motty Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 This year has been a strange one for me, so far. There has been no shortage of pigeons, but for me there has been a shortage of the right opportunities. Certain farms have grown no rape in the 'right' areas, which would normally have given me a decent bit of sport by now, and the drillings have been very disappointing this year ( though a couple of farms still have some late stuff to go in). Yesterday I went and had an outing on some rape that has been hammered by pigeons. I have always had permission to shoot the field, but I didn't realise that. Anyway, I had been keeping an eye on it daily for the last week or so and decided that the birds must decoy, from the way they had been behaving. The only doubt in my mind was the fact that there is a similar field a few hundred yards away that the birds might use if disturbed. I arrived at the field at around 08.30, to find a good few tucking in in the spot which was damaged the most and also where I planned to set up. Good start. The sun was shining and there was a nice light breeze blowing from the right of my hide position. I chucked out a load of flocked shells and started with two flappers. I wanted to start without the faithful rotary and see how the birds would commit. A nice little hide was erected in the little dry ditch than runs along the edge of the field with a row of conifers. A few birds came around in small numbers; the flocks have well and truly broken up. I managed to shoot a few and miss a few. I was sure my shooting would improve. As usual I added freshly shot birds. I wasn't happy with the amount of birds passing by without dropping in, Was my pattern not attractive enough? It thought it was time for the magnet. I had tried the other set up for well over an hour and it wasn't working as well as I thought it would. The difference made was easy to see. Pigeons started to 'attack' the magnet. The only problem now was my shooting. I had ditched the silenced .410 earlier, as I had struggled for clean kills, but I was almost as bad with the twelve! I just had to work out what I was doing wrong. Birds I would probably normally hit blindfolded were flying off with their middle finger (claw?) up. I was probably just really rusty. I've only shot a few hundred pigeons this year and I can't remember the last time I had a go at clays. I think I was missing the birds behind, due to a bit of a stuttery swing. As if by magic, though, my form returned. I started dropping doubles easily and the confidence came flooding back. This was enough to put a smile on my face. For the remainder of the day, nothing that came to the pattern was safe. With all the dead birds out providing a convincing pattern and my renewed shooting ability, the pigeons only hope was safety in numbers. Just as I was contemplating packing up, I picked a few birds that had been hit hard and died a way off. I was accosted by the nice lady who lives in the house at the end of the field, that asked me if I 'had to keep bangin' them guns'. She said she would report me to the coppers as I was 'setting her chickens off'. I just walked away. I packed up not long after that with a decent bag of 71. I enjoyed it once I started to shoot straight. I did film some of it, so I may post some footage of that soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi Nice write up glad your form returned 😊 All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 I think we all get a little rusty after a lay off , I think it easy to get over excited by the prospect of the first decent bag of they year too . You still ended up with a decent bag so its not all bad news Of course you are aware that if you continue to shoot like a tit you are more than welcome to join me for a refresher or two Or you could take the advice you gave Muncher and get your eyes tested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIDENSEEK Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Nice write up & result Motty, perhaps things are going to pick up for the rest of us now. Wonder what the blip was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Ummm 😐👀👀👀 now what sis you say to me,Not getting any younger ,suppose you've lost my number as well 😈,glad you had a good day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Ummm now what sis you say to me,Not getting any younger ,suppose you've lost my number as well ,glad you had a good day I haven't lost anyone's numbers. Just didn't want to invite anyone in case it was as disappointing as last time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 I think Muncher is just upset that he was not there to see you shoot like a plonker I had a Funeral so would not have made it big day or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 😁 went fishing and got a big bite ,no worries mate I was busy Gerard went out yesterday and asked me to join him he shot 40 in two hours like you he couldn't hit the first few stopped on the way home and watch him for a bit ,old ****** doesn't miss much.👍 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 A detailed post and a good day out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Nice read motty, you came good in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 A good day , I think the adrenalin gets to you when you miss a few . You just have to get angry with them and you get the hits you want. A good honest report of the day and a good result for this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 A good result and a good read. Having a "missing" day is not new to any of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 great write up, and a good bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 A good honest report there motty. I think what ever happens with the shooting, it's nice to have the pigeons decoying so confidently after what has been a tricky past few months for many of us for various reasons. Good result in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Nice right up. I had a similar rusty day a few weeks ago, not as many pigeon or as big a back (15), but shot poorly, should of doubled the bag or a bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 nice one motty,quality bag in the end. This shooting lark ain't easy...good fun though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Sounds all too familiar to me , nice to see someone else struggling with the .410, me no rate them over twenty yards. Must be me though as I keep reading about them being used as back guns to wipe every ones eyes, I'm surprised Youtube is not full of clips of wild boar being knocked into next week with 5 shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Nice bag Motty, and a good read. You've just made us feel normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Excellent day and very honest report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Reading between the lines, something that one doesn't need to do with Motty, it appears that he now prefers to shoot alone. Muncher and Fenboy his regular partners will be disappointed as indeed I will having been promised a day during harvest this year. My invitation will soon be withdrawn I have no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocknee Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Reading between the lines, something that one doesn't need to do with Motty, it appears that he now prefers to shoot alone. Muncher and Fenboy his regular partners will be disappointed as indeed I will having been promised a day during harvest this year. My invitation will soon be withdrawn I have no doubt. If you don't mind the travelling you are welcome here to share a feed with me harvest time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Reading between the lines, something that one doesn't need to do with Motty, it appears that he now prefers to shoot alone. Muncher and Fenboy his regular partners will be disappointed as indeed I will having been promised a day during harvest this year. My invitation will soon be withdrawn I have no doubt. I like to shoot alone at times and I also like sharing a day with others. Trouble is, I have a few people who I invite from time to time - maybe 5 or 6. The offer is still open to you for a day at harvest time, provided I find something worth travelling for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 I think although Motty , Muncher and myself share some days none of us take them for granted , we wait for a invitation rather than asking each other . Equally we are all a little reluctant to issue a invite unless we foresee a reasonable days sport. Even when we do get together we may well be in different hides on different fields , so in effect still shooting alone , the best way to get a decent bag is always our first consideration. I am sure you will get your invitation JDog , and when you do you will shoot some pigeons ,I am sure you will also have a invite to join me for a day when pigeon numbers give a good chance of a decent day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 I have to agree with motty and fenboy on this, I rarely invite people out for exactly the same reasons I can,t guarantee a days shooting for them, in fact I can't guarantee a days shooting for myself we out go at the weekend in ( hope) that we find something I work full time so can,t do any reccie at all, I just go off knowledge I gathered from looking around the previous weekend, and crop situation every now and then it comes good and shoot a few but its only because I have found the birds that particular day and they played ball that particular day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Motty knows I was only jesting ,I'm never offended if he or amy of my shooting buddy's have a good day and I don't 😁 just had a call from one of my permission could I keep an eye on a 100 acre of peas he drilled this week ,its only on a very good flightline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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