The hips don't lie!

[Britsmoothy]

COVID last week has left me with a legacy of aches and pains. Every bone including teeth hurt still and it's getting me down, the hips especially hurt! Everything is hard and the drive to get out is waining, especially to go get this season's first pheasants.
Well after a long night out with modern gear on varmints and aching all over for it the next day I decided a gentle waddle into some wild pheasants on my patch with some primitive hardware and no tech was in order!

It's been so long since I've been out with this flintlock I felt naked! No thermal, no optics, no binos, just a knife, flint and black powder!
At first I was rushing and not looking but I soon got back into the rhythm. Slowed down and started to watch more, move less. Then I started to enjoy myself with the simplicity.

Now this ain't no flying bird hunt like most of the UK conduct pheasant hunting, no, it's stalking them only these birds are not stupid, they are wild. All I do is keep the foxes down and they breed. I keep the hens but take the cock birds. I do wing shoot them but occasionally with the flintlock trade gun put the sneak on for a sustainance bird or two.
Well I got me my first two of the year. Considering the rain and damp I did suffer a couple of miss fires but after knapping the flint got fire.
Loads were 4f and #5 shot.
Anyway the pictures oh and my favourite snitzl coming up .

 

[waksupi]

Love hunting pheasants! Great eating!
I thought my hips were going bad, so had them x-rayed. Turned out to be bursitis. Cortisone shots had me ready to dance. So now I can actually walk fairly long distances again. Now if they could only do something with sciatica....

 

[wiscoaster]

And I'll bet you were feeling a whole lot better too, after getting out there and bagging those birds!!

 

[Britsmoothy]

And I'll bet you were feeling a whole lot better too, after getting out there and bagging those birds!!

I did indeed, I even smiled when I noticed the pain had gone momentarily!

 

[2 shots]

nice ass always but where is jess??. wish i could get out half as much as you do

 

[Stykbow]

nice ass always but where is

@Britsmoothy looks like you’ve got an admirer!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Glad to read that you are up and about! Being sick, especially on opening day of a season, isn’t fun. (I am sympathetic because I forced myself out this morning - first day for deer Muzzleloading- even with my flu. Had a lovely morning but no show game.)
Best wishes on your improving health and continued great hunting!

 

[Percy]

Well done Brit. Wish we still had pheasants here. Thanks for sharing the pics. Glad you are feeling better

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Well done Sir. Back in the 60's our state stocked and released Ringnecks and I very much enjoyed hunting them with my father in the fall. We could walk them up in the tall grass fields without need for a dog. It was a great time. They would rise up with a cackle, pause briefly and just long enough to shoulder and fire before departing.

Unfortunately, it seems the birds don't survive the winters here very well on their own. The state stopped stocking many years ago and I have not hear a rooster crow in ages. There are still a couple of locations where birds are released but they are not convenient to visit and its just not the same.

 

[deermanok]

Great hunt.

 

[aussie pete]

COVID last week has left me with a legacy of aches and pains. Every bone including teeth hurt still and it's getting me down, the hips especially hurt! Everything is hard and the drive to get out is waining, especially to go get this season's first pheasants.
Well after a long night out with modern gear on varmints and aching all over for it the next day I decided a gentle waddle into some wild pheasants on my patch with some primitive hardware and no tech was in order!

It's been so long since I've been out with this flintlock I felt naked! No thermal, no optics, no binos, just a knife, flint and black powder!
At first I was rushing and not looking but I soon got back into the rhythm. Slowed down and started to watch more, move less. Then I started to enjoy myself with the simplicity.

Now this ain't no flying bird hunt like most of the UK conduct pheasant hunting, no, it's stalking them only these birds are not stupid, they are wild. All I do is keep the foxes down and they breed. I keep the hens but take the cock birds. I do wing shoot them but occasionally with the flintlock trade gun put the sneak on for a sustainance bird or two.
Well I got me my first two of the year. Considering the rain and damp I did suffer a couple of miss fires but after knapping the flint got fire.
Loads were 4f and #5 shot.
Anyway the pictures oh and my favourite snitzl coming up .View attachment 266051
View attachment 266052
View attachment 266053

Wonderful images!! Thanks for sharing.

