JDog Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) My worst fears came true this afternoon when I turned up at the maize stubble on which I had seen a few pigeons yesterday only to find that it had been cultivated this morning. The most efficient farmers sometimes give very little opportunity for shooting. There were a few birds on and some drifting by and I decided to give it a go. I had an old friend with me who set up 40m from my hide and I designed the pattern so that we could both benefit, The first bird came from my left and along the hedge we were set up in. It was 50m high so I decided not to shoot at it, only to see my companion shoot it stone dead. The same happened ten minutes later with a bird at least as high. He was using a very old side by side with 3/4 choke in both barrels. Thankfully his shooting deteriorated after that or I would have been shown up 'big style'. I have never found that pigeons decoy well onto maize stubble and so it proved this afternoon. Most came just to look by which time they were added to the pattern. We shot for 2 1/2 hours and picked 52 pigeons, three carrions, two jackdaws and a very unlucky magpie. As we were packing up we had a visitor in the form of a Police Constable. He had received complaints from the nearby village about shot landing on roofs. Considering that the nearest house in the village was 400m away and we were shooting away from it that charge was unlikely. I showed him our hide positions and where the pattern had been and he was more than happy with our explanation. This is the first time in 40 years of decoying that I have ever been visited in this way. Edited September 20, 2014 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I'm sure there must be a sabs or antis website somewhere that gives the tip that telling plod that shot is landing on a roof (at any range) will curtail the days shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I'm sure there must be a sabs or antis website somewhere that gives the tip that telling plod that shot is landing on a roof (at any range) will curtail the days shooting. That has to be right ,it seems to happen too often from the reports on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Same here JDog , I have only had one visit although I knew the policeman who came and see me and the complaint was this persons horses were getting disturbed by the gunfire and he estimated I was over 300yds from her paddock and he told me to carry on and he went back to tell her if I wasn't shooting one day a week the estate would have to put a gas gun on there which would be going each day , and we never heard from her again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntsman Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 probably due to the loud bangs disturbing someones day off a charge of wasting police time should cure them phoning to complain again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Well done , good result. Will we be seeing you on Crime Watch next Month????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Your post sounds as though you are disappointed, but I would consider that a good bag for a couple of hours shooting. Well done , good result.Will we be seeing you on Crime Watch next Month? ? ??? Pay attention please, he was on last months programme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I use google distance calculator to ensure I'm well out of range of roads etc. Also good for ranging shooting points with the rifle. Accurate to inches over distance. Worth a look F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 My farmer's neighbour's wife never happy about shooting because we scare her beloved dog. Distance 300m, tree line between us, etc. Asked her when to shoot not to disturb? "Never". Farmer told me keep shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 They always exaggerate I find..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted September 22, 2014 Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 In my youth I shot pigeons over large areas of land, both near to and at distance from other properties, in over twenty years I never had a single complaint, since restarting my shooting interest in the last 3 years I have had 3 complaints, two from the public who trespassed onto private farmland to complain and were duly shown the way out, but with a fair amount of gentle diplomacy , the third was two local bobbies who were acting on a complaint from a member of the public, they also had the RSPCA inspector in tow , once again and after much discussion they made a friendly exit stage left. In my opinion the way the public view shooting as with all blood sports has changed considerably , where once we carried on our country pursuits and put food on the table , now we are seen as people who get a kick from the pain and suffering of wildlife, no longer the hunter gatherer, now just gun carrying men with a lust for blood , our public image , especially the way we are perceived in the press can only get worse as we are pursued by the anti's and tree huggers ,its up to us to take the utmost care when picking places to shoot to ensure we make the minimum amount of interaction possible with these people, any conflict will only make matters worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 That approach is almost like hiding though - got something to be ashamed of, I can hear the antis cry. The alternative is to just be very open about what you do. If someone wants to call the police, then fine, let them. The police will turn up, you will show them tickets, permission slips, have a friendly chat, and off they go. Sooner or later, the police will be handing out warnings - not to us, the law-abiding shooters, but to those who complain, and waste police time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny_blaster Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 That approach is almost like hiding though - got something to be ashamed of, I can hear the antis cry. The alternative is to just be very open about what you do. If someone wants to call the police, then fine, let them. The police will turn up, you will show them tickets, permission slips, have a friendly chat, and off they go. Sooner or later, the police will be handing out warnings - not to us, the law-abiding shooters, but to those who complain, and waste police time I'm completely with you on this. I must admit I'm very open about my shooting and why I do it when people ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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