Shooting

[Tucky]

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.

You mean a day trying to hit all the cunning old buggers who have spent all season learning how to avoid instant lead poisoning.

[Emaresee]

Am game for a weekday armed ramble, will be there in spades. Weekends pretty chokka with shootung and children / impending xmas commitments!!!

if we nail a date and you need a cash committment just shout.

[TonyN]

In my opinion you got more chance of hitting all the cunning old buggers who have spent all season learning how to avoid instant lead poisoning
Than you would on a woodcock day.

[Tucky]

My limited experience of woodcock tends to involve hearing a shout of 'WOODCOCK' followed by a few bangs and curses.....usually ending with some old boy who's been shooting since muzzle loaders were considered new fangled calmly raising a gun and dropping it first barrel.

[Simon-JG-hr]

They're cheeky buggers. First one to get up in front of me was on a walked up day a couple of years ago in Yorkshire. Had a chance at a left and right in the space of three steps - on both occasions they were so bloody sneaky that by the time I knew what was happening I hadn't even had the chance to let off a shot. Still a great feeling to watch them skit off.


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[TonyN]

We have 10 guns that come to our syndicate every year, and they are all mustard on them woodcocks
total bag last year was 72 woodcock.
Last year on beaters day me and my son shot one each our first woodcocks we have ever shot chuffed to bits
kept the pin feathers as souvenier.

[Emaresee]

i've shot walked up grouse over pointers out in the wilds, on Lewis in the Hebrides, and while you walk around in the hills hunting out the odd grouse, you often come across woodcock and snipe. Now a lot of people say Grouse are the most challenging game birds, and they do ask a lot of you... but with everyone I've shot with up there the most challenging birds are consistently snipe and woodcock, walked-up, going away.

We've also been lucky enough to take on some driven woodcock and snipe on Anglesey... completely different experience but just as challenging as not shooting beaters is front and centre of your mind as you line up a shot!!

i know woodcock shooting isn't for everyone, but I think its a 'special' thing. Not least of all the little beggars always present themselves perfectly when its a 'no woodcock' day... and then jink and dart like crazy when they are 'on'!!!

[TonyN]

know woodcock shooting isn't for everyone, but I think its a 'special' thing. Not least of all the little beggars always present themselves perfectly when its a 'no woodcock' day... and then jink and dart like crazy when they are 'on'!!!

very true what your saying
from the beating line they look easy but when your standing with gun at the ready bloody hard
last year 2 woodcock got up and went past the line of guns
after about a dozen shots we saw one come down they were going at such a speed jinking and twisting
you realy got to be good bringing them down, like I said in my other post last year got my first with my son after years of shooting.

[TonyN]

Hard going today in the strong gale but a good day all round
60 pheasants 35 woodcock and a partagas serie d3 le 2006 with a glass of raspberry gin bliss.

[wolfie]

any pics Tony

[TonyN]

Sorry wolfie didn't even think about taking one.

[wolfie]

Sorry wolfie didn't even think about taking one.

you should take some Tony of the shoot and one for what im smoking today , interesting hobby you have , wouldnt mind a go myself tbh

[TonyN]

Will try and remember next time wolfie my son is the expert as you know.
Both been doing it now for 15 years son started when he was just 10
guns and beaters all know each other good laugh guaranteed on a shoot day.

[Emaresee]

Our shoot was utterly battered by this storm today... No matter which drive the wind was violently against them! Glad to have just been doing the lunch today! Long day out What was reading as a warm 10-12 degrees but feeling much much colder. Buffeted by the weather, chilled by the high wind, while pheasants scream past on it, laughing at you ... Not always the most fun!!

[TonyN]

Very true being a gun and waiting for birds to come over on a day like today is a lot colder
being a beater you were actualy sweating today hard going through thick brambles
to flush woodcock, last drive of the day woodcock was flying so fast plus the wind behind it folded dead mid air the wind must of carried it 90 yards down
from where it got shot, after 15 minutes one of the springers came back with it not sure who was more chuffed the gun that shot it or the dog finaly finding it.