Indulge yourself...

[devonfoxer]

where to begin my first 10 lb bass out of my own boat on a fantastic autumn day
the day went to herds deep on jubrea from torquay 24 lb ling 2 x 16 lb cod
my first stalked deer with rob in the snow
266 pigeons on laid barley
my first 200 yrd plus fox
awesum teal shooting in scotland 1 single 2 x left and rights
if your whole life flashes infront of you as you go il should go a happy man

 

[User00023]

Just the one? Forgive me, but I shall take my cue from the title...

In Norfolk...

1. Any spring dawn out on the heath.
2. Watching a roding woodcock while sitting in a high seat at dusk.
3. Packing the gear away to the sound of nightjars / Setting out before dawn to the sound of nightjars
4. Post stalk breakfast at the best B&B in the UK (awesome!)

In Wales...

1. Worming for trout as a boy on the Terrig and Cegidog
2. Driving through early morning mists on the Beacons on my way to the Wye
3. Happy days with the Llewenni syndicate

...and so, so many more.

 

[Krico308]

Lots of great memories, but often recall the day a kingfisher landed on my fly rod, only about a foot up from the handle, fantastic!

 

[merlin]

...if you're going to pin me down to just a SINGLE memory, then - perhaps cliched, I know - it would have to be my first red stag, shot in Scotland a few years ago now.

As I lay lined up, just waiting for him to turn broadside on - having started the day marvelling at the background noise of stags roaring - the adrenaline was coursing through my body, and my ears were pounding.....after what seemed like an age, he stood perfectly, there was a good solid thud, and after a wobble or two (which again, felt like a bloody long time!), down he went. After a second or two, the stalker, who had been lying next to me, turned to me and said "Good shot. And your heart was making some interesting noises there.....". Given how loud the beating seemed from the inside, so to speak, I can quite believe that he could actually hear it from his vantage point next to me!.

I was hooked.

And I have a rather tasty 8-pointer shoulder mount gracing the wall of my office at home .

(.....and there are SO many other memories that it's probably not a bad thing that you've ringfenced it, otherwise I'd be risking wearing out my fingertips typing ....)

 

[monynut]

Over the years there are lots to choose from, putting aside the first deer of any species or first driven bird or rabbit, duck and so on its the odd things that come to mind like the morning sitting by a fen drain fishing and a weasel with a mouse in its mouth ran over my foot, or the time a stoat ran along the track I was sitting on waiting for a deer he stopped at my feet and peered over the end of my boot at me then continued on his way, one evening l was out shooting rabbits with the rimy and while standing against a tree a hare came up and sniffed my boot, l have had owls land on the highseat while in it,kingfishers land on my fishing rod, l once shot 3 duck with 1 shot, my first ever goose involved me wading across the Ouse washes twice with the water over my waders so determined to get it as it was only winged and had no dog at the time.

There are many memory’s and with the opportunities and a bit of luck they will continue to be a part of our live’s, so in my old age(and it seems like l am getting there quicker than ever)it won’t be a single memory more of a reflection of how lucky l have been to be a part of country life and all that goes with it.

 

[venison17]

Many many happy brilliant days out with freinds but a few do stick in the old grey matter from early days. At school Miss wuir the french teacher...................................ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ! by god she was good.. never learnt abit of french.
The left and right at pink feet on the solway on first trip after an invite from a group who had been going there 10 years and never had a goose..... that realy pi....d them off but a great time, but the one that sticks the most is a single lone simple pigeon fiying over at the end of a drive with all the beaters and guns in one place and the head keeper (who made my life hell at the time) saying go on then lets all have a laugh and see if you can Miss this.......... well you no what happened seemed like out of range, 28 inch Beretta o/u swong up and bang one dead pigeon fell 20 yds from the head keeeper now red faced and walking the other direction and a round of applause from guns and beaters, Brilliant a carlsberg moment.

 

[sikamalc]

Some great firsts on here and great moments.

For me its still a thrill to get someone their first deer or first species. Having said that I have many great moments with friends that I would not swop for anything, some of whom are members of this site.

But personally my top moments from a hunting point of view are taking a Cape Buffalo, and taking a rogue cow Elephant at 20yds. Watching my partner take her first Sika stag last year, along with her first Roe Buck and this past rut her first Fallow Buck.

Funny moments taking clients, guy falling asleep in a high seat and dropping the rifle and snapping it in two (didnt go off luckily) and have two gay guys stalking who caused a few issues back in camp. Dropping a Red Hind that landed in the top of a Birch tree!! A few more but that will be in the book if I ever get round to writing it!