Back up at the shoot

[BenBhoy 4,706]

1 minute ago, shovel leaner said:

It just goes to show that you should always have a rifle with you . I am never on the shoot without my .243 during the day . For the most part it is just propped on the seat next to me doing nothing. I take it to and fro from my house to the truck to the mule and back several times a day . It’s a pain in the arse really. But this morning at literally 8.30 I had already been out and fed and gone home had breakfast and was back out driving across the stubble when my phone went and I’m sat in the mule having a natter , then I looked at my WhatsApp, and Ben had sent a picture of his quad with posts tied on with baler twine , when I saw something that caught my eye . A fox walked out of the hedge at about 200 meters,  followed by about 10 pheasant poults , it was what looked like digging around in the stubble and was oblivious to my presence. I picked up the .243 and chambered a round . All I could see was it’s arse end as it looked like it’s head was down a hole . I thought if  I stick a bullet in the biggest bit it’s going nowhere.  And it didn’t , I dropped it where it was , rooting about in a hole . So after weeks of carrying the rifle about for nothing, it payed off . Never go to the shoot without your rifle is my mantra

Haha how thoughtful to start digging it's own grave!! 

[FOXHUNTER 5,020]

Good result SL , at the end of the day it is just taking the tools of the trade to work with you. Was it caching anything in the hole ?

[shovel leaner 7,648]

3 minutes ago, FOXHUNTER said:

Good result SL , at the end of the day it is just taking the tools of the trade to work with you. Was it caching anything in the hole ?

I had a look in the hole and it was just what looked like a badger had dug it a while back  , I’m not sure what it was after . But I know why the fox was there . I’d shot a fallow buck the other evening and tipped its guts in the hedge right next to where the fox trotted out from . 

[Stavross 13,781]

1 hour ago, shovel leaner said:

The birds look good Stavross. Fingers crossed it keeps dry a bit longer .

I’m really pleased with them, I’d be even happier if people would do what was asked of them, one of the other members was told to fill the mobile drinkers, but never bothered, they were all bone dry when I went up, it’s things like this that could mess it up, all because he just wants to walk around with his lad, taking pictures and putting them on Facebook telling people he’s a gamekeeper

[FOXHUNTER 5,020]

3 minutes ago, Stavross said:

I’m really pleased with them, I’d be even happier if people would do what was asked of them, one of the other members was told to fill the mobile drinkers, but never bothered, they were all bone dry when I went up, it’s things like this that could mess it up, all because he just wants to walk around with his lad, taking pictures and putting them on Facebook telling people he’s a gamekeeper

This is what I have always found with small syndicates , a small few do all the work , which is why I've jacked mine cant be arsed with the hassle anymore. Looking forward to this season just rough shooting with my little dog , more enjoyable and making memories. 

[shovel leaner 7,648]

10 minutes ago, Stavross said:

I’m really pleased with them, I’d be even happier if people would do what was asked of them, one of the other members was told to fill the mobile drinkers, but never bothered, they were all bone dry when I went up, it’s things like this that could mess it up, all because he just wants to walk around with his lad, taking pictures and putting them on Facebook telling people he’s a gamekeeper

I noticed those drinkers . I got some of Collins nets . And they are very good . I use them in the partridge pen . But until then I’ve got them outside one of the pens . I had to go to a funeral, so I asked someone who shall remain nameless to just check them if he was passing and top them up . I got back later on and they were bone dry.  With those drinkers if they are not perfectly level or if they are tilted the wrong way even slightly they will drain via the outlet channel. Just saying it happens with them drinkers, maybe your member made a similar mistake? 

[Stavross 13,781]

8 minutes ago, shovel leaner said:

I noticed those drinkers . I got some of Collins nets . And they are very good . I use them in the partridge pen . But until then I’ve got them outside one of the pens . I had to go to a funeral, so I asked someone who shall remain nameless to just check them if he was passing and top them up . I got back later on and they were bone dry.  With those drinkers if they are not perfectly level or if they are tilted the wrong way even slightly they will drain via the outlet channel. Just saying it happens with them drinkers, maybe your member made a similar mistake? 

Maybe or maybe he’s just a lazy tw*t who’s more bothered about taking pictures and telling everyone who’ll listen that he’s Billy big bollock’s the ultimate keeper

[ianm 2,594]

On 25/08/2021 at 23:04, Stavross said:

New IR, new sticks, new thermal and a new fox ( well, one of this years ) that’s one expensive bitch

it must of been from an early litter as she had a bit of weight to her and was in showroom condition, the shot was 126 yards

"Kin ell" that caller looks like it should be blasting out Bob Marley or something at Maccy Ds carpark.

[Stavross 13,781]

2 minutes ago, ianm said:

"Kin ell" that caller looks like it should be blasting out Bob Marley or something at Maccy Ds carpark.

It a sub woooofer mate, in my younger days that would of been in the boot of my XR2

[shovel leaner 7,648]

18 minutes ago, Stavross said:

Maybe or maybe he’s just a lazy tw*t who’s more bothered about taking pictures and telling everyone who’ll listen that he’s Billy big bollock’s the ultimate keeper

You are probably right

[Dervburner 2,548]

1 hour ago, FOXHUNTER said:

This is what I have always found with small syndicates , a small few do all the work , which is why I've jacked mine cant be arsed with the hassle anymore. Looking forward to this season just rough shooting with my little dog , more enjoyable and making memories. 

Exactly right Mark, some of them seem to think that somebody just opens a box on shoot day and the sky is magically filled with pheasants. They don’t even know how to set a fenn trap or even have any interest in vermin control, “just the game shooting please”, then go home until the next shoot day. Like you though, I much prefer rough shooting, in fact, I’d take a day in the woods squirrel shooting over driven pheasant any day. I’d rather do the keepering and vermin control than the game shooting in that respect. Still, everybody’s different I suppose?

[Stavross 13,781]

I’m the same, game bird shooting doesn’t interest me at all, I might have a go now and then on one of the good drives, or if I haven’t got a guest on that day, I mainly give my shoot days away, sometimes for other shooting ( foxes, deer, rabbits) in different places and sometimes just because I’m a bloody nice chap

[FOXHUNTER 5,020]

Yep , give me rough shooting over driven anyway. I just love raking about for squirrels or magpies. Looking forward to this season with Bert as last season was his 1st and hopefully having some good days...

[shovel leaner 7,648]

I enjoy a driven day . I don’t think I’d pay big money for it   but luckily I get a couple of invites to small friends shoots and also beaters / loaders days at the end of the season on a couple of commercial shoots .

           I was involved in a syndicate shoot ages ago and all the politics and lazy members soured the experience, so I know where a lot of the antipathy towards it comes from . But an invite to shoot birds is always welcome my end

[FOXHUNTER 5,020]

Does absolutely nothing for me standing  in  a field waiting for birds to be driven over me , put me in a hide shooting crows now that's much better