Cooked Crows

[SportingShooter 0]

Within ten minutes of getting home today, I had a phonecall.

One of the farmers who I shoot with was going to spread a little bit of muck and he just rang to tell me incase I wanted to shoot some crows, good man that he is.

I went along within half an hour and he was just about ready to start. I walked along the lane, which is now almost darkened with the new leaves on the trees. After walking perhaps 150 yards, I walked through a gate and into a little field enclosed by trees. I walked along the hedgeline which borders the field which he was going to spread in.

I found a suitable spot which had a hawthorn branch stretching across an opening in the hedge and looking out into the expanse of field. By this time he had begun spreading and I watched as the skies turned black with Crows.

It would take a good ten minutes before the spreader was empty, so I just sat and watched. A Common Woodpecker was hammering away in the tree next to me and I just caught a glimpse of his spectacular plumage. While all this was going on my mind was wandering and not really concentrating, the fact the spreader and tractor was long gone didnt bother me in the slightest.

But then something brought me straight back into consciousness, "Caw, Caww,Caww, in a deep resonating tone above my head. The crows were here and wanted their share of the muck.

I scanned the field and saw a few about 60-70 yards away in a little bunch and thought they would be an easy target but I noticed a trio a bit further say 120 yards. A bit more challenging I thought, so up goes the magnification on the scope, resting the rifle on the brach, I waited until he was looking at me. I aimed at his head and the little bit of drop may get him in the chest. Calmly, I squeezed and that moment hits you again, the moment of the first kill of the day, the moment when time slows down. The trigger broke and that very audible thud brought things back up to speed. Over he went, not a movement. Up went the rest of them. One came back, landed a few inches beside his fallen comrade, so again I set the crosshairs on him but this time I squeezed and nothing changed, bang!, thud!.

Two wily old crows lay motionless on the ground all because they were so enthralled in their meal not to notice me.

No more dared land again and I left with my modest bag which will be going out for bait for Charles.

 

Regards

SS

 

And for those of you who cant bear a story without pictures, here it is, just two ordinary Carrions.

 

[robgriff1 4]

Hey SS, you ought to be writing for the mags!!

 

ps what's a Common woodpecker? D'you mean a Green?

Edited June 5, 2008 by robgriff1

[sounder 9]

well done ss always good to get the call

cheers sounder

[dwighet 1]

Yet another good read SS..