Right & Left
and the results are, wait for it; 11 woodcock & 1 snipe. My personal bag was 3.
The first was while standing in a gateway - a singleton, coming along a hedge, went to dart through the gap, as I turned to take it behind, it flared upwards, presenting by woodcock standards, a relativity simple shot. One down for the morning, but after a robust lunch, things got a whole lot better.
Standing in what I thought was an unpromising spot, up went cries of Woodcock forward. Coming straight above the trees was the bird - mount, swing, fire & down it came, first barrel. As I pulled the trigger & before I could reload, there was a cry of and again . Above the trees came almost the same bird & down that one came as well. It really was as simple as that with both birds landing within five yards of my neighbouring gun.
Only then did it sink in what I had just done; a right & left of woodcock. To those of you that know of such things, you will know how rare that is. To those of you that don't, it is an event so comparatively rare, the Shooting Times keeps a register, entry to which requires two witnesses (that thankfully I have).
To put in in prespective, my neighbour who averages about three days shooting a week during the season has never achieved it & he is a fine shot. He is 64 years old & as he said to me on Saturday evening, in all of his years of shooting, he has only had three chances of it, all of which he managed to miss.
So rest assured, on Saturday night we cracked the champagne & today I'll be writing my letter to the Shooting Times - I am chuffed to billy-o!
Comments
Well done!
Posted by: JohnJo | December 8, 2003 2:43 PM
good job buddy! you'll have to post a link to the register when you get added.
Posted by: Dan | December 8, 2003 6:29 PM
Good shooting! I got a right and left on California quail a few weeks back, near China Lake Naval Air Station in southern California.
We call it a "double" out here.
Posted by: tom the pipers son | December 10, 2003 9:32 PM
Just wanted to say that i really enjoyed your page. As for myself i am a native Kentuckian from yes the left side of the pond . I grew up hunting an spent many long days in the field . i do however feel for you Brits .. life without my .45 forget it !!!! My family has served in every war the U.S. has ever been in so i was shooting a 1911 a1 when i was 11yrs old. So to me being without this trusted friend is the same as running naked through local shopping centers ! I also do a great deal of coyote hunting ,and enjoyed the fox hunting recounts . Wish someday to come over an do some long overdue bird hunting an if the opportunity presents its self maybe a bit of fox ambushing . Good Luck an Good Hunting !!!
Posted by: Kenneth | August 19, 2009 4:15 AM