OT Last Pheasant shoot of the season (Pics)

[gamekeeper]

GK junior was invited to the last shoot of the season on Saturday.


Some of the Guns waiting for the next drive.

The new keeper with a Fox that made the mistake of breaking cover

A Jay that junior shot.

Some of the bag, junior shot six Pheasants and one of four Jays.

Monday morning we woke up to a bit of snow, nothing like we used to get on the Welsh Border but enough to cause chaos down here.

The keeper asked us if we wanted to shoot Wood Pigeons coming in off the Kale to roost.
Junior shot more than I did but that's nothing new. we forgot to take any photo's while we were shooting, to busy shaking off the "Cabin Fever" We also saw a lot of Roe Deer in the woods.

[AmBraCol]

Thanks for posting that. It's a far different culture than I've grown up in, but I enjoy hearing (and seeing) about it. How big is that jay? And WHAT is a jay? The one's I know in the US of A are not considered game birds and are fairly small - especially as compared to a pheasant.

[gamekeeper]

Paul, the Jay is a small bird, about the size of a Dove but a member of the Crow family, it's considered vermin due to it's egg stealing in the spring. We certainly don't eat it but they are challenging birds to shoot and the keepers are always glad to see them in the bag.

[J Miller]

Thanks for posting the pics. I enjoy them immensely.


Joe

[deerwhacker444]

The one's I know in the US of A are not considered game birds

That's what I was thinking. I we get caught shooting jays, that would be big time fines.

Thanks for posting the pics. I enjoy seeing what you guys are doing on your island.

[Borregos]

Good post game keeper, always enjoy pictures of the old country

[Bigahh]

Very nice pictures, Thank You for sharing! Looks like some very nice, thick cover for the Pheasants to hide in.

[Mich Hunter]

Looked like a hell of a good time. I wish I could have been there

[Jaguarundi]

Luv your hunt'n stories.Keep'm com'n Gamekeeper.

[gamekeeper]

Now the Pheasant season is over we should be able to roam around the estate (about 2000 acres) and thin out the Rabbit and Squirrel population a bit. The new keeper does not like his woods disturbed during the season so we have to suffer a few months of Cabin Fever.
There will also be organised vermin shoots where several guys with shotguns walk the woods shooting Crows, Magpies and Jays, Squirrels and if we see 'em Foxes. Its mostly a waste of time bag wise, as Junior and me seem to shoot far more in a day by stalking quietly with a rim-fire and a shotgun. My Savage 24 has proved to be a very useful tool, I'll have to look out for one in 20GA .22 for GK junior.

[Borregos]

keep us posted on the vermin shoots

[gamekeeper]

keep us posted on the vermin shoots

Pete, Last Saturday I bought a cheap old O/U in 12GA (Maroccini) just for the vermin drives. I can't get any 16GA shells for my hammer-gun that are suitable for Fox and if I turn up with my Remington 28GA the guys fall about laughing.

[Ysabel Kid]

Darn slow connection - going to have to wait to view this one until I get back!!!

I'm sure GK Jr. had a "blast"!

[2ndovc]

Great pictures!

Looks like a great time!


jb

[Old Ironsights]

Looks like you are allowed to shoot hens as well as roosters?

[rjohns94]

thanks so much for the post. I really enjoyed it. When I was a lad, I have to admit I shot many Jays with my slingshot and bow. didn't know then that you couldn't. I am now reformed of my evil ways. I think I got the idea from seeing Fred Bear photos of Jays and magpies run through in his early articles and books.

[GANJIRO]

Are those Red Leg Partridges and Woodcocks hanging with the Pheasants? I did not know they had these birds on your island. We have Chukars here but they live prefer dry barren terrain unlike their cousins the Reg Legs. I wish they had Snipe and Woodcock here. I miss Pheasant hunting on Maui, I had some exclusive rights to my landlords farms which he considered pests especially when they would perforate his Zucchini crop. Land prices escalated so quickly on Maui in the 21st century that this once struggling farmer sold his farm and became a multimillionaire overnight, and retired in his mid 50s. He now works part time as a agricultural inspector at the airport so he can have his medical coverage as well as keep from getting bored, and golfs the rest of the time. His years of 4 a.m. wake ups and getting in after dark are finally over and I'm very happy for him even though I lost my great pheasant hunting grounds forever.

[Nath]

First clas report GK&GK junior
Looks like the coverts were not to quiet then!
Nowt wrong with a 28 for fox, just get that pattern on him when he is sideways and he'll be down soon.
Bigger gauges can srew up on fox just as easy and you have a third shot too!
Good pictures.
I used my M/L on my beaters days
Nice looking country and I'm glad the cabin fever is subsiding

Nath.

[gamekeeper]

Ji, yes we have Red Legged Partridges and Woodcock over here, although our woodcock is a slightly different species to the one in the States.

The English Partridge is nowhere near as common as the Red Leg. I can remember when nearly every field had a covey of English Partridges, now they are quite rare in some parts of the country.

[gamekeeper]

Nath, I would be happy to take out Charlie with a 28GA, I've shot quite a few with a .410, in fact the first Fox junior saw me shoot was with a .410 but you know what these old boys are like, if it ain't a 12 bore its only a "girls gun", I try to tell 'em they only have 12 bores cause they need all the help they can get

OI, yes we do shoot hens, most shoots rely on reared birds instead of wild ones. There is normally a rooster shoot or "Cock Day" at the end of the season where we don't shoot hen birds unless they offer an exceptional sporting shot.

[GANJIRO]

Thank you for the information especially on your English Partridge, got me curious so I found this:

Looks very similar to the US Mainland introduced Hungarian Partridge:

[Nath]

[quote="game keeper"]Nath, I would be happy to take out Charlie with a 28GA, I've shot quite a few with a .410, in fact the first Fox junior saw me shoot was with a .410 but you know what these old boys are like, if it ain't a 12 bore its only a "girls gun", I try to tell 'em they only have 12 bores cause they need all the help they can get

They use to mock me for turning up with a M/L, but not any more! Last Wednesday a gun asked about was I worried about birds flying over as I was loading, no I said. On the next drive a few birds flew over him as his gun was open!
Best send that Remmy 870 to me as I can admit to being in touch with my feminine side nowadays

I can remember greys being everywhere, I use to sneek after them with my air rifle in my early teens, blasted preditors I blame and socialism!

Happy shooting you two

Nath.

[Borregos]

game keeper, glad you got a 12ga but a 28ga sounds like a lot of fun (challenge), I'm currently looking for a .410 for the fall grouse this year instead of the 20ga

[gamekeeper]

game keeper, glad you got a 12ga but a 28ga sounds like a lot of fun (challenge), I'm currently looking for a .410 for the fall grouse this year instead of the 20ga

I love the little Remmy Express 28ga, I had a Rossi single barrel with full choke and boy could that gun kill too. I also like the .410, I seem to have better results with Mod. choke and the two & half inch shell rather than the three inch shell. but I use it mainly in thick woodland on Squirrel, so maybe the magnum shell would be better on Grouse. Let us know how you get on in the Fall.

[Nath]

What did your son use on the day Gamekeeper?

Nath.

[gamekeeper]

Nath,
My son used his Parker-Hale 12ga O/U but I've got to watch him, he's after my Remmy 28ga!

[Nath]

I've got no chance then!

Nath