Shoot

I had a great days shooting today. 

I didn't take many pictures today - this is one from last time! 

Back in the summer I worked on a hotel extension and worked with a cracking group of lads (I've mentioned them before when I went clay shooting a few months back). One friend I made is really keen on his shooting and when he heard that I liked to shoot he invited me along for a days shooting. I jumped at the chance!

This shoot is just the other side of the hill from me and was set in some beautiful countryside and woodland, as always it was just a joy to be outside, watch the dogs work and have some good company, but I did manage to shoot a few pheasants as well.

It's also the first time on a shoot where I've had an offer of marriage! This happened when I brought a full tray of Chelsea buns that I baked this morning with me, covered in icing. To start with they wouldn't believe that I made them, and then, once convinced, people were offering to buy trays from me, before the one guy got very affectionate about my cooking! He wasn't my type anyway! 

They seem quite keen for me to come back on another day, good cake is always a good way to make friends and influence people! 

The bag today, not huge but every bird collected - 12 brace of pheasants, 2 brace of pigeons and a squirrel. 

I came back with a brace of pheasants on my shoulder and a smile on my face, a good way to spend a day. 

I did have a comment on my Facebook blog page asking how I could feel pleased with myself for killing our wildlife, I can understand why people feel like this when not faced with all the facts and it's tricky not to get into an argument where both sides have already made up their minds. Here was my response:

Arguing against someone that is against shooting is generally not worth it as both sides already have their minds made up. All I will say is that although you see the product at the end of a days shooting, what you haven't seen is the weeks of work that have gone into maintaining the woodland where we shot by the people that run it. Today we shot around 30 birds but they breed and put down around 400-500 on this shoot every year to have nine days shooting. Spending time in these woods today I could see countless habitats that have been created because of these shoots, big patches of kale and over cover crops that provide food and shelter for far more than pheasants, areas cleared to let young tree grow, wood left to rot to provide habitat for other wildlife. Even the RSPB has said that well managed shoots benefit other wildlife (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/.../Row-erupts-as-RSPB-claims...). This isn't to go into the economical benefits that shooting brings to the countryside. This isn't me looking for an argument, just stating how I feel about something I feel quite passionately about.

I guess I'm always courting controversy when I post these type of posts but sod it, this is my record of how I live. 

Is anyone else going shooting this year or already been? 

What is your favourite game dish? 

A Spot Of Clay Shooting

A large portion of my spring and summer was spent working on a building a hotel extension just outside the village. 

This job was good as it was so close and there was a great crew of lads working there, one of the best I've worked with in a long time. The work was hard as we worked quite long days and I really put in a lot of effort to get my part (the carpentry) done as fast as possible.  I made some great friends and there was  real sense of camaraderie between our close nit group.

It's been a month since I've finished there (besides some evening work) so it was nice when Edd (the site manager, who also works on the tools as well) invited me to go clay shooting with the rest of the lads. My friends babysat the children and picked the eldest up from school whilst I went and busted some clays for the afternoon (thanks Brian and Sarah!)

It's been a while since I've had the gun out as I just haven't found time for it and I forgot how much I enjoy it. We split into small groups to go round all the different traps that simulate different types of game, I was with the experienced guns and we had a great time picking out the hard traps to make things difficult for us.

I have to admit my score wasn't amazing but it was great to be with a couple of more experienced guns so I could learn from them and I picked up some good tips. 

It was also good to get a bit of practice in as I have a days game shooting booked in towards the end of November. 

Anyone else enjoy clay shooting? 

Bustin' Clays

Or not in my case!

I had a great day yesterday as I got invited to a friends surprise 50th birthday clay pigeon shoot.

It's been years since I've been clay shooting and even then it was on my uncles home made trap that would almost take a finger with it if you weren't paying attention.

The shoot was really well organised and interesting with lots of the clays being fired in different ways to simulate different game. Some were much easier than others, but I was being shown up by the two brothers over from me who didn't seem to miss a clay.

My 12 bore wondered what had happened to it, I don't think it's ever fired so many cartridges in one go. I think I got through 8 boxes (nearly a slab), but I'm not going to say how many of those hit their targets! Maybe I should have some lessons! 

A great day spent outside, with great company. Thanks again Tim and family! 

Days Shooting

I got invited on a days shooting again this (last year but i wrote this before) year, I went a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it and this day was no different, I loved every minute. The weather was perfect, a cool, crisp, frosty morning with clear skies and sunshine all day.

As the shoot is so local it was great to be waking around the countryside with the same hills as our backdrop, crossing brooks, walking through woods and out on fields in the crisp air was all you needed really. Watching the dogs work with the beaters, flushing the birds for different drives and picking up any birds at the end with the added excitement that comes when the birds fly overhead makes the day amazing. A true countryside experience. 

I just love this picture I took at the end of day, perfect winter countryside.

There was lots of like minded people there as well and as I've been in the village a few years now I knew a few more than last time as well which is nice. It was good talking about all things countryside all day!

I even managed to come home with a brace of ducks and a brace of pheasants so I'm now tempted to make a game pie some time next week (using Gills recipe) although I've put the meat in the freezer until then. 

Thanks to Tim who invited me again - really appreciated! 

Plucking Ducks

A friend I work with is very keen on his shooting and he came in on Friday with three ducks for me. He knows I like my game and I like it even more if its free!

The trouble with free "gifts" of meat is that they always involve a bit of work, so this afternoon I filled a feed bag full of straw (the warmest makeshift seat there is) pulled up a large tub and started plucking.

Three ducks for a decadent Sunday roast

I can't say preparing meat (birds especially) from scratch is a job I particularly enjoy, but I love eating them and hate to see anything go to waste (which can be the case on large organised shoots where due to the labour involved they throw most away). Having an area outside to do it makes it easier as it can be quite messy. One day I plan to make myself an area where I can do things like this in some comfort!

A comfy area to do some plucking!

I've never prepared ducks before and man do they have some feathers and soft feathers at that! I didn't bother with the wings much (just chopped them off with the axe in the background) but there was plenty of meat on the rest of them. Plucking is quite easy once you get into the hang of it, pluck with your thumb and index finger, grab small amounts and in a short, sharp motion pull away from the way they naturally lie.

Once I'd plucked them I singed the downy feathers that were left with a flame, then removed the head and legs before gutting them.

I'm not in any way as fat as this picture makes me look!

Inside the house I rinsed them out and washed off the singed feathers before adding some salt, pepper and olive oil and putting them in the oven.

Three cooked ducks

 The meat tasted amazing, full of flavour and tender, much better than an intensively reared animal. Three ducks was far too many for the two of us (I won't let my daughter eat it just yet as there's the chance there could be shot in it) as there was loads of meat on each bird but I'm planning on doing another meal in the week with the leftovers.

This was my first taste of wild duck and it won't be my last!

Anyone else tried anything for the first time lately?

And any ideas on what to do with leftover duck? I'm thinking over indulgent sandwiches first!