Off to Scotland again this year, we went 2 months earlier than last year but still managed to take the snow with us ?

 

-2c but dropped between -8c and -10c with the wind!! Just a little bit cold. 

Makes a difference from the trial I shot last week where we had to take our coats off as too hot. 

 

Day 1 in the morning we set up on a stubble field, we saw absolutely LOADS of geese, but strong wind, and thousands in the air, many came in just on the edge of range, without fully committing. 
 

We dropped several that did happen to come in and managed to start the trip off well  

That night we headed out to the duck ponds, and same as last year; they froze over… ******!
 

We left the ducks alone, and headed back to warm up in front of the fire at the hotel. We had a nice dinner at the posh hotel down the road instead  very nice! 

Day 2: 

 

We went out the night before on the way to the ducks and saw several hundred geese on some stubbles. 
 

We set up along a ditch line in some reeds and for the decoys out.

 

Once again, freezing cold, and a bit of an odd day… almost no geese in the sky at all. 
 

We did have several small groups come in, and unlike the day before, they came right into our decoys, with us taking several nice birds  

 

Having less birds in the sky almost helps as they don’t call each other away, and they commit to the desks. 
 

 

Whereabouts in Scotland is this 

On 24/11/2024 at 07:55, Lloyd90 said:

Once again, freezing cold, and a bit of an odd day… almost no geese in the sky at all. 

Staying on the roost until it warmed up a bit.

1 hour ago, Penelope said:

Staying on the roost until it warmed up a bit.

Yes it would seem so. 
 

Im only halfway through updates sorry and need to edit all the go pro footage together into a montage  

day 2: duck shoot! 
 

We got setup on a big pond spanning the bank. 
 

This was fast and exciting shooting with lots of mallard. The go pro got a bit on tape but the later part of the flight it was too dark sadly. 
 

We ended up with 20 ducks and we all had lots of good shooting  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3: 

We set up on a stubble field, tucked into one reeds. 
 

Like on day 1, we had LOTS of geese over, but unlike day 1 we had several drop in in small groups and got some great shooting  

 

We finished up the day, went for breakfast and hit the road back to the South West! 
 

 

3 hours ago, yickdaz said:

Whereabouts in Scotland is this 

North East not far from Montrose 

Great write up Lioyd, It is turning out to be an outsanding season. 

Great stuff all over a bit too soon. I could be tempted on a slightly longer trip ?.

Not surprised the geese wouldn’t commit when you are behind a bit of nesting like that first morning. Cannot see the whole hide, but geese would have noticed it if it was all like  that. When you were tucked into real cover the geese committed is how I read it?

 

sounds like a very good trip, and it shouldn’t be about shooting a truck full every flight anyway. 

Edited November 25, 2024Nov 25 by scolopax

 

Only my first time using new software to piece the above together so sorry if it's a bit rubbish! 

Need a bit more practice! 

Intersting hide.

 

School report:- Could do better!! ?

18 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

Only my first time using new software to piece the above together so sorry if it's a bit rubbish! 

Need a bit more practice! 

Looks pretty good to me. Interesting to see the hide banking up from the floor. Might try that in SA when we get there in April. 

3 hours ago, Penelope said:

Intersting hide.

 

School report:- Could do better!! ?

Yes I think so, unfortunately geese on a massive field landing out in the middle. 
 

 

• Always a good do with Ian. The first time i shot that pond must of been 5oo pinks get up off of it, must of been sitting on each others backs. Was up first week of October and shot some cracking birds. Meant to be up again in Jan. What did you think of the RC50'S?

 

Day two including the duck flight (sorry got too dark quite quick!). 

1 hour ago, fse10 said:

• Always a good do with Ian. The first time i shot that pond must of been 5oo pinks get up off of it, must of been sitting on each others backs. Was up first week of October and shot some cracking birds. Meant to be up again in Jan. What did you think of the RC50'S?

Greet carts, had the 50g 2’s. 
 

If front / breast / head on took some really good birds. 
 

If they turned about they’re bullet proof, I stopped trying on birds that had turned once I swiftly realised this. 
 

Experience comes eh. 

10 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

Greet carts, had the 50g 2’s. 
 

If front / breast / head on took some really good birds. 
 

If they turned about they’re bullet proof, I stopped trying on birds that had turned once I swiftly realised this. 
 

Experience comes eh. 

?, i wish I wish my African goose shooting partner would learn this. It's never going to happen. It's all I can do to keep his head down. ?

12 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

 

If they turned about they’re bullet proof, I stopped trying on birds that had turned once I swiftly realised this. 
 

I would say not, if they are close enough.

17 hours ago, fse10 said:

• Always a good do with Ian. The first time i shot that pond must of been 5oo pinks get up off of it, must of been sitting on each others backs. Was up first week of October and shot some cracking birds. Meant to be up again in Jan. What did you think of the RC50'S?

 

Did you defo use RC50 1's? I could only see them in shot size 2 or size 0. 

Also I meant to ask what choke you used.

Used 1/4 on day one and found it wasn't enough, stuck 3/4 in for the other two days and got much better hits. 

19 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

 

Day two including the duck flight (sorry got too dark quite quick!). 

Looks like you had a nice trip up in Scotland and some nice shooting, looks bloody cold though.

In the video above at 3.8 I think you had two kills, your first shot pricked the bird and it went down by the two trees in the distance, did you manage to pick it?

 

1 hour ago, old'un said:

Looks like you had a nice trip up in Scotland and some nice shooting, looks bloody cold though.

In the video above at 3.8 I think you had two kills, your first shot pricked the bird and it went down by the two trees in the distance, did you manage to pick it?

 

Yes, we actually managed to get all 3 of those geese. 
 

2 were knocked down and the one at the back ran on but the dogs picked it a bit after. 
 

The third one that flew off must have been young and inexperienced as he came round again to the caller, looking for the other two, and we take him on the next part of the video. 

On 29/11/2024 at 13:49, Lloyd90 said:

 

Did you defo use RC50 1's? I could only see them in shot size 2 or size 0. 

Also I meant to ask what choke you used.

Used 1/4 on day one and found it wasn't enough, stuck 3/4 in for the other two days and got much better hits. 

Yep 2's shot with half choke in my A400 xtrema plus.

 

Thankyou Lloyd for putting those bits of goose and Duck shooting , I really enjoyed it and look as if you Boys did to, Good onya for a good time????

On 29/11/2024 at 18:19, Lloyd90 said:

Yes, we actually managed to get all 3 of those geese. 
 

2 were knocked down and the one at the back ran on but the dogs picked it a bit after. 
 

The third one that flew off must have been young and inexperienced as he came round again to the caller, looking for the other two, and we take him on the next part of the video. 

I know geese are a heavy bird but two Lab’s on one bird? looks like there's a bit of a tug of war going on there.

1 hour ago, old'un said:

I know geese are a heavy bird but two Lab’s on one bird? looks like there's a bit of a tug of war going on there.

Young Inexperienced dogs first season apparently, I think she picked her first solo goose whilst we were shooting  

 

He had 3 labs all together to cover any eventualities  

 

Nice to see a young dog come along. Was a good laugh the two dogs on one goose ?