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shirley cooper · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:27 pm Post subject: A good priest

Can anyone recommend a good priest? Obviously I am not as strong as most men and when my dogs pick up wounded birds I am having trouble despatching them instantly. I brought a priest from NOBS but think I need one that is heavier at the end.
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www.deifstockgundogs.co.uk

weima · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

I just use the end of my walking stick as it has a nob on.

I had a good priest which I bought from ebay many years ago but lost it & I seem to think it was made from an antler.
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Claire Smile

Minstergate Weimaraners

weima · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:20 pm Post subject:

Mine was similar to this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Stag-Horn-P...shingAcces_RL?hash=item3a510b2650
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Claire Smile

Minstergate Weimaraners

shirley cooper · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks Claire. thats like the one i've got but I think I need something that is heavier at the end. Maybe I am just not hitting it in the right place, I will have to persevere.
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www.deifstockgundogs.co.uk

DesO'Neile · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject:

I forget the name but I had a pair of what I will call game dispatch pliers that were magic when I was running the beating line. The gap is a set distance and breaks the spinal collum. No blood, no pulled off heads, no live birds removed from game bag and very quick to operate. Bird in hand from dog, pliers closed and dead bird in game bag In these PC days and worried about public perceptions these are a great job all round.
If you have the correct flick of the wrist the light priest is actually more effective than the heavy one. Heavy priests smack of bludgeoning.

weima · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject:

I've got those pliers too & cannot remember where I got them from, possibly John Norris in Cumbria but I went back to my trusty stick
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Claire Smile

Minstergate Weimaraners

griffon · Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Dorset **Breed:**

I bought a Bisley brass one from my local SCATS store for £10 its small and very heavy better than the NOBS one the best I have had, there is one on ebay for about £13 not sure if this link will work.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Quality-Bisley-Brass-Priest

Waldo · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:26 pm Post subject:

I didn't really know what to expect when I opened this thread, I have previously used a "priest" when fly fishing for trout but had never considered using one on a bird. As a duck hunter from the past all we ever used to do was hold the head and give a quick flick of the wrist to wring/break the neck, would have thought that was about as discreet as it comes and only takes one hand to do (the other hand always had the gun in it)?
Cheers,
Waldo

PS.
I have been browsing this forum for a while and just noticed that was my first post,. Hi!

windem bang · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Waldo Very Happy

I too use a one handed flick to break birds necks but I also have a priest. Some shoots don't like to hang birds with broken necks .

There is now a telescopic metal priest on the market , I've seen it in fishing tackle shops. It looks useful and very unobtrusive.

I agree that an efficiently used priest does not need to be particularly heavy.

Bill T.

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Breed for the best - train for the rest.