End of season walk
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:03 pm
Well, last day of the season today, so I took a sickie this afternoon, braved the M1 car park and got in at 2:30. Quick cuppa and a rum, grab the 20 bore, couple of hounds and the missus and at the shoot by 3:15 for a last walk round for a cock.
I just wanted to knock down the old cocks on the boundaries that will be a nuisance next season. First hedge was blank, (though I took a good dog fox from there Monday night). Next hedge runs up to a "settled travellers site". Two cocks rattled out halfway up - one either side of the hedge- but not shootable. Took a long walk round to a SSSI, where I managed to be on the wrong side of the hedge for another couple of cocks. Just before we got to some set aside out blew 5 or 6 cocks, lots of noise, so I expect Charlie was in there, as there is an old sette in the middle. Walking up and one of the bitches just came on point when a bird got up almost at my feet. Too easy, so I missed with both barrels......
Back up to where the missus was waiting, with a roll up smouldering in her mouth, round the corner to some rough old hedge behind a couple of houses. The young bitch put one cock out, which wasn't shootable, but I saw another running behind her. She had wind of that and soon got it out ( pointing isn't her best asset). The missus sensibly ducked as the bird looped out behind her and I tipped it with both barrels when it was safe to shoot. The bird crashed in front of a hedge about 120 yards away and then found its feet and got in the hedge. Neither dog could find it, so after 20 mins and with the sun disappearing behind the railway line at the far end of the farm, we walked back down towards my pen. A small covey of Frenchies obliged by flying nicely over me from the field on my left, but I didn't want top put my gun up to them. Another covey burst out of the bottom of the hedge and flew back toward the cover I had released them into last autumn.
We cut across the fields, following the hoofprints left by the Hunt 3 weeks ago and let the dogs work around the pond with the island, where the boss's ashes, along with those of his favourite dog, Buzz, were laid to rest last Spring.
We came through the rat riddled maize cover, out towards the muck heap, and on the SE side is a block of sunflowers.
Both bitches came on strong point, then the young 'un crept in, and out burst a noisy cock. As it passed the setting sun, I swung through, squeezed off the bottom barrel of the Beretta, and the cock threw back his head and thumped into the maize. Feathers drifted down in the red glow, neither dog moved ( a miracle!), then I called the young girl on. She doesn't get much retrieving, and isnt that keen on delivery, but she worked her way through, her stumpy tail flicking, then I could see her stop, and then she was back out, bringing the bird back to me, Her inexperience showing as she kept walking on his tail feathers. Not FT standard by any means, and the dog work probably not to many peoples taste. But the best end to a difficult season, and a good memory to keep.
The missus? she missed it all, rolling another fag by the shoot hut ( we have a 200 yard permanent range)
Tail feathers out for PTN, to go with the CDC from the duck we had on Sunday
Glad this season's finished.
I just wanted to knock down the old cocks on the boundaries that will be a nuisance next season. First hedge was blank, (though I took a good dog fox from there Monday night). Next hedge runs up to a "settled travellers site". Two cocks rattled out halfway up - one either side of the hedge- but not shootable. Took a long walk round to a SSSI, where I managed to be on the wrong side of the hedge for another couple of cocks. Just before we got to some set aside out blew 5 or 6 cocks, lots of noise, so I expect Charlie was in there, as there is an old sette in the middle. Walking up and one of the bitches just came on point when a bird got up almost at my feet. Too easy, so I missed with both barrels......
Back up to where the missus was waiting, with a roll up smouldering in her mouth, round the corner to some rough old hedge behind a couple of houses. The young bitch put one cock out, which wasn't shootable, but I saw another running behind her. She had wind of that and soon got it out ( pointing isn't her best asset). The missus sensibly ducked as the bird looped out behind her and I tipped it with both barrels when it was safe to shoot. The bird crashed in front of a hedge about 120 yards away and then found its feet and got in the hedge. Neither dog could find it, so after 20 mins and with the sun disappearing behind the railway line at the far end of the farm, we walked back down towards my pen. A small covey of Frenchies obliged by flying nicely over me from the field on my left, but I didn't want top put my gun up to them. Another covey burst out of the bottom of the hedge and flew back toward the cover I had released them into last autumn.
We cut across the fields, following the hoofprints left by the Hunt 3 weeks ago and let the dogs work around the pond with the island, where the boss's ashes, along with those of his favourite dog, Buzz, were laid to rest last Spring.
We came through the rat riddled maize cover, out towards the muck heap, and on the SE side is a block of sunflowers.
Both bitches came on strong point, then the young 'un crept in, and out burst a noisy cock. As it passed the setting sun, I swung through, squeezed off the bottom barrel of the Beretta, and the cock threw back his head and thumped into the maize. Feathers drifted down in the red glow, neither dog moved ( a miracle!), then I called the young girl on. She doesn't get much retrieving, and isnt that keen on delivery, but she worked her way through, her stumpy tail flicking, then I could see her stop, and then she was back out, bringing the bird back to me, Her inexperience showing as she kept walking on his tail feathers. Not FT standard by any means, and the dog work probably not to many peoples taste. But the best end to a difficult season, and a good memory to keep.
The missus? she missed it all, rolling another fag by the shoot hut ( we have a 200 yard permanent range)
Tail feathers out for PTN, to go with the CDC from the duck we had on Sunday
Glad this season's finished.