Scranny_Ann
Well-Known Member
.... *coughs* Shooting report soon??? Any piccies?
FAO Ravenwood
- Thread starter Scranny_Ann
- Start date
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
LOL - no pics but......
The weather was perfect yesterday, slightly over cast, still and dry.
On the first drive we were doing a back to back so had to make sure the dogs didn't go too far behind me and we were going to sweep that first drive again after the second.
The birds flew really well and plenty of them. I was marking two guns, both good shots. Flyn lost his head a bit! He was picking, dropping, running to the next one, dropping etc! Toby though was good as gold! We picked 20 birds.
Second drive and Flyn settled - Phew!! I was at the front, again marking two guns and luckily both dogs were perfectly behaved. We always start to the work the dogs straight away, we don't wait until the horn has been blown here, so working your dogs at the front is quite tricky - don't want the dogs bowling over the guns! I think we picked 10 birds on this drive.
Back to the yard for soup (Yukky tomato!) and then off to the third drive. Again I was in a good spot. Flyn set off on a runner in front of the gun, it was hilarious - the bird was zigzagging really fast and poor Flyn flipped right over on one of his turns
- but he got it to a little cheer! The bank we swept has become so overgrown, really thick with brambles and bracken - horrible.
Back to the yard for lunch (I hate stopping for lunch - much prefer to shoot through). Had a nice meal and glass of wine but hung around for nearly two hours!! - Yawn.
Finally the fourth and last drive. This time I went right out the back. The birds came over in thick clouds and it was almost impossible to spot any winged birds, I just had to trust the dogs here.
The guns were pleasant, my dogs were fantastic (and Toby isn't too stiff at all this morning
), the weather was good - a really superb start to the season
Oh and this summer I had one of my carriers mended so it now has a really nice, thickly padded leather and suede backed strap - so comfy, makes such a difference! Going to get the other one done too!
Stupidly I have mixed my dates up and took the day off work to go on Thursday but it turns out I am not in the diary that day. I have also swapped my day on Saturday to go hunting so not out again until next Thursday - oh well, its very early in the season yet!
The weather was perfect yesterday, slightly over cast, still and dry.
On the first drive we were doing a back to back so had to make sure the dogs didn't go too far behind me and we were going to sweep that first drive again after the second.
The birds flew really well and plenty of them. I was marking two guns, both good shots. Flyn lost his head a bit! He was picking, dropping, running to the next one, dropping etc! Toby though was good as gold! We picked 20 birds.
Second drive and Flyn settled - Phew!! I was at the front, again marking two guns and luckily both dogs were perfectly behaved. We always start to the work the dogs straight away, we don't wait until the horn has been blown here, so working your dogs at the front is quite tricky - don't want the dogs bowling over the guns! I think we picked 10 birds on this drive.
Back to the yard for soup (Yukky tomato!) and then off to the third drive. Again I was in a good spot. Flyn set off on a runner in front of the gun, it was hilarious - the bird was zigzagging really fast and poor Flyn flipped right over on one of his turns
Back to the yard for lunch (I hate stopping for lunch - much prefer to shoot through). Had a nice meal and glass of wine but hung around for nearly two hours!! - Yawn.
Finally the fourth and last drive. This time I went right out the back. The birds came over in thick clouds and it was almost impossible to spot any winged birds, I just had to trust the dogs here.
The guns were pleasant, my dogs were fantastic (and Toby isn't too stiff at all this morning
Oh and this summer I had one of my carriers mended so it now has a really nice, thickly padded leather and suede backed strap - so comfy, makes such a difference! Going to get the other one done too!
Stupidly I have mixed my dates up and took the day off work to go on Thursday but it turns out I am not in the diary that day. I have also swapped my day on Saturday to go hunting so not out again until next Thursday - oh well, its very early in the season yet!
Scranny_Ann
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you had a fab day
our first day is 2nd Oct, so excited can't wait! Been out and spent a small fortune on new breeks, shirts, coats, boots, leads for the dogs and a couple of new carriers. Got some luuurvly leather ones lined with neoprene, should be comfy, nothing worse than having 20 birds having off your shoulder digging in as you say!
Kensa's crash course refresher training is coming on brilliantly (so far!) but i'm sure she will be just like Flyn and forget it all on the first drive! I will get some pics of us all to show
I'm like a kid at Christmas i'm counting down the days!!
Kensa's crash course refresher training is coming on brilliantly (so far!) but i'm sure she will be just like Flyn and forget it all on the first drive! I will get some pics of us all to show
merlinsquest
Well-Known Member
Oh no...... is it that time of year already
OH will be off to Dulverton for his shooting fix soon then
Whatever will I do with myself
OH will be off to Dulverton for his shooting fix soon then
Whatever will I do with myself