for two mins before it got into range almost always resulted in me trying to 'rifle it' and promptly missing.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Don't realy know killing that many birds is a sport more like a massacre just my opinion
maybe it's to do with seeing between 250 to 300 birds shot where me and my son go.

Not my cup of tea either - to me something around the 150-200 mark is plenty enough if I'm one of the guns. I like to remember the birds that come over me, plus, the shooting itself is only a small part of my enjoyment of a day. Much more important to have a good group of people - that can make up for poor birds, but good birds will never make up for shooting with the wrong people.

That said, if that's what these guys want to do, all power to them (those types of days keep people employed... and, certainly on that shoot, it all goes to a supermarket, so nothing's wasted). Not sure they're who I'd want to be on the next peg to though...

[TonyN]

Totally agree with what your saying simon about the birds coming over, where me and my son have been going for the past 15 years
it's been the same 12 guns the guns know the beaters and the other way round
great laugh every shoot day and we all eat in the same bunker none of this guns in one corner and beaters in another corner
all equal apart from they have more dosh and better vechicles 4 of the guns smoke Cubans as well as 5 of us beaters.
So in all one happy shooting syndicate.

[Emaresee]

Seriously struggling to sit still.... first day of the season tomorrow!! Luckily shaken off a cold too, so a decent stick might just be on the cards!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Looks like it might even stay dry - northerly wind though... Who cares though, first day is always exciting. Have fun!

[TonyN]

Had our second shoot of the season today which went well the total number of birds was 180
cigars smoked by 5 of the guns were monticristo number 4s

I had a partagas serie D3 le 2006
my son realy enjoyed his one a romeo julieta hermoso le 2004
another beater had an epicure 2
another a bolivar extra
another a monti edmundo
In all a very enjoyable day all round
Roll on for our third shoot.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Sounds like a cracking day, nice sized bag and everyone enjoying a good smoke afterwards. Just what makes these days in the field special! Difficult to call the cigar of the day though... Bolivar Extra perhaps, by just a shade from your PSD3...

[TonyN]

Beaters normaly light up just after lunch when another round of sloe gin is served
The guns start from the first drive onwards probably have 2 on the day.

[wolfie]

Sounds like a cracking day, nice sized bag and everyone enjoying a good smoke afterwards. Just what makes these days in the field special! Difficult to call the cigar of the day though... Bolivar Extra perhaps, by just a shade from your PSD3...

Boli Extra my all time favourite ....fantastic cigar

[TonyN]

Boli Extra my all time favourite ....fantastic cigar

Probably why he had a smile on his face after 20 minutes into the smoke.

[TonyN]

Don't think any cigars will be torched tomorrow going by the weather, wet and windy down my neck of the woods
unless they torch up at lunch time in the bunker.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Have had a team cancel a walked up day near Gloucester at the end of the month (Saturday 28th Nov). Was wondering if anyone fancied joining me? Was ?200, but now ?180 - just enough to cover the costs. Should have 30-35 birds. Great shoot and plenty of birds around the boundaries - the host loves to put on a good day, whether it's hedgerow bashing or fully driven.


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[Emaresee]

am already out that day, otherwise I would have your arm off!! gutted!!

[Simon-JG-hr]

That's a bugger! I suppose that's the problem with Saturdays.

Think I may have a whole team that want it, which would be great (keeps things simple, haah). Nothing worse than when people drop out at last minute as it leaves me a bit high and dry. Thankfully, only happened once last year and once this year, so far... This shoot might have an extra day for a bit of walked up at the end of the season, which we could probably take any day of the week. Would be nice to get a few of us together for some hedgebashing, as per previous conversations.