P.S. to Kerryman:
You've never shot in a real "live pigeon match". Anybody that says a feral pigeon driving straight out of the box sizzling along 2 feet off the ground headed for the fence isn't a tough target has obviously never done it. A pheasant flushed from cover at reasonable range doesn't even begin to compare. A high curling driven bird is tough for certain but a completely different kind of shooting as it's usually at longer range and you see it coming hence are able to get ready. The pigeons spring from random traps (either five or seven in number) and you've got to get them killed before they get over the boundary which is about 35 yards. It's quick, almost snap shooting, and very tough when you've got good birds.
Destry
Destry,
You are quite right – I’ve not shot a “live pigeon match” as they have been illegal here for decades, along with dog and cock fighting. Both the latter still occur, available if you know the wrong sort of people, but I do not partake. The type of live pigeon match to which you refer is long gone and cannot be compared to pushing cheap birds out of a box, which is the comparison I made.
I agree with your comment on pheasant speeds - I regard pheasant as lumbering bombers, snipe and woodcock as fighter interceptors. The first are easier to hit but harder to bring down, one pellet is all it takes for the latter. I shoot pheasant because we have a walk-up shoot (a mix of wild and bred birds) also with a couple of drives in it. We take turns at beating. Suits me as I’m getting older and cannot easily spend long days on the bog or across rugged terrain for real shooting. In Kerry I’ve got access to a few good snipe bogs and woodcock territory, where a shot at one woodcock per hour of labour would be a huge reward..
As I said earlier, enjoy your day and do let us know the outcome.
Rs
K
PS nailed one vixen last night, later saw a dog fox but could not get a safe shot.
