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Top 10 Products for Targetting Quarry in ‘Sitty-Trees’

The term ‘Sitty-Tree’ refers to a tree that is frequented throughout the day by avian pest species such a woodies and corvids, as they rest or digest food they’ve been feeding on, which has likely been scavenged from the surrounding fields. This will often be one of the most prominent and tallest trees in the area, giving the birds a place they feel safe, due to this ‘perching point’ having a commanding view of the land around. Finding them is the easy part, as you can watch from a distance, observing the birds’ behaviour using binoculars. When you’ve found an established sitty-tree, you need to make the most of targeting them by operating as stealthily as possible. So, wearing full and suitable camo and shooting accurately is the name of the game. Here’s a selection of kit to help you achieve optimum results.

  • Multi-tool

    Not too big or small, the stainless-steel Leatherman Rebar measures 10cm in the closed position, weighs 190 grams and offers needle-nose and regular pliers, and a pair of versatile replaceable hard wire cutters. All other tools are accessed from the insides of the handles and deployed by thumb nicks or lugs. Functions include a double-sided file, small and medium flat head and full-sized Phillips screwdriver blades, awl (with thread loop), fine edge and serrated edge knife blades, can/bottle opener, lanyard ring and an excellent edged wood saw. The handles are ideally sized in proportion and allow a comfortable grip. The Rebar holds a good mix of blades and utility tools, plus all are of such a ‘length’ they can reach into awkward and often inaccessible areas. It can be purchased with a Nylon or leather sheath and carries a 25yr warranty. SRP: £69.95 W: www.whitbyandco.co.uk

  • Ghillie suit

    Ghillie suit

    In many cases when employing this hunting technique, you can construct a hidden shooting position, or use natural cover. There will also be times more specialised type of full camo can be used; enter the Ghillie Suit! These have military roots and are so effective at concealing the human form, snipers the world over use them to this day. The Jack Pyke suit consists of jacket, separate hood and trousers. All garments are covered in a multitude of free hanging nylon camo netting strips in a colour blend the company term Woodland. You might well think you look like a swamp monster when standing but from your quarry’s perspective you’ll blend into even the sparsest cover if you stay silent and keep movement down to the bare minimum. SRP: 139.95 Sizes M/L 38 - 44” XL/XXL 46 – 52” W: www.jackpyke.co.uk

  • Seat

    Seat

    Some form of low and light seat is useful and one of the best is the MTM Rump Rester, as it’s specifically designed for setting against the base of a tree trunk, where it elevates you while the tree trunk offers back support and disguises your silhouette. Manufactured from synthetic, it has a seat area of 44.5 x 37.5 x 40cm where it narrows at the front. Standing 14cm at the forward position, it gently curves upwards to a height of 20cm at the rear, forming a comfortable and ergonomic platform for parking your derriere and comes with a removable and adjustable nylon webbing shoulder strap. SRP: £19.99 W: www.bushwear.co.uk

  • Footwear

    Footwear

    Measuring 8” high, the Viper Special OPS Multi-Cam Boot immediately impress due to their forgiving nature and lightness. The outer is manufactured from 1000D Multicam Cordura and a soft but tough suede leather. This gives extra support and protection all round. They feature a well-padded tongue and the lacing is a mix of coated metal eye-lets and captive retainers above. This layout allows the boot to be drawn very snugly to the foot, ankle and lower leg. Strong YKK Nylon zips are set on either side to allow you to put them on or take them off quickly. The tough EVA rubber sole is the company’s own design and offer a good level of self-cleaning, as it doesn’t pick up mud. Washable and breathable, odour-free insoles with well-positioned impact pads are included. SRP: £89.95 Sizes 7 - 12 W: www.viperkit.co.uk

  • Ammo

    Ammo

    Most airgun hunters, when hunting in this way, tend to use a multi-shot PCP and a quality pellet that suits all magazine types and air rifles is the RWS Superfield. This mid-weight, smooth round head design has a longer skirt in relation to the head, resulting in it being very accurate with a high level of energy retention at the target. Available in .177 (8.3-grains) and .22 (15.9-grains) it’s also offered in two head sizes per calibre – these being 4.51 and 4.52mm (.177) and .5.51 and 5.52mm (.22 calibre.) They come in strong metal tins containing 500 pieces. SRP: £8 - .177 £11 - .22 W: www.ruag.co.uk

