Remember remember the first of November...

[Donkey Basher]

OK, it's a play on words but as I've been looking forward to this morning for so long I thought I'd give it a catchy title!

For once, the weather Gods have been kind and getting up at 0500 this morning was almost a pleasure. Sat in the chosen ladder by 0545, buck grunting & mewing from fawns in the wood the other side of the lane behind me by 0615, expectations were high. By 0730 it was all over barring the clean up - first does of the season in the chiller

Now sat waiting for the afternoon session and an outing with the 6.5x47 and Alpex LRF - used proper old fashioned glass and a 308 this morning

Looking forward to the rest of the weekend as I have 3 days off and planning morning and afternoon sessions each day!

Anyone else out on the donkeys this morning?

 

[dryan]

Will hit the does and hinds later in the week, sons birthday today (1st is also the game bird season opening day here) so just tend to pop out for an hour or so with the setter to try and rise a woodcock or snipe. Raised 2 snipe this morning, took a shot at one but was in reality too far, nice to warm a barrel though. Seems the weather too warm and the migratory woodcock and snipe aren't yet arrived.

Always nice to get fresh air and work through dog though.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I’m on a cull this weekend. I will be interested to see how my Alpex 4k preforms.
Heated jacket and quilted coats at the ready. I am such a wuss.

 

[Ratel]

Just heading out shortly to try for a couple of does. Out again probably all day tomorrow need to move a high seat to new spot as well.

 

[CookM]

Back off hols and wedding anniversary, after nearly 30 years they get a days grace.
Did go spotting while she was in Tescos resupplying though.

 

[Sol]

Hoping to get out a lot more over the upcoming weeks, I suspect 23rd-30th will be dud due to my boss being on holiday but before then should be fine.

Shame we didnt go yesterday I spotted probably 15 reds as we were coming back Wednesday night, along with seeing 7 roe my father seen about 20 deer the following morning detecting.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I too have need to take out a few roe does but first on the agenda (next Monday) is a very large fallow buck I've been putting off hitting with the K250 for too long. I will, however, need more than a length of 4mm paracord to aid extraction!

K

 

[CookM]

Hoping to get out a lot more over the upcoming weeks, I suspect 23rd-30th will be dud due to my boss being on holiday but before then should be fine.

Shame we didnt go yesterday I spotted probably 15 reds as we were coming back Wednesday night, along with seeing 7 roe my father seen about 20 deer the following morning detecting.

Any good in the dirt?

 

[Tazz]

I’m on a cull this weekend. I will be interested to see how my Alpex 4k preforms.
Heated jacket and quilted coats at the ready. I am such a wuss.

Heated jackets and Giles, the way to go saves 6 layers and still being cold

 

[Donkey Basher]

I’m on a cull this weekend. I will be interested to see how my Alpex 4k preforms.
Heated jacket and quilted coats at the ready. I am such a wuss.

@The Singing Stalker - weather must be harsh in north west Hampshire… it’s been tropical south of Basingstoke today!! I was cooking this morning & have been sweating like a para doing a maths test this evening after dealing with the results of using my Alpex for the first time in anger

First two were shot in broad daylight so actually worse to use than my normal Diavari. Third one was 20 past last light & could readily have shot it with the Diavari. However, the fourth one would never have been possible without the Alpex LRF as too dark & too far away for the Diavari.

Interesting though it seems that it shoots a bit low or could be me as shot was bang on for the one that was furthest away. I’ll have to watch the videos back & see where the aiming point was when I squeezed off - can’t do that with the Diavari!

Anyway this is this evening’s little haul

 

[The Singing Stalker]

We were in Lanzagrotie last month and in the evening I was straight off to find my fleece.
I don’t do cold. Although, it is much milder than I am used to,over here.

 

[CookM]

@The Singing Stalker - weather must be harsh in north west Hampshire… it’s been tropical south of Basingstoke today!! I was cooking this morning & have been sweating like a para doing a maths test this evening after dealing with the results of using my Alpex for the first time in anger

First two were shot in broad daylight so actually worse to use than my normal Diavari. Third one was 20 past last light & could readily have shot it with the Diavari. However, the fourth one would never have been possible without the Alpex LRF as too dark & too far away for the Diavari.

Interesting though it seems that it shoots a bit low or could be me as shot was bang on for the one that was furthest away. I’ll have to watch the videos back & see where the aiming point was when I squeezed off - can’t do that with the Diavari!

Anyway this is this evening’s little haul

View attachment 391241

Beyond the wall....

 

[Sol]

Any good in the dirt?

He's came across quite a few things since he started detecting a few years back, not that he's in it for the money, but he's "made" a fair bit from it
Most of that money goes to the landowners and or friends he was with, any of "his" money almost goes into latest released metal detectors

A hammered gold, Bronze age axe, Gold Ruby serpent ring, and A Torc are probably his better finds.

Hammered gold was found with silvers and classified as a hoard If I recall, only 20-40 miles from galloway hoard so a lot of things end up being pretty significant archelogy and go through years before being auctioned (I believe that coin took 3? 4? years to go to auction)

 

[CookM]

Brilliant ,the treasure process can be quite slow when you put finds in.

 

[Donkey Basher]

@The Singing Stalker - how have you got on with the Alpex? Had a look at the videos from last night & reckon it was just me shooting a bit lower than I should have done so no dramas.

Had the 6.5 out again this evening & in the space of 40 mins put 3 fallow does & a muntjac buck on the deck.

I’m finding that as well as giving me the last 20 mins of the magic hour, what I’m finding really beneficial is the LRF function - push the button, put the X on the spot, squeeze & thud, job done!

Tonight’s haul less the muntie that I’d already picked up on the walk back to the car so left till last

 

[Klenchblaize]

Last night will have given them something to think about:

K

 

[Donkey Basher]

Doesn’t seem to have disturbed them much - I shot 2 more fallow & a muntie this morning

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Did ok, despite not getting much. But, light gathering for my shooting is great. Very happy with my purchase and can go back and check my shots to see if I screwed it up.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Well weekend over, did 2 mornings & 3 evenings ending up with 9 fallow & 4 muntjac. Thinking about them all, I reckon that the Alpex added 2 fallow & 2 muntjac that I probably wouldn’t have shot using the Diavari so reckon that’s a success

 

[Pete6.5]

Well weekend over, did 2 mornings & 3 evenings ending up with 9 fallow & 4 muntjac. Thinking about them all, I reckon that the Alpex added 2 fallow & 2 muntjac that I probably wouldn’t have shot using the Diavari so reckon that’s a success

Always good to use every minute of legal time.