It has been at least a couple of years now since I was able to take my air rifles out and hunt. That it has been so long has been a result of geography, there aren't many working farms in this part of the country, and I have moved to other hobbies. It is however something I sorely miss doing.
I have found that I am no-where near as switched on when just out for a walk as I am when hunting. Whether I shoot anything or not, the excuse of being out there with that intent means that I move with greater stealth and precision and am far more sensitive to wind, sun light and small sounds, and as a result see and hear far more wildlife.
I didn't often shoot magpies but I guess I was influenced by conversations earlier in life with a couple of little old ladies, bird lovers both, who thoroughly hated magpies. Hence I tended to try to shoot them most chances I got. Would I do the same now? Probably not, but its hard to say, chances to hunt are so few and far between that I reckon I would be more interested in putting meat in the freezer than shooting corvids.
Corvids in general, and magpies in particular caused me more excitment when hunting than any rabbit or squirrel, purely because of their caution and sharp eye sight. If I stalked close to a crow or a magpie, or even anticipated where they would go and got there first, it was a real buzz, even if no shot presented itself. I will never forget crouching at the edge of a snowy wood, having moments before shot three magpies, and watching the fox that had already picked up the first two birds struggle to get its mouth around the third.
Watching an animal with binoculars, in general, takes far less skill than hunting. Taking decent photos takes even more skill, but I haven't reached the point where I would willingly trade a gun for a camera. I still see aspects of hunting as practical and watching and photographing as recreation, though its probably a distinction that won't work for most people.
I have found that I am no-where near as switched on when just out for a walk as I am when hunting. Whether I shoot anything or not, the excuse of being out there with that intent means that I move with greater stealth and precision and am far more sensitive to wind, sun light and small sounds, and as a result see and hear far more wildlife.
I didn't often shoot magpies but I guess I was influenced by conversations earlier in life with a couple of little old ladies, bird lovers both, who thoroughly hated magpies. Hence I tended to try to shoot them most chances I got. Would I do the same now? Probably not, but its hard to say, chances to hunt are so few and far between that I reckon I would be more interested in putting meat in the freezer than shooting corvids.
Corvids in general, and magpies in particular caused me more excitment when hunting than any rabbit or squirrel, purely because of their caution and sharp eye sight. If I stalked close to a crow or a magpie, or even anticipated where they would go and got there first, it was a real buzz, even if no shot presented itself. I will never forget crouching at the edge of a snowy wood, having moments before shot three magpies, and watching the fox that had already picked up the first two birds struggle to get its mouth around the third.
Watching an animal with binoculars, in general, takes far less skill than hunting. Taking decent photos takes even more skill, but I haven't reached the point where I would willingly trade a gun for a camera. I still see aspects of hunting as practical and watching and photographing as recreation, though its probably a distinction that won't work for most people.