  • Silencer

    Silencer

    A silencer is a must (especially on a PCP) so muzzle report doesn’t give away your position. A favourite of mine is the universal female threaded ½” UNF Weihrauch ‘HE’ Silencer. Measuring 191 X 30mm in diameter and weighing 105 grams it’s manufactured from high grade aluminium treated to a hunter-friendly, matt-black anodised finish. Reputedly the first to use what are nicknamed ‘curler baffles’, due to their resemblance to hair curlers, it’s three chambers, separated by spacer washers, are encased in an effective, sound-deadening felt. SRP: £48 W: www.hullcartridge.co.uk

  • Recommended scope

    Recommended scope

    This sort of hunting requires a scope with a wide field of view and a reasonably high level of magnification plus illuminated reticle, which helps. Measuring 388mm and weighing 620 grams the Hawke Vantage 4 – 16 x 50AO MIL DOT IR scope features 11-layer, fully multi-coated lenses with an adjustable objective for parallax correction. With a 1” body tube it features a fast-focus ocular and high torque zoom ring. The rheostat for the glass-etched reticle offers 5-settings in red and green and is positioned on the left of the saddle. Turrets are low profile with ¼ MOA clicks and finger-friendly adjusters. The classic Mil-Dot features multiple aimpoints for holdover and holdunder and is true on 10x magnification. The optic is water and shockproof, nitrogenpurged and ideal for this and many other airgun hunting tactics. SRP: £159.99 W: www.hawkeoptics.co.uk

  • Gunbag

    Gunbag

    Allen’s Pro Series Tactical Case Black is a fully featured gun bag and a huge asset for what it offers in protection, stowage and carry options. It measures 48 x 14 x 3” and manufactured from 1200D black Cordura nylon, integral to the build is a layer of dense foam padding. One side has four, zip-closed external pockets in various configurations and an integral drag handle is positioned towards the muzzle. On the opposite side is an adjustable backpack harness, with sternum strap. When not in use, this is stowed inside a Velcro-fastened pocket. Other carrying options are two central handles with a wrap-around, Velcro connector, plus a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap with integral sliding soft rubber shoulder pad. The case has a rigid spine and fastens with double heavy-duty zips protected by a press studded flap. Internally, there’s a padded butt retainer, two adjustable securing straps and it opens fully to double up as a shooting mat - the outer of the bag has a myriad of webbing loops. SRP: £180.99 W: www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk

  • Flask covers

    Flask covers

    Access to a hot or cold drink is a necessity when static shooting. However, a natural finish stainless steel flask in a hunting situation can sometimes cause quarry alerting ‘shine’ from the sun. Napier’s Insu-Case Flask Covers not only prevent any chance of reflection but offers more insulation to the contents and extra protection. They can also even be used to transport and hide soft drink bottles. Made from Hushtex, a soft, strong, washable, insulating and quiet material, they have a Realtree Camo finish. Due to the stretch fit nature, the small version holds most flasks from 300 to 750ml and the large will take the company’s 1litre model with room to spare. It’ll even hold most shop-bought 2 litre soft drink or water bottles. All come supplied with a removable shoulder strap, carrying/pouring handle and heavy-duty zip top closure. SRP: Small £10.74 Large £13.84 W: www.napieruk.com

  • Spirit level

    Spirit level

    When taking a shot, if you tilt (cant) your rifle from the vertical, your shot will veer off to one side or the other from where you are aiming. When shooting upwards at an angle, ‘cant’ can cause even more error in precise pellet placement. Thankfully, Sportsmatch UK have a choice of spirit levels that at a glance remedy this problem. The SP4 is a popular choice for offhand shooting such as this, because it can be seen in your peripheral vision, while sighting through the scope. Weighing 8 grams, it screws into the side of any of the company’s scope mount bases with M5 (large) screw threads and is unobtrusive. SRP: £33.95 W: www.sportsmatch-uk.com

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