Bagging geese at Thormaid
Bagging geese at Thormaid

The morning shooting with Nigel having fun and then this evening bagging geese at Thormaid as I tired of Nigel’s selfishness and unfortunately could not disguise it before Chris Ross delivered our trophies. To bed weary after a trying day

Another nice breakfast and then to Thormaid after grouse and snipe. I had my normal trouble with Nigel who was walking ahead, taking no notice of where I was and preferring his own sport. His skill gave him another snipe at long range which was a good shot but all I got was a boot-full of water for my pains. We had our packed lunch and then went to Thurso to do some shopping for decoy, a goose call and other odds and ends. Back to try out the goose shooting at Thormaid where we both had success, our decoys and my calling attracting a flight of White-Fronted Geese with me bagging a young one and Nigel an adult. (I was to find out later after returning to England that these were a protected species north of the border!).

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There then followed our normal trouble as I followed the progress of another group across the loch towards us and kept Nigel informed. I was tracking them with the binoculars and calling to attract them. Instead of letting them through into the agreed "killing zone" where we could both stand a chance he shot at them, getting one for himself (his fourth) and letting the others away. He also announced his intention to leave and so I could not shoot until dark as he pleaded "Myopia" and I missed another over-pass which was my last chance. Tired after a hectic sporting week, I was not as diplomatic as I should have been and let him know my feelings and our relationship deteriorates further which is a pity. Tonight, another late dinner and Chris Ross brought round our stags antlers, cut off trimmed and boiled clean for us to mount as souvenirs. To bed very tired after a trying day.