Scottyt Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Hi, im having a little trouble getting the pigeons in on a rape feild. They seem to come in theb spook at the last min, any tips for shooting over rape at this time of year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 they can be a bit jumpy this time of the year what with gas bangers and so on , whats your set up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) Are they feeding on the field When your not there . Or are you just setting up and trying to pull them in ? Edited February 25, 2016 by stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottyt Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Yh they are feeding on the field, im using a rotarty then a v pattern with 10 shells each side. 2 bouncers and a flapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Then join the not-very-exclusive club consisting of pigeon shooters who cannot get pigeons to decoy on rape. I am a founder member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 i find the same just cant get them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 If the birds are flaring at the pattern then my guess would be a problem with the magnet or flapper spooking them. Try taking the flapper down and moving the magnet closer to the hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 If the birds are flaring at the pattern then my guess would be a problem with the magnet or flapper spooking them. Try taking the flapper down and moving the magnet closer to the hide. +1 assuming crop still v low try decoys/dead birds in cradles only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 The more spooky and tricky the birds the more I am disinclined to set up unless I can be right bang under an active flight line. In those situations I am quite happy to have the deeks on a field the birds aren't feeding on (even grass is fine) but I only use dead birds and I set them up on dowels with broken wings rather than using a whirly or flapper. If the wind is slight I have them riding high and if strong I push them right down so the tail is almost touching the ground/crop. To my eye the randomly flickering wing bars accurately represent a shifting flock and it seems to work well. Good luck. When birds are spooky it is a good learning opportunity as you can very quickly learn exactly what works and what does not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 When birds are spooky it is a good learning opportunity as you can very quickly learn exactly what works and what does not. I just seem to learn what doesn't work! I think you need to just get out and learn your permissions at this time of year. Do not expect much shooting. Best bet is to get a set up with a good view of your surroundings so you can learn the flightlines and watch/learn pigeon behaviour and just enjoy been out. As the rape starts to grow and the flocks split up then you can get some action on the rape (next month). Need to keep an eye on the thin patches away from any gas guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 when u find the sure fire answeres sam let us all know cos we cant find em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 I would bring the pattern closer to the hide , outer edge 25 yards, magnet and flappers 5 yards so they act as an attracter. By the time the birds think of spooking they are in range , when you've got some real birds place them 30 yards out and them replace shells with real birds, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12boreblue Posted March 6, 2016 Report Share Posted March 6, 2016 At the moment the flocks are quite large, and are always difficult to decoy in, spooking and flaring is always a problem this time of year, patience and more patience, find a flight line and set out a few deeks to divert them and have look on their way over. But don't take too many shells, take more coffee and sandwiches. My favourite plan is to find a field they are feeding on, then find any trees they are sitting in before descending onto the field. And set up near them. Works for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted March 7, 2016 Report Share Posted March 7, 2016 his time of year for me is about showing willing and being out there to show the land owner you are on top of it... I have taken the day off tomorrow to go and sit in a hedge for the day and shoot at very little the landowner says the rape is being destroyed and it is, but not by pigeon! there are more deer than birds on there..... they even come and feed when I am banging away with a shotgun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 I had exactly the same problem, after watching them for a while I realised they dont like open patterns, on rape they stay tight in a group, leap frogging each other as they move across the field but keeping very tightly packed, maybe in the thicker areas they feel safer if they can see another bird close, I copied them this afternoon and brought between 25 and 30 decoys into a small area , heads into the wind, then moved the magnet about 25 yards upwind , from then on it was great, where they were flaring away at the magnet, now they were simply turning in downwind seeing the pattern first and coming straight in, another tip is dont set the decoys directly down wind from your hide, as they level out on approach they will scan the area in front of them, if they dont like the look of your hide or catch a movement or unusual colour they will flare out, so have the decoys 25 yards out to one side , as they approach they will come in either left to right or right to left, keep adding to the pattern but keep it tight, in my view you cant have enough out, consider the hoards that descend into a small well trodden area on rape, thats what they are used to seeing, totally different from stubble or seeded land, hope that helps a little, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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