2021/22 pheasant season.....

[Sausagedog 7,381]

.....has started.

Nothing trad about my pheasant shooting here boys! I like to use frontstuffers, flintlocks especially and I care not whether it is flying or I've stalked it!

I still had a loaded flintlock from squirrel shooting the other day. Don't worry it was made safe. Plugged vent, flint out. Flag in muzzle.

I got up in the dark and went and waited for a fox that sometimes I light up but disappears rapidly.

I left it a few squirrels as bait the other day but they ain't hungry this time of year.

It never appeared at an ancient fox trail I have had much luck with over the decades so I refreshed the prime in the pan again ever worrying about a misfire from a damp fouled gun, and in now full light headed over a hill to where I had seen a few birds last week.

On top of the hill is a mature oak and holly wood. The other side has some winter barley sprouts and yep there they were, two cocks and about five hens.

I watched which way they were going and thought I may get a chance if I move down the wood quickly. I only just got in position in time. The wind helped me by blowing the leaves in front of me but them hens were now only 10yds away. These were mature birds, seen it all, one wrong move now and it's game over!

Finally the large cock bird was clear for a shot at something like 27yds. I took aim, clat, whoosh, fizz, crackle! No discharge.  I flinched anticipating recoil from a hangfire, it didn't happen.

Flintlocks and rain lol, a true test of gun craft! I held my nerve. Amazingly the bird started feeding again after looking at me puzzled as to what he had just witnessed.  In a swift and fluent motion his assassin reached for the powder flask, reprimed the pan, returned the flask, got the prick, pricked the vent, encouraged prime into the vent. Cocked the lock, took aim again and BOOM!

At last, the bird was down, the season has started.

Now I can start eating well again instead of eating all this expensive store bought crap my Mrs brings home!

[Stavross 18,256]

This is what I’ve been missing, nice one Bernard

[FLATTOP 5,228]

Great write up SD you had me gripped what’s not to like about smoke fire explosions noise and good grub at the end of it

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Enjoyed reading that , you did better than me . I only saw 1 bird this morning which I dropped but it was a runner and couldn't find it. They know its opening day of the season as last week on the same ground when out with the rifle I put up around 20 , but there is always another day