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The Awesome West Country Game Fair 2015

30/3/2015

The West Country Game fair 2015

By The Ole Hedge Creeper

What can I say I just do not know where to start on this article, The West Country Game Fair was a long time coming for this rough ole country boy, First I had a long hard winter of hunting and shooting with my Young Sports, Then we had The British Shooting Show in February 2015 to do before I could even think about this show.

For me being a proud West Countryman this show to me is the jewel in the crown as it’s my local show, now I hear all sorts of local folk saying oh it’s not like the Midland or the CLA is it? so why should we bother coming to this show? I hear it year in year out usually from the same buggers who I see at the Midland and CLA and they moan about those not being the same.

Yes each year something changes with each show and sometimes it takes some getting used to, as we all love the familiarity of our comfort zone knowing where every stand is year in year out, This year we were back on our old pitch and I must admit last year when they moved us I really didn’t like it but we made the best of it.

Well you can’t but not find our stand as the allure of the calls of the wild are echoing far and wide around the show, I start off with the pigeon and corvid calls then possibly the fox calling and well if the muckers don’t come running then there is nothing else for it, What is that I hear you ask? Well it’s the enchanting sound like a mermaid calling to the sailors at sea.

That is the unmistakable sound of wildfowl and that sweet music that can only be duck and goose calling, a truly magical sound that is completely wild and hypnotic to the ears of a true wildfowler and countryman alike.

It’s a sound I first heard as a young boy with my Pappy and still to this day it sets my heart a racing and a chill down my spine, as I sit here typing this I am thinking of just last night as a Skeen of geese flew right over young sport Jake and I as we were fox shooting and protecting the spring lambs, Both Jake and I froze our eyes straining to see the geese our hearts literally beating from our chests with a passion for wildfowling.

So when I get onto my competition rig and start that enchanting music the muckers come running to the sound of the last wild untamed frontier of the wildfowl hunter, ahhhh some who are not so passionate about wildfowl are not so impressed but that sways me not and makes me call harder with more passion and vigour.

I got there early on the Friday morning with my ole Dad who helped me set up the huge stand we had on this year, it took us 10 hours to build it but exhausted and ready for a good meal we got the stand looking awesome if I say so myself, also for it was under the Pass It On Young Sports banner that some great muckers and sponsors rallied to our flag.

Of course there was me The Ole Hedge Creeper leading from the front with young sport Jake at my heal inspiring other young sports and beyond, I telle boys this lad is going a long way we will see a lot more of this lad in the futer of Field Sports mark my words if we don’t.

Then there was Really Wild Adventures who have a brilliant countryside education platform were they teach everything about Fieldsports/Agriculture/Conservation and everything in between, They also do some amazing hunting trips etc check them out over at www.reallywildadventures.co.uk you won’t be disappointed I telle.

Then there were muckers like the Awesome Jack Pyke and Armex who are major sponsors of Pass It On Young Sports, we also had Matt there from Bristol Survival School who was a massive hit with his bush craft demo and trick or treat wheel, for a treat you got a sweet for the trick you had to eat a bug it amazed me how many people actually said can they eat a bug anyway, especially a private school who were there and we had a sea of school kids all munching meal worms etc like they were eating caviar.

Then there was my ole mucker Robert Eaton a top clay shooting instructor from Shooting UK who was giving free gun mounting lessons on our stand, and last but not least Chev Dewis from CnG marksmanship and Chris Parks from The Daystate Owners and target group was there with Ace the Harris Hawk and Flight the Barn Owl inspiring everyone who came along.

The Countryman’s Diary Magazine and gun Ice were there on our stand too.

We started early doors on the Saturday Morning of the show and well quite frankly from the moment the gates of the show opened we were crammed full all day, at one point we had to stand outside our own stand so folks could get in we were that busy.

The Sunday was exactly the same totally crammed in all day it was that busy the only time we managed to get off the stand was for a call of nature break.

It was really nice to hear from so many muckers old and new with many saying our stand was the most varied and interactive throughout the whole show on both days, I really don’t think the show could of gone any better at all and I will say each and every one of us was totally knackered by the end of the show.

So for me change is often good even if it takes some getting used too, and this year I think the changes Contour Exhibition did really worked so a massive bravo to them, bring on The West Country Game fair 2016 for it’s a jewel in the crown of The West Country and long may she sail tall and proud for the world to see.

