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The Dark and The Buggy Man
Topic Started: 19th December 2007 - 12:50 AM (181 Views)
photopro
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I was out on Sunday on my local golf course - that's playing not shooting - when it became obvious by the racket, that there was a lot of Canada Geese nearby. One solitary goose was wandering about on the course, I would think it was injured but there was a massive flock of them on the neighbouring school field. This school shares a boundary with the course, and is a private school so it was straight forward for me to obtain permission to shoot it. Finishing the round I quickly returned home and got changed into goosing gear. I needed to be very careful on this occasion as golf club members were still playing the course and my agreement says the course has to be closed or I am shooting before or after normal play.
Several club members saw me walking to the school field via the course and a group of three (who knew me) engaged in conversation.
After a brief discussion about whether Canadas are on the DEFRA pest species list - yes they are - no they aren't - yes they are - no they aren't - I quickly terminated the debate with "you haven't got a clue about what you are talking about", and I continued on my way.
The school field was lifting with geese but, as if someone acting as lookout had pressed the alarm button, the whole lot lifted and took to the river on mass just out of range. Typical. I eventually got to the river bank to see a raft of smug looking Canadas flicking feathery v's at me. I put a couple of shots over there grinning bills and they flew off. I turned to sort goosey no-mates out but he had already taken the hint and was doing a great impression of Jake the peg - three steps and a glide towards the river. I wanted revenge though and the tenth of a duvet was going to get it. Even a crocked goose can find extra reserves of energy when the chips are down and this was no exception. Jake (or TOG 13) crashed through bankside scrub to splash unceremoniously into the fast water and safety. He also got a shot across his bows giving him even more from his swimming Duracell.
The trouble with the situation now was I had very likely moved the flock to another golf course which we shoot - bugg&r !! I got back to the car and decide I had better check it out. The light by this time wasn't and I didn't have a torch with me. Anyway some golf buggies have lights fitted so I would be alright.
I reached the course in a few minutes and got the buggy keys from the lads - guess what? No lights - double bugg&r !! I decided to give it a go in the dark.
This particular course has a quarry, a very deep river, lots of water hazards and is not flat - I've made better decisions. The scratched plastic buggy windscreen would have been bad enough with a torch, without it was impossible. Leaning round the edge of the screen was OK but the freezing cold made my eyes stream, half way round I knew this really was a bad move.
As it happened the geese had move further and all was quiet but I still had a bridge to find and cross, a bog to avoid and a you-are-bloody-joking-ly steep hill to climb and it was freezing. I removed the shells from the Benelli - I didn't fancy the newspaper headline "Local photographer crashes buggy and gets a goose load up the Khyber". I found the bridge OK and narrowly missed the frozen bog, then I took a run at the steep hill. The buggy got almost to the top and the wheels started to spin I turned it slightly sideways - risky 'cos they turn over easily - anyway it grabbed more grip and we sailed over the top, Phew !!
I managed to avoid some temporary greens & flags, one or two being a close thing and got the buggy and me back in one piece.
So no goose to show for my efforts, but a grateful official of the school and from the golf course contacted me today.
So was it worth all my efforts ? - of course it wasn't. !!!

photopro
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Shotgun Certificate & Firearms Certificate Section 1, DSC1 & DSC2 also DCS Registered. Forestry Commission Deer Management Licence Holder

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Nige
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Quote:
 
I quickly terminated the debate with "you haven't got a clue about what you are talking about


Aah, I see, diplomacy in action *lol* *lol*

Good write up mate, is ten percent of a duvet the same as 100 percent of a ski jacket? *lol*
Location :- Hull

Never hit a man with glasses. Hit him with a baseball bat!

Don't let your mind wander - it's too little to be let out alone!
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photopro
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Quote:
 
QUOTE 
I quickly terminated the debate with "you haven't got a clue about what you are talking about


Quote:
 
Aah, I see, diplomacy in action 


I know what you are saying, I usually argue it out but this particular guy is a gobsh1te and he deserved what he got. I saw one of the guys with him later in the carpark and he had said to him something like "I think you'll find he is right, he wouldn't be shooting them otherwise". He still didn't concede though and I bet he doesn't even if he looks on the DEFRA website.

photopro
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