Right And Left Or Was It Left N Right

[gonetoearth 5,144]

Id been sent up to the boundry platation to set some traps we had been loseing some poults in some out lying pens. It was the secound week in sept , i ran a traping line virtually all year round but needed to rebuild some tunnels one was made out bricks and stone that the tenant farmer piled up while plowing. it was monumental Id gone a bit istambard kingdom brunel in its constrution but it had proven successfull. During the spring as the hanging. Stoats and weasels proved i Got a bollocking for that but thats another tale any ways happy as a pig in shite i was like fred dibner placing stones. , out the corner of my eye seen a range rover coming down the track towards me, only one person i knew had a rangey DR B. The shoot captain. back in the 70s the were the big square ones built like tanks he kept coming i sat down and waited thinking whats he doing here. First partrige shoots two weeks away , he stopped and disembarked put on his tweed pork pie hat and walked down the ride Then i heard a voice behind me saying that fooking blends in that don't it stood over me pride and joy constrution. No one will see that will they !!!!!! we had a problem with walkers. Stealing traps. The keeper. Hated the boundry as people would stray Of the public paths and roam in the woods make it smaller he said , DR B had heard the coversation and walked over after noon he said he was old school was the doc a gent. And a very good shot. Are we still going yes doctor said the keeper. He invited a select few duck flyting being close to The coast we got all manner of wild fowl my fav being the pinks which flood the area and are a nuisance to the farmers. Spoiling carrots and spuds alike, me i loved the geese, , The keeper turned to me and said you coming I hestitated for a second YEH i did not own a gun and never had a ticket i was in my early teens , The doc. Said use one of mine. , what time said the doc Get back here for 6 the keeper replied the doc. Staring at my tunnel. Said. Is it a bench.!!!! The keeper walked away. Shaking his head knock it down , We walked back to his house through the wood checking feed bins etc had a cuppa and a sarnie Then into the shed for deeks I loved that shed it had been a bothy when the estate was grand two under keepers would have lived in it back in the day now it was a feed store and traps ,deeks , and all manour of things to keep me entertained. up stairs was the beaters room were we had stew and sarnies on shoot days. Bring all the duck deeks he said , They were hanging from the rafters. I got them down and put them in grain sacks took them out and loaded them in the back of the lanny. Get the spanials. He had two one old one and a secound season bitch. That was like a clock work mouse the kennels were old but in good nick built when the keepers house was built. Proper brick built with railings ,

Got tess and the new one and put them in the back pulled the flap down and went back in the house. Guns were on the table and carrtriges. Another lanny arived fred c. Fred was a quite a man of few words soffotly spoken but knew his stuff he had been brough up in the shooting world and was a traditionalist. He walked in off came his cap. Wiped his feet and sat down. Allright fred he nodded. The keeper and fred were close alright fred. The docs meetining up there les and ac. Are coming. A booming voice came through the door qaucking Come on it will be dark. Said les. We all piled in and of we went. The short ride to the moss It was still warm no need for coats and the stuble was crackling under the wheels as we drove down to the ponds. The doc had parked next to the wood and was walking towards us Carring two gunslips. We stopped and i gatherd the sack of deeks Witch were all tied together in order so when thrown out on to the water would look like a group feeding there are four sets of ponds across the moss. I hurried to get the deeks set up and ran back you go with the doc said the keeper. , the doc passed me a gun slip. To my delight and a hand full of cartriges off we walked . flighted before he ask yes never shot anythough never shot a duck i said ahhhh. You will he replyed we got in either end of the pond and waited for dusk. The sun soon dropped out to the west i could see flights off duck dropping in to the big wood But over us nothing. In the distance geese were calling passing over but out of our range and any way we were after ducks and ducks alone , theres nothing more. Lonely than the sound of geese , The after burn of the sun was fizzerling out and twilight was upon us. Two shots rang out to my left. Then another then two more Then a splash from a dog jumping in to the next pound i was staring left then right my eyes had become acoustemed to the twilight. Then in they they came like a shower of rain teal. Up went my borrowed gun bang to my left and then away to my right bang splash one hit the water thud one fell onto the stubble. Bang another shot went off as i re loaded. In they came again bigger targets this time mallard bang i dropped one Bang bang to my left the doc had hit two , then the silence fell once again we sat for a while Nothing came. Voice shouted get the deeks , I stood up as fred arrived any down yeh three four no six i said. The doc appeard And said RIGHT and a CLASSIC LEFT fred. Who you doc. No turning to me and shaking my hand well done well done !!!

Edited September 29, 2013 by gonetoearth

[smithie 2,443]

you got a few little stories havent ya .. might of made a nice little book but never mind its our gain

[gonetoearth 5,144]

you got a few little stories havent ya .. might of made a nice little book but never mind its our gain

. These never made the book lol