Of all the arguments for not getting vaccinated, the ability to cast a fishing rod or point a gun must rank among the least common. I worried that the injection, like last time, would deaden my skinny arm, making it harder to cast and shoot. The seatrout rivers of west Wales require precision casting, not to mention the need for dexterity in a pigeon hide.
Nevertheless, when my appointment came around, I duly ventured to our local leisure centre for a second dose of Pfizer’s finest. Predictably, my arm became painful, so I left it hanging feebly by my side while I cursed Covid. How was I going to keep on top of the pigeons?
Miraculously, the pigeons seemed to realise I was unavailable for shooting and ceased feeding in numbers. In Pembrokeshire, we have reached a lull in the summer. The winter barley and wheat stubbles are two or three weeks old and unattractive to pigeons, whereas the standing crops have enjoyed calm weather with relatively little rain and wind. The pigeons had temporarily halted their feeding frenzy and were waiting for the combines to roll again. I was at a loose end. But not for long. An idea had popped into my mind that had little chance of success but would make for an interesting experiment nonetheless.
What if, instead of trying to shoot birds as they came into a field to feed, I set up under an established flightline and tried to shoot birds on their daily countryside meanderings? Given the loyalty pigeons can have to a flightline, the experiment warranted at least an afternoon.
This story is from the September 08, 2021 edition of Shooting Times & Country.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 08, 2021 edition of Shooting Times & Country.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside