So, have to get up at 02:00 (so will be in bed by 22:00 tonight).
Then it's walk and feed the dogs, put them back in the kennels, make a thermos of coffee, and off to meet my two invitee shooters for the day at the garage. Then I will take them down to a field on top of a hill with good visibilipty all round, and set them up, and they SHOULD have a good bag of corvids and pigeon, as its flattened wheat (where I got 83 the other Saturday)
then it's off to my field, for which I have to ford the river, so hope it doesn't rain in the mountains during the night, or that will be out. As I have to ford the river, can't take the trailer, as that would float off and probably drag me downstream, so travelling "light" as it were
two magnet/whirlies, one set up with pigeon, the other with crow. 8 of each pigeon and crow full bodied decoys, with poles to ensure they stick above the crop (im on flattened barley)
also 4 bouncer sticks for shot birds, and two flappers for shot birds
my one man popup hide, a good selection of mouth calls, and 200 cartridges (I can hope LOL), which if need be I can drive hope and replenish.
I will setup crows on one flattened area, and pigeons on an adjacent flattened area, and then the pop up hide about 30-40 metres away, and roughly offset in between the two patterns.
so, here's hoping for a good bag, as when I crossed the river this afternoon to check, they were on it in good numbers, and had stripped several areas completely bare.
If it's a very good day, I might repeat it on Saturday :)
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
So, was up at 02:00 fed and walked the dogs, then made a thermos of coffee, had a mug of tea and two slices of toast with butter and marmalade, then swallowed my mornings ration of pain killers LOL.
Did a bit of Fb and checks the weather forecasts again (yep 5 of 7 said DRY until late afternoon then showers, and two said occasional light showers).
Went and met my two co shooters fro the day, and took them to their field to set up, and then I forded the river and set up on my field.
Stayed dry UNTIL I had got set up, then started raining :( rained total about 45 mins, sometimes heavy, so I got a bit wet LOL
First birds appeared around 06:30 but not much was coming in range. So most of the shots were 40-60 metres, and I shot like a ****.
At 09:30 the other two lads decided to pack up, and I decided I would give it till at least 10:00
Come 10:00 and the odd birds were still coming, so I managed a couple more before starting to pack up at 10:15
Finished the day on 33 corvids and 18 pigeons.
Got home and playing with the dogs, throwing the ball into the field, and noticed a grey crow taking off and landing in the field, not really bothering with the dogs. So went and got the gun out of the motor (still had to unpack, dogs come first) and went to the fence. Couldn't see him, so shouted, but he didn't appear.
Was pretty sure he was still in the field, so opened the gate and went into the field, and headed to where I last saw him. Thought I saw a head so shouted again, and this time he took off, but he only got about 2-3 metres before I dropped him :)
Gave the dog a nice retrieve which she enjoyed :)
So that made 34 corvids and 18 pigeon for the day LOL
I have NO IDEA what the other two scored, but I hope they had a good day :)
BUT, like I said, I shot like a complete ****, and used 72 cartridges for the day (including the last one) :(
Yes, a few I didn't count as kills WERE hit, but didn't drop straight away (if they don't drop, I don't count them, hit or not), but still means I missed a lot :(
Ohhhh well, at least I had a few nice doubles, but most were just singles with single shots. When I missed, I missed big time, with three shots LOL
Ohh yes, forgot, the second bird of the day (first two were pigeons), went over my shoulder, I swung through and squeezed, dropped him on the spot, BUT, the recoil knocked me and the hide completely over onto the side due to the extreme angle I was at in the chair LOL.
Took me a good 3-4 minutes to get out of the hide and reset it all hahahahahaha
With Ronan McAuley and Neil Galbraith
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
If it looks like it might rain and then let up I grab a tarp out of the pickup truck and keep it in the blind with me. If it starts to rain I cover my ammo, shotgun, remote for the e-caller, and bucket that I sit on and head for the truck to wait out the rain.
In your case where you have to sometimes walk in 100 to 200 meters I would get a tarp large enough to cover you and all your equipment that you don't want to get soaked. It might get a little boring just sitting there underneath that tarp but at least you will be dry! I would keep the tarp folded up and if need be just throw it in your wheel barrow if rain is expected, just a thought!
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To listen to this radio talk show go to episode 12, Bob Aronsohn
Bob, I have some tarps, and waterproof clothing, but as all the forecasts said dry, or at the earliest showers in the afternoon, I decided to trust to luck. Bad call LOL
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
