So, got a phone call from one of my farmers today. He sewed two fields of winter barley, one yesterday, one today, and the crows are already ripping into them. So, next few days are gonna be busy again
-- Edited by Redditch on Thursday 25th of October 2012 04:16:02 PM
have a good days shooting Redditch, the winter barley has been a dead loss for crows this year for me, getting the odd few crows down the hog farm, just hope we get some more colder weather to make them a bit more keen to come in to pig pen feeders, will be interesting how the next few days go for you, will look forward to your reports, cheers.
Only got today and tomorrow, as from Saturday night onwards rain is forecast for the foreseeable future But froze last night, and will do again every night for the foreseeable future too, so that makes getting on the fields easier
-- Edited by Redditch on Friday 26th of October 2012 12:37:52 AM
FFS, farmer asks me to control 2 fields, and then turns up with tractors and cows to check them for TB, and sacred all the crows away again. There's hundreds of crows but everytime they are almost in range one of the farm hands makes a sound or moves and wham, they are off again. Only 17 crows up to 11:00.
-- Edited by Redditch on Friday 26th of October 2012 11:42:09 AM
So, could easily have had over 100 corvids this morning if the farmer hadn't been working with all his hands just 30 yards away. Instead finished the day on 28, not a happy bunny
P,us, was supposed to be dry all day, instead it chucked it down three times, each time an hour long, hail, sleet, rain. Fields are back to quagmires again
Well, that was a complete waste of a day for my shooting partner and I. Thought with all the crows that were there yesterday, we would have had a good day, but far from it. NO birds flying, nothing. Lots sat on a farmhouse roof a half mile away, so rang the farmer and asked him to let of a shot see if that would get them flying. Sure enough, he let off two shots and they flew, straight past us ignoring d ecoys and calls. We got one bird apiece this morning till 10:00, then we both called it a day and my mate went back home (90 minute drive). I waited for the postman, and went back on the field at 11:00, but still no birds flying, NOTHING. So packed everything up and came home at 13:00 Again, it was supposed to be dry, instead chucked it down for 20 mins twice, and soaked me again grrrrrr
Redditch, i know how you feel, bloody weather is ruining every thing, they forcast snow on the way as well, so its going to get even more soggy and wet, least you tried and thats all you can do, better luck next time mate.
So, set up at 06:30 this morning, was ready by 07:00 and 07:31 was sunrise, but they were flying already at 06:45, so missed the first flights as was still setting up. Then it was mayhem, missed the first 7 birds, because there were that many I ended up poking at them. Then got two, missed another two, and settled in. Just stopped to wait for the postie, and am on 29 birds down at the moment (missed the 30th as was halfway out the hide as he came over, and caught me by SUPRISE and the sun got in my eyes). Once the is tie has been I'll be back onto the field untill about 13:00, then pack up as heavy rain is due at 15:00
Reddich, you need some elderly woman nearby who never leaves the gaff. Imagine. Get the post delivered to her! No more interruptions, less hassle, more dead crows. Hell, you could even pay her and still save petrol money! :)
So, postie finally came at 11:45, so went back and got another 3, but by then the weather had turned and was blowing a hooley, with result of 2-3 hide poles bent double so packed up at 12:30. Finished packing up, making a cuppa in the kitchen, look out, and must be 100 crows circling the dead ones I left piled on the edge of the field LOL
