The ultimate quarry

Peter Theobald delights that he is still learning about the ways of the wily woodie after 50 years

- Peter Theobald

When I wrote my book The Woodpigeon: The Ultimate Quarry 25 years ago, people would often ask me why I deemed the humble woody to be a superior quarry to all the other species available to sportsmen in the UK.

Surely a cock pheasant slipping sideways on a strong crosswind, having launched itself from 150ft up a Welsh mountain, or a late-season grouse hurtling around the contours of a Scottish moor, would present a far greater challenge for the average Gun?

The fact is, the skills you need to acquire to deal with the aforementioned game birds can be learned relatively quickly; all you need is a good coach and deep pockets. To become proficient at killing pigeons can take a lifetime, hence, at 68, with 50 years of practice behind me, I am still learning.

Stick a good game shooter in a pigeon hide for the first time and it will very likely bea humbling experience for him, as the birds twist and turn in a way that no other bird can. If you can hit pigeons consistently, you can deal with any bird that flies.

Admiration