Dawn till dusk out in the woods today. Dodging showers and battling with planta fasciitis, it's been a long day!
I started of with pushing the crows off the sheep fields. As it got light they started to arrive and eventually a shot presented itself and down the crow came. I tied it to a birch twig to upset its kind.
Next I went on the long walk to check some maize that has only just been harvested.
It was worth the hike. Lots of pheasants and clouds of pigeons.
I passed on the hen pheasants and walked the hedges hoping a cock bird would break cover and take to the air. Just when I thought it was not going to happen one broke cover just after I had past it. It lifted on the wind wings beating the air and hurling abuse all in a split second.
I didn't rush Ted to the shoulder but took my time. The bird disappeared in the smoke and reappeared on the way back to earth at speed!
The ounce and a quarter of #5s doing a thorough job.
With that accomplished I needed a break so made for a quiet sheltered spot to make a fire and have a rest. I had been on my legs for seven hours.
Jess worked some cover plots for me on the way home but no cock birds were flushed, just hens.
Ted the 10g had two crows, two squirrels and the pheasant. I missed a couple of crows and a pigeon.
I'm hoping to decoy some crows early tomorrow with Ted so I'm not cleaning him. Jess though was filthy and needed a good shower and a belly full of food.
I started of with pushing the crows off the sheep fields. As it got light they started to arrive and eventually a shot presented itself and down the crow came. I tied it to a birch twig to upset its kind.
Next I went on the long walk to check some maize that has only just been harvested.
It was worth the hike. Lots of pheasants and clouds of pigeons.
I passed on the hen pheasants and walked the hedges hoping a cock bird would break cover and take to the air. Just when I thought it was not going to happen one broke cover just after I had past it. It lifted on the wind wings beating the air and hurling abuse all in a split second.
I didn't rush Ted to the shoulder but took my time. The bird disappeared in the smoke and reappeared on the way back to earth at speed!
The ounce and a quarter of #5s doing a thorough job.
With that accomplished I needed a break so made for a quiet sheltered spot to make a fire and have a rest. I had been on my legs for seven hours.
Jess worked some cover plots for me on the way home but no cock birds were flushed, just hens.
Ted the 10g had two crows, two squirrels and the pheasant. I missed a couple of crows and a pigeon.
I'm hoping to decoy some crows early tomorrow with Ted so I'm not cleaning him. Jess though was filthy and needed a good shower and a belly full of food.