Bad Day Shooting Miss. Magie

[BenWearden 1]

So I awoke early this morning hoping to get a full morning shooting. Had my usual porridge oats, most if which ended up down myself in my tired state, and I geared up to head out.

I hit my permission shortly after 8am and set up in a slightly dispersed tree row- leaving me ample room for a clear field of view, but yet ample coverage. It wasn't long before I had my first target of the day, a pigeon sat on a concrete field division fence around 40 yards away. I took aim, a released the trigger, ending in a beautiful plume of feathers. The bird fell over the fence into the next field which I also have permission for- I knew it would be difficult to find the bird.

Regardless, I set out on pursuit. Climbing through brambles, and thick foliage, hacking away at any thorns that got in my way. Could I find the freaking bird? Not a chance. I accepted my loss, full of thorns, and sulked back to my shooting spot.

A few magpies arrived, but being unable to get a clear shot, I failed to down any.

2 hours into my shoot, a crow landed on a branch about 25-30 yards away, but this time a moderate wind had picked up heading across my shooting area, according to the local weather on my phone, the wind was 11mph, but it was coming in leaps and bounds so I didn't think much of it.

I waited for the wind to settle, lined up a perfect shot, and as soon as I pulled the trigger a gust of wind arrived slightly pushing my shot off it's intended course. I still achieved a hit, but it was an incredibly off hit. The shot connected with the back of the bird, knocking it out of the tree and into the thick foliage below.

I quickly loaded another shot to put the poor bird out of its misery, and flew across the field quicker than what Usain Bolt could complete the 100m sprint. It took me a good few minutes to locate the bird, but when I had a safe shot lined up, it jumped off the foliage it was on, and down into the undergrowth. I finally tracked its movements into a small rabbit run that lead under the fence as to where my prior bird dropped.

 

Once again, I scuttled back into the other field, trashing through the branches and brambles and successfully located the bird shaking in the run. I half contemplated withdrawing my knife and striking it through the chest of the bird, instead I placed a shot cleanly in the back of its skull.

 

It's safe to say I didn't take a picture of the bird, and it wasn't a kill to be proud of in the slightest. I quickly packed up my things and called it a day.

I'd rather return on a more stable day that inflict suffering on anymore animals.

 

It was NOT an enjoyable shoot.

Let's hope tomorrow is much better.

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

Bloody hell mate you sound traumatised!!

Might sound cold and obviously i dont want animals suffering.. but shit happens! Try not to take it too bad.

Inever used to shoot in the wind for this same reason.. but after a bit of target practice in the wind im starting to get to grips with how it affects my pellets.

I wont take a shot unless im 100% sure its going to hit where i want it to.

[jeemes 4,484]

If you are going out shooting things,then you are going to inflict suffering on animals. Why do you think they have pickers up on pheasant shoots? Lots of birds are injured on driven days.The best you can and should do is follow up and finish the job which you did. You can attempt perfect kill shots every time but you cant ever hope for 100% rate. Just shooting at something that moves is enough to complicate things without the wind, twigs or other variables. You did the right thing shooting it again in the head. Otherwise hold it firmly around body and wings and sharply crack its head off the toe of your boot. You wouldnt kill a crow quickly with a knife.Hands on is best.

[gosling1960 191]

Nice read mate, and im sure it happens to us all (in real life) anyway.

[fxshooter 18]

We all have our bad days mate, and come home pi***d off, but you just have to keep at it.

You did the right thing by putting the bird out of its misery. My shooting is all over the place if its windy so on those days I will just practice on paper or spinners.

Atb

Russ

[j j m 6,539]

Its happened to uss all at some point you done the right thing

[BenWearden 1]

It was more annoying that I had such a beautiful shot lined up.

All hunters respect nature, it's a true shame to see them suffer. It's part of the game though I guess!

I bet you guys can spot a beginner from miles away!

[Daz39 962]

Ben don't stress. The beginners (like me) just admit to more than the old hands! You think the guys on here with years and years of experience don't have similar shots? You can't plan for everything.

[bigmac 97kt 13,787]

I shot a crow once and just as i let the pellet go it moved and it hit in the wrong place,its not all ways the weather to blame iv been shooting for years and its happened to me a few times i looked for the crow for over half an hour and gave up and went back to my shooting spot when it jumped out in front of me so it was quickly dispatched with a shot to the head it happens to us all a lot of lads get sh*t for admitting that they have dun this off some others but if the truth was told ,how meny times has it happened to them but they just don't say eny thing about it atvbmac :thumbs:

[BenWearden 1]

Would a CO2 pistol be useful for close range follow up shots?

Everyone has there bad days, it's inevitable. It's a true pain in the arse when the weather is to blame. I pray for truly calm weather for all hunters in 2014!

Does this forum organise member meet ups by any chance?

[BenWearden 1]

I also suspect the worse to do would of been to let the animal suffer in pain.

The best of us track the animal down till it is located and put the poor fella/female out of its misery.

I guess that gives us a few brownie points?!

[walshie 2,804]

Depends what animal you're hunting. Carrying a pistol around with you just for that is a bit of a faff. It's easy enough to neck most things if required, but if you can't do that, shoot it again with your rifle.