Nice day for a bit of vermin

Terrier

Decided to go to a mates farm this evening as he has reported a surge in magpies since the cold snap began.

I sat myself in his hay shed high up and set a crow and magpie decoy about 60yards out from my spot. I had my .22lr for company. Turned on my electronic caller and waited.. and waited ... and waited..

About 250-300 yards away I could see about 8 magpies on the end of an old ring fort. I scoped the fort and finally worked out why they would not response to the call.. charlie!

Jumped down the bales and ran to the jeep, grabbed the .223, unlocked the safe and grabed the bolt and mag. (after the cold snap last year and seeing foxes sitting outside covers I always bring it when snow and frost is on the ground)

Ran about 100 yards to a stone wall and gate, used the gate post for support and wallop...
While showing the farmer at my jeep birds were going made above so pulled the semi-suto shotgun out and manage a rook and mag. Not bad for 15mins work

deerhunter1

Terrier wrote: »

Decided to go to a mates farm this evening as he has reported a surge in magpies since the cold snap began.

I sat myself in his hay shed high up and set a crow and magpie decoy about 60yards out from my spot. I had my .22lr for company. Turned on my electronic caller and waited.. and waited ... and waited..

About 250-300 yards away I could see about 8 magpies on the end of an old ring fort. I scoped the fort and finally worked out why they would not response to the call.. charlie!

Jumped down the bales and ran to the jeep, grabbed the .223, unlocked the safe and grabed the bolt and mag. (after the cold snap last year and seeing foxes sitting outside covers I always bring it when snow and frost is on the ground)

Ran about 100 yards to a stone wall and gate, used the gate post for support and wallop...
While showing the farmer at my jeep birds were going made above so pulled the semi-suto shotgun out and manage a rook and mag. Not bad for 15mins work

Nice one well done

Invincible

Healthy looking fox !

garv123

Invincible wrote: »

Healthy looking fox !

yup except for the whole dead bit of course:D


you'd a fine comfy place to fall asleep and all waiting on the hay bales

Tackleberrywho

Terrier wrote: »

Decided to go to a mates farm this evening as he has reported a surge in magpies since the cold snap began.

I sat myself in his hay shed high up and set a crow and magpie decoy about 60yards out from my spot. I had my .22lr for company. Turned on my electronic caller and waited.. and waited ... and waited..

About 250-300 yards away I could see about 8 magpies on the end of an old ring fort. I scoped the fort and finally worked out why they would not response to the call.. charlie!

Jumped down the bales and ran to the jeep, grabbed the .223, unlocked the safe and grabed the bolt and mag. (after the cold snap last year and seeing foxes sitting outside covers I always bring it when snow and frost is on the ground)

Ran about 100 yards to a stone wall and gate, used the gate post for support and wallop...
While showing the farmer at my jeep birds were going made above so pulled the semi-suto shotgun out and manage a rook and mag. Not bad for 15mins work

A lot of black on your foxes coat, I saw one very similar last week!

Dupont

was out myself today and got 2 rooks.put the caller on and they hid in the ditch they circled above my head there so easy to call in in this weather. was thinkin of gettin a couple decoys myself do they usually come down to them and stay around??????

Eddie B

Dupont wrote: »

was out myself today and got 2 rooks.put the caller on and they hid in the ditch they circled above my head there so easy to call in in this weather. was thinkin of gettin a couple decoys myself do they usually come down to them and stay around??????

Rooks arn't as clever as the mags and grays!!:rolleyes:

Dupont

Eddie B wrote: »

Rooks arn't as clever as the mags and grays!!:rolleyes:

not up here they arent:rolleyes: got 4 magpies and a grey saturday. magpie landed on the ivy tree above me:P

blackstairsboy

Do you use the electronic callers? I think the u-caller is for sale at 65e in LR active with the speaker aswell. Are these a good job? How do you use it ie evening/morning/in a wood? Would you reccomend it for vermin control as I do not own a rifle it is hard to get within range of mags with a shotgun would this caller help me much?

Dupont

i use the u-caller it has a remote with it but never use it.i find it works any time except late evening they seem to just fly straight over to wherever there roosting:( i put the caller in the ditch and walk another 10 20 yards and stand under a tree.they will come in no time but if u dont shoot the first couple they seem to gather there friends.:eek:you must be well hidden because the scout will come first and if it sees you will warn the others

Eddie B

Dupont wrote: »

not up here they arent:rolleyes: got 4 magpies and a grey saturday. magpie landed on the ivy tree above me:P

A but if you were after them every Saturday and Sunday for the winter months and have their numbers down big time, the ones that are left are well educated to the call and most of these calls use the same mag and gray crow sounds in their memory cards!

The following year, not only will these birds not come to the call, but will scarper the minute you turn it on, and also warn some of the young birds that there's something up!

Dupont

Eddie B wrote: »

A but if you were after them every Saturday and Sunday for the winter months and have their numbers down big time, the ones that are left are well educated to the call and most of these calls use the same mag and gray crow sounds in their memory cards!

The following year, not only will these birds not come to the call, but will scarper the minute you turn it on, and also warn some of the young birds that there's something up!

Great timing for that message.just in from a quick shot up the field. missed a magpie yesterday and when i put the call on today didnt notice one had landed beside me.was turning round looking and seen the bugger flutter off:mad: was about to pack it in cos its -1 but the wind its freezing.low and behold one land in the tree above me had to cough to get him to fly.i agree with eddie b that any missed will never see lead again but would a larsen trap sort them out

Birdnuts

Dupont wrote: »

G but would a larsen trap sort them out

Your only man - the father in law has nailed over a dozen in the last few weeks alone on the North Mayo Coast, and they just keep coming, I think the cold weather causes birds further inland to move towards the coast in this case:)