YES!!! After consumption of a variety of SPIRITS during “TEA” time … and, as DUSK approached … everyone piled back into their vehicles and drove to one of several DUCK PONDS to do more SHOOTING!

(An example of the VISIBILITY on approach at that time of day!!! There are three men in this photo!)

Steve, Mark, Allan, “Smiler” and I headed to “THE BOMB HOLE.”

During WWII, Yeovilton was one of several airbases built in Somerset (Southwestern England). Apparently, they set up a “dummy” air strip a distance from the real airbase, so that German bombers would bomb the dummy strip instead of the airbase. And, indeed, the dummy strip was bombed.

Once filled with moor water, one of the Yeovilton “Bomb Holes” was large enough to form a Duck Pond of sufficient size. It was planted with trees and shrubs along its eastern side, to create a natural “blind” wherein hunters could hide. And, its western side has been kept clear of growth. That way, at DUSK, when hunters hide in the eastern area, ducks returning to the pond are silhouetted against the setting sun. Thus, the ducks can be more easily seen – more easily SHOT – at the Yeovilton Bomb Hole Duck Pond.

Although it was the least-pleasant part of my “SHOOT” experience (WAY TOO LOUD!),
the Bomb Hole Duck Shoot was still incredibly interesting to observe.

My Greatest REGRET: I didn’t get a pic of the wonderful DOG, “Granite,”
who did all the duck-retrieving during this shoot!
That sweet dog WORKED HIS FURRY BUTT OFF: retrieving ducks from the water
and from the surrounding field … again, and again, and again!

Upon it getting too dark to shoot any more ducks, we returned to the vehicle,
hung up the ducks, and drove back to Ronnie’s house.

Once back at Ronnie’s, everyone hung their “catch” in his garage.
The entirety of birds shot during the day are SHARED among everyone who participated.

FINAL COUNT of the DAY: 42 Pheasant 7 Partridge 3 Snipe 1 Pigeon 1 Rabbit DUCKS: 11 Teal 13 Widgin 9 Mallard A total of 86 birds and 1 Bunny!

If you have information or suggestions for myne 2004 UK TOUR Website
– or PHOTO contributions for it! –
PLZ Email Me!
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
That’s: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com –
those are hyphens/dashes (-) between the “c” and “d” and “miller”