A Sea Of Stubble's
Amen to that, I have never been a people chaser, recent events have proved this, something to remember when you try to use me or disrespect me, my door shuts very quickly and will not re open, for I will not allow the same snake to bite me twice.
The Story of The Chicken, The Fox and The NiteSite.
Several years ago I was called to a free range chicken farm, the hens were getting hammered by foxes both by day and by night.
Everything had been tried to keep the foxes out, a small fortune was spent on electric fencing, it was all live as one of my young sports found out.
Two different sets of foxes, ones that attacked by day and ones that attacked by night.
A scaffold tower was erected for me to shoot the daytime ones, this worked very well and I dealt with those foxes very quickly, there is a famous photo of mine with the chickens surrounding the shot fox.
Now I did not deem the tower safe to shoot from at night, so I shot from my truck, rifle at the ready with the NiteSite on scanning the area where the attacks had been the worst hit, all the hens were locked away and bed down.
So there I am sat in the pitch black of the night, the only light is on the screen of my NiteSite.
All of a sudden the hen in the photo came out of the darkness flapping and landing on my arm. Let's just say I think I left a brown stain on my car seat.
Soon after this still with the hen on my arm I shot a fox, I entitled the photo there he is boss that's the fox that ate gladdis lol
Funny stories that can only happen in country sports eh lol
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
Several years ago I was called to a free range chicken farm, the hens were getting hammered by foxes both by day and by night.
Everything had been tried to keep the foxes out, a small fortune was spent on electric fencing, it was all live as one of my young sports found out.
Two different sets of foxes, ones that attacked by day and ones that attacked by night.
A scaffold tower was erected for me to shoot the daytime ones, this worked very well and I dealt with those foxes very quickly, there is a famous photo of mine with the chickens surrounding the shot fox.
Now I did not deem the tower safe to shoot from at night, so I shot from my truck, rifle at the ready with the NiteSite on scanning the area where the attacks had been the worst hit, all the hens were locked away and bed down.
So there I am sat in the pitch black of the night, the only light is on the screen of my NiteSite.
All of a sudden the hen in the photo came out of the darkness flapping and landing on my arm. Let's just say I think I left a brown stain on my car seat.
Soon after this still with the hen on my arm I shot a fox, I entitled the photo there he is boss that's the fox that ate gladdis lol
Funny stories that can only happen in country sports eh lol
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
The Somerset Masonic Shooting Club in Association with The Adair Club are proud to host our annual Targets Shooting Day.
Date and Venue;
The 16th of August 2025.
The Mendip Shooting Ground, Somerset.
10am until finish.
This is for Clay Target Shooting, Air Rifle and Air Pistol Target Shooting.
All welcome Family, Friends and Young Folk.
There is a fantastic cafe restaurant there serving breakfasts up to full meals, kids most welcome.
This is also Gordano Lodges annual Clay Shooting Day too.
If you would like to know more or get in contact with us via the website link below.
www.somersetmasonicshootingclub.co.uk
Date and Venue;
The 16th of August 2025.
The Mendip Shooting Ground, Somerset.
10am until finish.
This is for Clay Target Shooting, Air Rifle and Air Pistol Target Shooting.
All welcome Family, Friends and Young Folk.
There is a fantastic cafe restaurant there serving breakfasts up to full meals, kids most welcome.
This is also Gordano Lodges annual Clay Shooting Day too.
If you would like to know more or get in contact with us via the website link below.
www.somersetmasonicshootingclub.co.uk
The Three Amigo's
The boys are back in town.
A nostalgic pigeon shoot (crop protection) with my Ole Dad and uncle Dave, although I left the boys shooting as I had to get to a physio appointment in a swimming pool.
None the less we had a wonderful time together and our dogs Goose, Tilly and Tess worked brilliantly.
The boys tell me I missed some great shooting, if only the trees could talk eh lads, lol a bit of a family joke.
Feeling happy that we got to spend some quality time together as we used too, it does not happen often enough now days.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
The boys are back in town.
A nostalgic pigeon shoot (crop protection) with my Ole Dad and uncle Dave, although I left the boys shooting as I had to get to a physio appointment in a swimming pool.
None the less we had a wonderful time together and our dogs Goose, Tilly and Tess worked brilliantly.
The boys tell me I missed some great shooting, if only the trees could talk eh lads, lol a bit of a family joke.
Feeling happy that we got to spend some quality time together as we used too, it does not happen often enough now days.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
A Day of Two Halves.
An old farming friend asked me to pop along to see what the shooting club boys could do about a feral pigeon and rat problem in one of his grain barns, before this year's harvest.
Whilst there could I pop over and look at Pappy's Meadow there were alot of pigeons hitting the wheat, I have arranged to go back properly and clear the grain barn with some of my young sports and other fellows from my shooting club.