Pete

 

[Brokennock]

Glad you're on the mend my friend.
I find time afield the beat therapy for any ailment.
Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[MittenJim]

COVID last week has left me with a legacy of aches and pains. Every bone including teeth hurt still and it's getting me down, the hips especially hurt! Everything is hard and the drive to get out is waining, especially to go get this season's first pheasants.
Well after a long night out with modern gear on varmints and aching all over for it the next day I decided a gentle waddle into some wild pheasants on my patch with some primitive hardware and no tech was in order!

It's been so long since I've been out with this flintlock I felt naked! No thermal, no optics, no binos, just a knife, flint and black powder!
At first I was rushing and not looking but I soon got back into the rhythm. Slowed down and started to watch more, move less. Then I started to enjoy myself with the simplicity.

Now this ain't no flying bird hunt like most of the UK conduct pheasant hunting, no, it's stalking them only these birds are not stupid, they are wild. All I do is keep the foxes down and they breed. I keep the hens but take the cock birds. I do wing shoot them but occasionally with the flintlock trade gun put the sneak on for a sustainance bird or two.
Well I got me my first two of the year. Considering the rain and damp I did suffer a couple of miss fires but after knapping the flint got fire.
Loads were 4f and #5 shot.
Anyway the pictures oh and my favourite snitzl coming up .View attachment 266051
View attachment 266052
View attachment 266053

COVID last week has left me with a legacy of aches and pains. Every bone including teeth hurt still and it's getting me down, the hips especially hurt! Everything is hard and the drive to get out is waining, especially to go get this season's first pheasants.
Well after a long night out with modern gear on varmints and aching all over for it the next day I decided a gentle waddle into some wild pheasants on my patch with some primitive hardware and no tech was in order!

It's been so long since I've been out with this flintlock I felt naked! No thermal, no optics, no binos, just a knife, flint and black powder!
At first I was rushing and not looking but I soon got back into the rhythm. Slowed down and started to watch more, move less. Then I started to enjoy myself with the simplicity.

Now this ain't no flying bird hunt like most of the UK conduct pheasant hunting, no, it's stalking them only these birds are not stupid, they are wild. All I do is keep the foxes down and they breed. I keep the hens but take the cock birds. I do wing shoot them but occasionally with the flintlock trade gun put the sneak on for a sustainance bird or two.
Well I got me my first two of the year. Considering the rain and damp I did suffer a couple of miss fires but after knapping the flint got fire.
Loads were 4f and #5 shot.
Anyway the pictures oh and my favourite snitzl coming up .View attachment 266051
View attachment 266052
View attachment 266053

Well done!

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

britsmoothy.....excellent!

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

Last year was a bad year for me. I got Lymes twice and Covid once. I still get flare-ups, and probably always will. Semper Fi.

 

[sheriff john]

Thanks for posting. I enjoy your posts/photos. I enjoyed hunting pheasants when I was younger. We do not have them where I live. Barely have quail.

 

[oldwood]

Brit. , I'm old , but have unbelievably good memories of my Dad and I , hunting ringneck's and grouse with English Setter dogs. When you post photo's of your dogs , and your hunting success , They send me back to those glorious times. Thank you Sir..

 

[Old Timer 48]

Glad that you are OK & healing Sir! I hope that the Mrs. & Jess are OK.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Thanks for posting those pictures, they take me back to when my Dad and I hunted together. There aren't any pheasants around here any more, sad, but you made the day!

 

[zerosprk]

EXCELLENT!!!
COVID sucks to be sure. I'm glad that you got on top of it. Your write-ups are awesome. I thoroughly enjoy reading about your various adventures!