scotja86 Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Hi Everyone, Went over to my perm yesterday for a look about and couldnt believe how many pigeons and crows were having a go at an area of laid wheat. Must of been 300 or so! Anyone else been noticing increasing pigeon numbers on Wheat? Anyone got any good tips for shooting over the standing wheat? Never shot over standing crops before and I only have 12 shell decoys, a couple of bouncers and a magnet.. Cheers, Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Best tip , if you cannot pick them up , don't shoot them ( pigeons) find a big laid area and only shoot birds that are right in the decoys and you know will drop in the laid patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 As Fenboy , shoot the laid area and keep picking up so it's clear , I've had a ton plus bag like this but it is tin can shooting the same shot over and over. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Agree, discipline yourself to shots that you know you can pick. Don't want to be trampling the crop looking for birds either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I saw about 20 right alongside the road in a field of wheat as I drove home on Friday. They were using their wings to hold up themselves up in the standing. This didn't stop them flighting off as I drove past Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Genuine question as I`m a real novice at pigeon shooting. Why is it so important not to shoot pigeons if they can`t be recovered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 It isn't in this situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Genuine question as I`m a real novice at pigeon shooting. Why is it so important not to shoot pigeons if they can`t be recovered? Many People (myself Included) hate shooting pigeons that can't be picked. I must admit, I ALWAYS have a look for dropped pigeons, even if I may cause a little crop damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Many People (myself Included) hate shooting pigeons that can't be picked. I must admit, I ALWAYS have a look for dropped pigeons, even if I may cause a little crop damage. Is it because they may not have been killed outright? Or are there other reasons? And do you apply the same "rules" for corvids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mightymariner Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 One tip, if the area is small enough and the pigeons etc have been consistently on the same piece of ground I wouldn't use any decoys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Is it because they may not have been killed outright? Or are there other reasons? And do you apply the same "rules" for corvids? There is a bit of that to it. I don't even like to see a crow running off wounded and have run the whole length of a field to finish them off. I am not so bothered about picking crows that are dead, but I will always try to pick pigeons up, regardless. Pigeons are a pest and crows are vermin to me. I also eat and sell pigeons, crows I do neither. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 There is a bit of that to it. I don't even like to see a crow running off wounded and have run the whole length of a field to finish them off. I am not so bothered about picking crows that are dead, but I will always try to pick pigeons up, regardless. Pigeons are a pest and crows are vermin to me. I also eat and sell pigeons, crows I do neither. Ok, cheers Motty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Is it because they may not have been killed outright? Or are there other reasons? And do you apply the same "rules" for corvids? See my recent posting Bagged a ton on peas . I could not retrieve half the birds shot and was criticised for it. Many PF members do not like shooting pigeons when they can not be retrieved. I am the same and I would not do this if they were not causing a lot of damage to a farm crop but I will when they are and the farmer wants them controlled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) Genuine question as I`m a real novice at pigeon shooting. Why is it so important not to shoot pigeons if they can`t be recovered? All beasts that are dispatched should be used in the food chain if POSSIBLE. There is a famous quote >> The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please. We have it in trust. We must account for it to those who come after. King George VI. Humans dont have a god given right to go out and slaughter everything that moves for the fun of it. anyone that just wants to shoot at things can go clay shooting. Control is the word not extermination. Sometimes the control has to be stronger than at other times. Edited June 29, 2015 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 See my recent posting Bagged a ton on peas . I could not retrieve half the birds shot and was criticised for it. Many PF members do not like shooting pigeons when they can not be retrieved. I am the same and I would not do this if they were not causing a lot of damage to a farm crop but I will when they are and the farmer wants them controlled. Cheers Sam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 if the farmer wants them shot i always obey his command or he will have somonelse do the job instead i try my best to pick up but on standing barley wheat etc not a east thing to do unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I do find it a bit odd that some people will possibly cause damage to crops to retrieve a pigeon that they have just shot to protect crops . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 i think if the farmer wants them off the field the job needs to be done im afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 today's combines don't leave much behind so don't worry to much, one farmer told how do you think we get on with storm damage.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) I cut a few long sticks and put them up the tram lines out from the area that I am shooting over. I try to use these sticks mark any birds that come down in the crop and against any trees that might be in the background. when I go out and have a bit of a pickup I walk the tramlines and use the dog. she will go ahead of me and doesn't miss much. If I think that there is one in an area near a stick I just give her the command and she does the rest. I once picked up 25 birds from a wheat field where someone had shot it the day before and not bothered to pick up. He was a clay shooter and had no interest in gathering up the shot birds. they were just targets to him. PS I looked at the field where I had seen the pigeons on friday and there were a load on the lines looking to drop down on the wheat even though there was some sort of farm / crop meeting going on in the next field only 100 paces from where they were. If the people weren't in the field then i'm sure that there would have been fifty down on the wheat. Edited June 29, 2015 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 shropshiresam red letter day didnt pick them all dosent matter well done my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Why? Because to most genuine pigeons shooters, they are not a pest or vermin, but arguably this country's most sporting flying quarry that deserves respect and to be put in the food chain in one way or another. Is it because they may not have been killed outright? Or are there other reasons? And do you apply the same "rules" for corvids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numpty Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 If anyone wants to shoot 'Targets' then go clay shooting, if you want to shoot live birds, give them the respect they deserve and if edible put them in the food chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Genuine question as I`m a real novice at pigeon shooting. Why is it so important not to shoot pigeons if they can`t be recovered? In my opinion they should be recovered to go into the food chain , so you shoot then where they can be recovered without causing further crop damage. I have seen fields which they have left the birds to rot and the damage that predators have done to the crop is more than the pigeons and the smell and flies were all going into the locality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 shropshiresam red letter day didnt pick them all dosent matter well done my friend. That shows a particularly poor attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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