For Tiz all proper job muckers I telle and all with a proper West Country colour and hospitality all the way, arrrrr tiz one thing were famous for round these parts, with our fine ciders and ales and the food that is second to none with a welcome you will find hard to beat anywhere you go in the world.

So next year put The West Country Game Fair 2016 in your diary as she is a mighty ship that’s sails along with a hearty cheer for all to see and be proud of like I am.

All the best muckers one and all I hope you enjoyed my scribbles and ramblings, sorry to all that I did not get chance to talk and proper job to all of you that I did, I will see you all on the flip side muckers tiz proper job I telle.

WEST COUNTRY CAME FAIR 2015

By The Ole Hedge Creeper

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A Tale Of The New Lamp and The Rabbit Rifle

26/3/2015

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It all started off whilst at The British Shooting Show 2015, I was having a chat with Jamie on the Deben/Hawk stand all about lamps versus Night Vision etc, and this was when he first showed me the cordless 150 led tracer lamp with red filter attachment.

Now I have heard tales of lamps very similar to this with claims it’s the new breed and going to take over the market and the likes from all sorts of companies etc, so I was expecting more of that really and well quite honestly I never believe a word of it until I get my hands on a product and put it through my field tests.

Then and only then will it get my mucker brand thumbs up seal of approval that has come to be my tried and trusted word honour taken by many a Professional and Novice Field Sportmen alike, That this product has passed my test and actually does what it says it can do, what I have come to call does what it says on the tin, because if I will part with good money for it then you can bet your bottom dollar its good.

So Jamie said here take this one for review if it’s good review it if not tell us how to improve the product, well you can’t say fairer than that can you.

First night back from the show I get a call from a farmer saying can you come and sort this rabbit problem out they are eating so much grass I am not going to have anything left for hay, I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth or turn down some sport either so well of course I said yes I will be there tomorrow night, I also thought this would be a perfect opportunity to try out this new tracer cordless lamp on what really are lamp shy bunnies.

Of course I took along my old faithful lamp and NiteSite Wolf NV unit as back up just in case, I also wanted to try out my new 22 rim fire rifle as well, so a night of un tried and tested equipment was in order down on a farm were the fields have been Knick named the fields of dreams by many a mucker who has joined me to hunt here, The reason it’s called that is that there are more rabbits than you could poke a stick at let alone shoot at.

My Ole mucker Nik joined me in the late afternoon to try his new Webley Raider out he did well bagged a couple of nice bunnies then shot off to put them in the pot, I continued on with my ole Dad being the lamp man, I will tell you boys that new lamp is the shizzle I have not ran it out yet, The red filter is the first one I have ever used were you can still see almost as good as with no filter.

Really impressed with this lamp and the rabbits took no notice of the red beam at all even a fox ignored it, I went on to shoot some really nice rabbits that all ended up in the pot, Even one at 103 yards on the range finder all on the cordless lamp.

It’s so light and versatile, even though I have the night vision units if I can I always love to lamp first, It’s a skill many a new shooter just does not bother with and goes for the NV method, But not me I love lamping traditionally and teach my young sports this skill first.

Night Vision has its place and for me the best one on the market is NiteSite(available from www.reallywildadventures.co.uk), That product really does do what it says on the tin and has accounted for so many lamp shy foxes and rabbits especially with The Ole Hedge Creeper behind the rifle, But like I say the lamping skill must be learnt first and this new lamp has my passion for that pulsing again as no big battery needed just a simply easy to use light weight lamp that actually does what it says on the tin.

The next job we were called to a few nights later was rabbits in a horse place so again I took the lamp with the other gear as back up, I let Dad shoot on this one as the rabbits would not be more than 40 yards away at the most with many of them being 20 to 30 yards on average.

So I assumed the position as lamp man on this hunt, Dad wanted to use the new Walther RM8 I think I may of lost this air rifle to Dad or my Young sports as I hardly get chance to use it myself these days, It really is a cracking little rifle (available from www.reallywildadventures.co.uk) it’s so point able and kills cleanly every time, you know it hits like a steam train and whispers as quiet as a mouse especially with an Andrew Huggett Belita mod fitted to it (available from www.huggettprecisionproducts.co.uk) it so quiet its unfair.

