Airgun Hunter: Never Stop Learning

Having shot the local farm heavily throughout the spring and into the start of summer, I started to notice a reduction in the numbers of pests. Great! This didn’t mean that I could let up now though. Once the squirrels and pest birds start to show some sort of a decrease, I need to step up my game to ensure backward steps aren’t made. I made the decision to head down to the farm one afternoon, after work. This is the most frequent time I can get out, due to other commitments on my days off. It’s not always the ideal time to get the biggest bags, but allows me to shoot little and often, which is often the best way to control pests with air rifles.

Knowledge is essential

Knowledge of permission is often the greatest weapon. Knowing the land, the popular trees in which the pigeons favour to roost and the hide-a-ways, like bushes that can offer superb concealment without the addition of a net or added labour to build a hide. I try to use this knowledge to my advantage each and every time I go out and it helps towards building a decent bag.

Arriving at around 5:45 pm, I had already had a plan. I was just going to sit tight under an old rhododendron bush in the hope for an ambush on some unsuspecting woodies. I jumped out the car, eager to get started. I put on my Jack Pyke face vale for extra concealment. This prevents my bright white face standing out from the dark background. I took off my driving trainers in exchange for something a little more robust for the task at hand. A brand new pair of Hiax Tibet combat boots. These were a birthday present from a few days before. I liked them because they looked ideal for hunting.

Boot chat

They are a full leather construction, with a hi-leg build when compared to traditional walking boots and offer superb support and comfort for standing shots, as they virtually lock my ankles in place. In addition, they have excellent grip and are well suited for mixed terrain hunting, in woodlands and muddy fields. The icing on the cake is of course the famous Gore-Tex lining installed, which allows my feet to breath and yet be 100% waterproof.

My rifle of choice on this venture was the Air Arms S410 in .177. This would offer me precise accuracy and the opportunity for fast follow up shots if needed, or if another swift opportunity arose. With my camo on, rifle loaded and boots tied, I was geared up to hit the woods. I headed straight to the location I had in mind. My trusty bean bag cushion makes a day more enjoyable and comfortable, so I parked myself down on it. Gone are the days of sitting on a cold wet floor for me. I’d much rather have my bag. I also had the added bonus of a tree as a back rest. This again is a great aid to a long days shooting and saves me having to get up for a stretch every quarter of an hour.

Be comfortable

What’s this, young Watkins getting old before his time? I can handle discomfort but like to be comfortable, if at all possible. Once sat down in a relatively comfortable position, I realised what I had forgotten - my shooting gloves! Thankfully, these are not an essential item, so I sat still in the hope that my quarry just wouldn’t notice my pale mitts.

It was a little while before the first customer of the afternoon swooped in. Cloud had come over, which was of benefit to me. I was better concealed in more shade and no longer looking into the sun, which had started to go down. There was a sprightly young Jackdaw hopping around the branches of the sycamore I was beneath. The tree was in full leaf but had some dead, leafless limbs. My hope was that the bird would scoot over to one of these branches, offering me a clear shot. It wasn’t to be though. It stubbornly settled on a twig with leaf cover, as if it knew something.

Clean shots only

If I cannot see a clean shot, then there’s no point in shooting, as it could cause me to injure the quarry. When a wounded bird takes flight, something within me feels heavy and responsible. Wherever possible, I follow it to dispatch it as quickly as I can but sometimes, they’re gone! Wounding animals happens from time to time with every hunter (some just don’t admit it). I looked through the crystal-clear glass of the Nikko Stirling Game King, to see if there was any possibility. I could see a shot- there was a gap just big enough where the leaves parted to thread a pellet though for a heart and lung shot.

This being a young bird, without all that much meat and feathers, I knew that the pellet could travel through easily to do the job properly. The trigger was pulled and the young Jackdaw headed for the floor. One of the reasons for shooting jacks is that they are pest on the farm, eating the grain and the food around the pheasant hoppers. They cost the gamekeeper and landowner money. Hence, they are keen to see the numbers cut down. This youngster was one of many that I have shot this year alone, on this permission.

Breaking cover

As I could not see where the bird had landed due to some crop on the ground, I broke cover to ensure it was dead. It was! In the back of my mind I already knew this, due to the way it fell and the confidence in my rifle. Just checking, allowed me to carry on in the cover of the bushes, without any doubt in the back of my mind.

After another short wait, bird number two swooped in and perched on the open branch; another Jackdaw. There was no leaf cover this time, so a clean kill should have been simple. However, it was not to be. I placed the crosshairs centre mass for a heart and lung shot. The pellet struck the bird to the left just breaking the wing. This isn’t how I like to dispatch my quarry. Whether the wind moved as I pulled the trigger, the bird moved, I used a bad pellet or I just made a bad shot I will never know. I knew that I had to fix my mess, as I saw the bird spiralling out of control towards the ground.

Responsible hunters

I cycled the bolt on the 410 in preparation for as quicker follow-up shot as possible. I could see the jackdaw limping away and it wasn’t stopping for anyone so I chanced a standing shot but I missed. It’s so easy to miss if rushed, stressed and pursuing an erratically moving target. I cycled the bolt (displeased with my poor shooting) and composed myself once more. It was at a good 30 yards now. I squeezed the trigger and the pellet hit between the back of the wings impacting the spine and entering the heart. I like to present reality and be as honest as I can be when writing these articles.

One of the reasons for this is to let young shooters know that people who write in magazines make mistakes. That doesn’t make mistakes any more acceptable and we have to do everything we can to avoid and learn from them, to lessen their likelihood in the future. That way, we all become more responsible and better hunters.

With two corvids bagged and the sun sitting lower in the sky, I was almost ready to call it an evening but still wanted that little bit longer. I set off on the dusty track towards a pocket of woodland that had proved productive in the past. Once there, what I noticed was the complete silence. I knew from past experience, this did not mean the wood was empty. Far from it!

10 pigeons

I took a step and cracked a small branch under my boot, instantly I heard the loud clapping wings of at least 10 pigeons as they fled from the trees above. As well as criticising my lack of stealth, I wondered, how on earth did I not see all those woodies? Leaf cover is definitely a major disadvantage of summer hunting. I continued on the woodland path, trying to keep as quiet and vigilant as possible. I still sent the odd few flying but there was just one deeper in the wood that stayed put.

I took out the rangefinder to get an accurate measurement on distance. At a comfortable 48 yards I placed the 2nd mill dot on the pigeons head. It was perfectly still. The pop of the silenced muzzle sounded, followed by the frantic flapping. It dropped to the ground. The retrieve involved a sea of nettles, which stood between me and my quarry. After a short battle and a fair few stings, I reached my bird, which had taken a clean head-shot. With three birds down, I called it a day. A very enjoyable evening with one of my favourite hunting rifles on my favourite permission. Never stop learning.