I popped out on the crop for not even an hour, just me Goose and Tilly my cocker spaniels, an old school side by side shotgun, a box of cartridges, sat bolt upright on a flight line, we picked up a few more than in the pic and I still had half a box of cartridges left, I have arranged to go back and decoy it properly.
The evening was spent at a very dear old friends riding arena clearing some rabbits, Big Mike Joined me with his new toy a 22lr, he had alot of fun using it and here with his personal bag after 2 hours, again we have arranged to go back again soon.
All in all a truly wonderful day of 2 halves.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
An old farming friend asked me to pop along to see what the shooting club boys could do about a feral pigeon and rat problem in one of his grain barns, before this year's harvest.
Whilst there could I pop over and look at Pappy's Meadow there were alot of pigeons hitting the wheat, I have arranged to go back properly and clear the grain barn with some of my young sports and other fellows from my shooting club.
I popped out on the crop for not even an hour, just me Goose and Tilly my cocker spaniels, an old school side by side shotgun, a box of cartridges, sat bolt upright on a flight line, we picked up a few more than in the pic and I still had half a box of cartridges left, I have arranged to go back and decoy it properly.
The evening was spent at a very dear old friends riding arena clearing some rabbits, Big Mike Joined me with his new toy a 22lr, he had alot of fun using it and here with his personal bag after 2 hours, again we have arranged to go back again soon.
All in all a truly wonderful day of 2 halves.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
The Right Tool For The Job.
I am often asked what is my favourite gun?
I answer this quite easily.
I always say use the right size hammer to hit the right size nail in the hole.
I wouldn't use a 308 for rabbit control now would I.
Also Shotgun V Air Rifle for crop protection?
Now the Shotgun can be put to great use as can the air rifle.
This particular day we had several shooting club members protecting crops in the area, this kept the birds moving.
I was on a small field of crops very NR houses, a main road and next to a horse paddock.
The tool for the job here was The Air Arms S510 Ultimate Sporter, with 4 decoys and no hide just say in the hedge line shooting off the primos trigger sticks.
Nice and quiet with no obtrusive bangs of the shot gun, this was a good test of not only my Marksmanship skills but my decoying skills too.
So there's my answer, choose the right tool for the job in hand.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
I am often asked what is my favourite gun?
I answer this quite easily.
I always say use the right size hammer to hit the right size nail in the hole.
I wouldn't use a 308 for rabbit control now would I.
Also Shotgun V Air Rifle for crop protection?
Now the Shotgun can be put to great use as can the air rifle.
This particular day we had several shooting club members protecting crops in the area, this kept the birds moving.
I was on a small field of crops very NR houses, a main road and next to a horse paddock.
The tool for the job here was The Air Arms S510 Ultimate Sporter, with 4 decoys and no hide just say in the hedge line shooting off the primos trigger sticks.
Nice and quiet with no obtrusive bangs of the shot gun, this was a good test of not only my Marksmanship skills but my decoying skills too.
So there's my answer, choose the right tool for the job in hand.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
Axbridge and District Rotary Club
Yesterday I had the greatest honour to attend the Axbridge Rotary Club in Somerset, Presidents hand over lunch.
I was the guest of my dear friend Paul the new President and his lovely wife Sam.
A truly fantastic afternoon spent with inspirational wonderful people, a fine meal was had too.
I was truly inspired to hear how much they had raised for local charities etc and how much work they do for our local communities.
I think I want to know even more now about what the Rotary Club does and possibly help out.
A really lovely day spent with lovely kind hearted people, it was an honour to be there.
If you would like to know more about The Axbridge and District Rotary Club, volunteer or donate, or the rotary club in general, click on the website link below.
https://axbridgedistrictrotary.org.uk/
Yesterday I had the greatest honour to attend the Axbridge Rotary Club in Somerset, Presidents hand over lunch.
I was the guest of my dear friend Paul the new President and his lovely wife Sam.
A truly fantastic afternoon spent with inspirational wonderful people, a fine meal was had too.
I was truly inspired to hear how much they had raised for local charities etc and how much work they do for our local communities.
I think I want to know even more now about what the Rotary Club does and possibly help out.
A really lovely day spent with lovely kind hearted people, it was an honour to be there.
If you would like to know more about The Axbridge and District Rotary Club, volunteer or donate, or the rotary club in general, click on the website link below.
https://axbridgedistrictrotary.org.uk/
Making Memories
This hunt really sticks out in my memory for so many reasons.
Great Squirrel management and Red Squirrel Conservation at its finest.
The feeders were being hammered by the greys, my under keeper said there were no greys in this small 1 acre woodland, I disagreed.
Goose and I sat in a hide at first light and before breakfast we had these, later that day I went back and shot some more.
Goose my Cocker Spaniel had a wonderful time retrieving them all and I had a lovely time using the brilliant Air Arms S510 TDR, pin point accurate just what you would expect from any Air Arms air rifle
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
This hunt really sticks out in my memory for so many reasons.