Well Dads old eyes are not what they used to be so he missed one or two rabbits that were sitters he swore they were closer but basically he did not give enough hold over on them, But he did shoot well and bagged some really nice shots all perfect head shots too, Dads never really been an airgun enthusiast he loves his shot guns but this Walther RM8 of mine it has stirred a new passion for him, I can see him buying one the way he is going all he says is when are we going ratting I want to use the NiteSite Walther combo ok? Yes Dad ok is my answer, it’s nice to see him with a new passion and watching his voyage of discovery after all he has done for me all these years both on and of the hunting field.

We finished that hunt with three nice fresh shot rabbits, Dad also piped up saying here I fancy that rabbit carbonara you make so you best make it for tea next week as your mother is out, Dad and cooking does not go well together, ohhhh the stories I could tell you about when Mum went into hospital for a few days when I was a boy.

I came down for breakfast with the smell of disaster filling the air, He nearly burnt the house down and well burnt pigeon breast that was tougher than my rugby boots scrambled egg with the shell still on and burnt black as coal onions was more than me or my brother could bear, we made mum promise never to go in hospital again or let Dad cook for us ever again, I suppose that’s one way I found my passion for cooking and not being poisoned by Dads culinary disasters.

The next hunt I was called back to the fields of dreams as farmer requested my presence, it actually tied in well with picking up a gun cabinet from a friend just around the corner from said farm, That coupled with Young Sport Jake wanting to come for the ride pleading no begging me please can we go shooting even if it’s only for half an hour I am so bored.

Ahhhhhh well as if I ever turn a Young Sport down and well guess what he only commandeered my Walther RM8, I telle one of these days I am actually going to get to use my own gun instead of being donkey boy carrying everything or lamp man, I don’t mind really its bloody good to see a young man out honing his skills and putting into practice all I have taught him.

I got to the farm after getting the gun cabinet Jake went straight into hunting mode working out his stalking skills were the wind was etc and how to approach the rabbits to be in the best places for the chance of a shot, He also took my best binoculars with him.

Farmer and I stood there watching him with a mug of tea in our fists watching Young Sport Jake stalk up on the rabbits who were totally un aware of his presence, Jake drops to his knee behind some reeds and takes the first rabbit with a perfect head shot, it was like watching it all on TV in slow motion I telle, I would say it was getting on for a 30 yard shot with a good right to left crossing wind.

Farmer looked at me and said here you can bring that boy again he can shoot well that young un, Farmer also added I can always tell when you have trained someone to hunt they stalk just like you, Just as your Pappy taught you here on this very farm when you were a boy.

Farmer is an old family friend and close mucker of my Pappy god rest his soal, I have tears in my eyes just writing this as that really is the best compliment I could ever be given, for I am doing exactly what my Pappy asked me to do and that is pass on his teachings.

As we stood there Jake accounted for rabbit after rabbit with my Walther RM8 air rifle and farmer said he could see my smile get wider and wider with ever shot the boy took, the pride was bursting out of me I telle boys as it does with every young sport I train or coach, Jake went on to bag some pigeons and some magpies on the silage pits too, I now know what my Pappy meant when he said no amount of money can buy those heart tokens earned from the Young Sports, That wise old goat was bloody right too for as a young man I never understood what he was passing onto me but now I do as a bit of an old goat myself.

I telle all this new gear and getting to use it with the Young Sports really is a pleasure nay an honour boys, But stand on my word if I say it does what it says on the tin then you can bloody well take it to the bank that it does, All the equipment I use or review has been put through above and beyond its intended use and if I give it my thumbs up then it’s good enough for my young sports too.

Ava good un muckers and catch ye on the flip side in the next set of ramblings and scribbles from yer ole mucker.

Tiz Proper job I telle.

By The Ole Hedge Creeper

www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

www.reallywildadventures.co.uk

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About the Archive

As you will all know I am a busy boy and I am asked post articles and review on behalf of lots people in lots of different places. The main place of course is the
Countrymans Diary,.

This Archive is a central location of all those pearls of wisdom I have let loose on the World, whilst its not bang up to date the knowledge contained in here is worth its weight in gold.

Feel free to share this information its all free and it my pleasure to Pass It On.

The Awesome West Country Game Fair 2015

A Tale Of The New Lamp and The Rabbit Rifle

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