Great Squirrel management and Red Squirrel Conservation at its finest.
The feeders were being hammered by the greys, my under keeper said there were no greys in this small 1 acre woodland, I disagreed.
Goose and I sat in a hide at first light and before breakfast we had these, later that day I went back and shot some more.
Goose my Cocker Spaniel had a wonderful time retrieving them all and I had a lovely time using the brilliant Air Arms S510 TDR, pin point accurate just what you would expect from any Air Arms air rifle
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
An old permission
I got called in to a very old permission of mine, I have not shot here for a couple of years as I left another air gunner to look after the place as they had nowhere else to shoot.
My old friend called me in saying we have not seen the other fellow for over a year and he does not answer his phone.
Ok it's not a big place but for an avid air gunner there's a fair bit of sport to be had right across the quarry list.
I popped in and while drinking a mug of tea in the landowners garden I shot these rabbits in the veg garden.
Not a bad hour me thinks, now I will go back to looking after this place myself.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
I got called in to a very old permission of mine, I have not shot here for a couple of years as I left another air gunner to look after the place as they had nowhere else to shoot.
My old friend called me in saying we have not seen the other fellow for over a year and he does not answer his phone.
Ok it's not a big place but for an avid air gunner there's a fair bit of sport to be had right across the quarry list.
I popped in and while drinking a mug of tea in the landowners garden I shot these rabbits in the veg garden.
Not a bad hour me thinks, now I will go back to looking after this place myself.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
An impromptu Shoot
A farmer friend had cut all his crops apart from one very small 3 acre field, he asked could I keep the birds off for a day or 2 until he could cut it as he was calving.
I popped along sat on a flight line for a couple of hours right next to my truck, no hide no decoys, just shooting with an old single barrel BSA 12 bore, field craft and the dogs.
Now Goose my cocker spaniel is already a well accomplished gun dog, but his mum Tilly we rescued 5 years ago, now this dog has gone from being totally gun shy to really being interested in a shoot day.
She now works cover and trotts along quite happily on a shoot day.
She had no interest in retrieving anything not even a ball or dummy.
That was until this one pigeon this day, she seemed eager to retrieve a shot bird but Goose was always too quick for her, I put him on a lead much to his disgust.
Next bird down I let Tilly go all by herself, she faffed around alot, but then blow me she picked it up and brought it right too my hand, steady as you like no fuss just here you go dad, I let her retrieve another 9 all in the same way some were good long retrieves too.
What a couple of hours that was we all left the field proud especially Tilly, Goose was not so happy but I let him retrieve the last 2 so he left happy too.
What a wonderful couple of hours sat on the back of my truck
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
A farmer friend had cut all his crops apart from one very small 3 acre field, he asked could I keep the birds off for a day or 2 until he could cut it as he was calving.
I popped along sat on a flight line for a couple of hours right next to my truck, no hide no decoys, just shooting with an old single barrel BSA 12 bore, field craft and the dogs.
Now Goose my cocker spaniel is already a well accomplished gun dog, but his mum Tilly we rescued 5 years ago, now this dog has gone from being totally gun shy to really being interested in a shoot day.
She now works cover and trotts along quite happily on a shoot day.
She had no interest in retrieving anything not even a ball or dummy.
That was until this one pigeon this day, she seemed eager to retrieve a shot bird but Goose was always too quick for her, I put him on a lead much to his disgust.
Next bird down I let Tilly go all by herself, she faffed around alot, but then blow me she picked it up and brought it right too my hand, steady as you like no fuss just here you go dad, I let her retrieve another 9 all in the same way some were good long retrieves too.
What a couple of hours that was we all left the field proud especially Tilly, Goose was not so happy but I let him retrieve the last 2 so he left happy too.
What a wonderful couple of hours sat on the back of my truck
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
The Glorious 12th
The start of the grouse season.
What a memory with my Ole girl Brook on this very day, the poor man's grouse.
Pigeon shooting gives you no finer sport and good eating, presents you every shot in the book and your trusty hounds get to enjoy the day too.
I have shot, hunted and fished all over the world, but there's nothing that beats a good days pigeon shooting.
Except ferreting that is for me my favourite country sport.
What a memory and what a dog Ole Brook was.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
The start of the grouse season.
What a memory with my Ole girl Brook on this very day, the poor man's grouse.
Pigeon shooting gives you no finer sport and good eating, presents you every shot in the book and your trusty hounds get to enjoy the day too.
I have shot, hunted and fished all over the world, but there's nothing that beats a good days pigeon shooting.
Except ferreting that is for me my favourite country sport.
What a memory and what a dog Ole Brook was.
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
Well thats enough for now, the temp gauge is reading 36 degrees and the cold beer is calling me from the fridge, I hope you have enjoyed reading my humble scribbles as much as I have writing and remerging all the adventures.
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