Flanker

What crop were you on?

Spent 2 hours looking over 100's acres and didn't even see that much! Hoping for better luck at weekend as the wheat is all being cut in next few days. Gun didn't make it out of the car!

Found just the same myself today on rape stubble. Am hoping that the wheat will be cut tomorrow and am planning another go on Tuesday when I hope there will be more interest on a fresh crop. Lots of birds about, but very few dropping in.

Have just watched an interesting DVD where the guy shoots over maze stubble, but decoys on a ploughed patch beside it as the birds "hop on and off" as they feed. Would be interested to know what others thoughts are as the season progresses and the rape and wheat/barley stubble is plouged and the maze is cut. Have a patch in mind where this will be the case on one of my permissions so some advice would be greatfully received.

Have noticed more ferals this year that anytime I can remember - am tyring not to shoot them as they're no good to sell. When decoying what's always interesting is how much more suspicious they are than woodies. I try and let them come in and hope the woodies think it's a good idea to follow.

Still waiting for wheat here - rape still the food of choice.

Having read many reports of birds feeding into early evening and beyond, decided to arrive mid-afternoon and see what was about on week old rape stubble. On arrival (3:30pm) big group, 200+ lifted and very encouraged to see them move further down the field and into one next door. Set up about 4pm on what has been a good flight line last week and had a steady stream until about 7:30 when got a bit chilly though birds still moving about. Shot 28 but could have shot 20+ more ferrels. Though they did come into the deecs, the number moving was vast, more that I've seen earlier in the day - including lots and lots of ferrels. Anyone el se having much luck later in the afternoon/evening?

Went back to the recently cut rape fields yesterday having set-up for a couple of hours the day before shhoting 10. Up nice and early, all set up at 8am having stood and watched good numbers dropping in from trees and an emerging flightpath. Shot 3 birds in first 15 minutes and as planning to be there for the day, questioning if have brought enough carts! Then nothing! Not a bird in the sky. Waited and waited. Tryed all the tricks, cup of coffee, toilet stop, even sending a text message. Told myself that if nothing about by midday, would call it quits when bang-on 12 noon, a bird from nowhere dropped into my pattern from way up high. Then another, groups of three and four and so on until 2pm when again it stopped just as suddenly as it had started. It was almost as if they were given 2 hours for lunch and that was that! Ended up with 34 from 50 shots and left at 3pm. Anyone else finding such rigid feeding times? :unsure:

Have seen pigeons recently hitting an area just a bit bigger than this. The main problem is that if the birds are interested, you've got to kill them in a small zone so not to damage the standing crop. The birds i saw through binos were clambering over each other when in so they obviously thought it was worth it! Best of luck,

Been keeping an eye on several rape fields as farmer has been keen to cut this, early next week. Arrived at about 12 noon to see several birds dropping in on one field with the farmer combining the one next door. Quick chat with the farmer and his wife and decided to set up for a couple of hours having disturbed 200+ birds on walking into the field. High hopes for a quick fire 20 or so before needing to be elsewhere. Shot horribly! Even the easy shots seemed to be byond me when last week shot 75% on laid wheat. Managed 10 in 2 hours with many birds very interested. Going back tomorrow for a day session - have high hope of a good day. Love this time of year!

As with all pigeon shooting, it's partly recon and partly luck. Often pigeons have favourite woods to roost in, but these will change depending on a number of factors. Sometimes by firing off a shot can disturb birds only for them to return to where you are - but sometimes not.

Wathched 100's of pigeons dropping into cut maize while at Sandy Park - Exeter during the week. Real distraction as was at a conference!

Have found the same time and time again. Bouncer is of use on standing crop, but once harvested, half shell decoys have proven consistently better.

Have a small filed that I'm keeping an eye on here in Devon - looking forward to a go on it later in the year.

Am finding best results from simple pattern of half-shell decoys. Bouncer sems to make them hesitate or not even come in. Bouncer seems better on wheat/barley that's been blown over prior to harvest. Timing at the moment better 11am onward until 3-4pm. All subject to change though - that's part of the joy of it all!

All sounds very familiar and part of the joy of shooting pigeons. Shot 29 birds on one occasion in 2 hours end of last week with birds dropping into a very simple horsehoe pattern from all over. Just a few days later, nearby location, same crop, weather, wind direction; birds very high and not looking whatsoever despite all means of 'encouragement'! I'm developing a kit bag that's as managable as possible - example 10 half-shell birds, smallish net and poles so that on the days when for whatever reason it's not happening, I don't feel too hard done by, especially if only able to spend a few hours. The good news is, when they are coming in, and seemingly nothing can stop them - it makes up for the 10 times you manage 2-3 (or worst), get wet, scrape your leg on barb-wire and get into grief when getting home because you said you'd be home an hour ago!

Not yesterday, but out this morning in fog and drzzle - nothing about. Only shot three who I think must have been lost!

£2.50 per lb for breast meat which is between 5-6 birds. Bit of a faff but if I can shoot between 50-60%, nearly covers cost of carts.

My local Army Surplus store is good for such items, especially if they've an odd size length that would be ok for building a hide. Don't know if you've got a shop near by?

Following two days of almost solid rain, going out tomorrow as the forecast is much better. Anyone any thoughts on birds hitting feilds harder after prolonged periods of rain as they've not fed or are any of you still braving the wet and windy weather and still getting good bags? My theory is that they'll have not fed and therefore be out in force!

Not seen any with mixy yet, but can't remember seeing as many for years - teeming with them. This usually means mixy won't be far away sadly! Horrible, horrible disease!

When nothing much about - pouring a coffee is a sure fire way to attract a bird or too! Never fails.

Delighted yesterday when bumped into the farmer who told me he'd cut some rape. On inspection, 15-20 birds were pitched in so seemed a good day on the cards - no cut crops anywhere near by. Set up some half shells, only a few birds about but coming into the pattern - looking good. Then however, once I'd shot a couple and put them on the bouncers - not so keen. They were certainally looking but not dropping in as before. Withdrew the bouncers and again birds were straight in. Anyone else had this problem? Anyway, not the great day hoped for - 12 birds. To add to this, on way back past the wheat filed that had previously had some good bags on with a small patch blown over by recent weather, about 30-50 were scrabbling over each other with many more dropping in! Quickly set up in here thinking might get a late flurish - nothing. No doubt fancied the rape for a late supper !

Set up on a patch of Wheat having been watching the flight line since last weekend. Set up with usuual horse-shoe at about 9:30am. First bird at 10am so the bouncer set 10yrds back from lead decoy - facing into the gentle breeze. About 12noon, more traffic and added dead birds to the pattern that they were now coming into a treat! This was until a point where they would look, but not stop. This happened for about 10 birds, unlike briefly before? Went out and picked up the last bird placed into the pattern and back they came, dropping in again! Might just have been luck, but I'm putting it down to the pattern must have been correct with 7-8 additional birds and the 6 half shell decs and bouncer, but one out of place or mis-positioned bird. Didn't ad any more shot birds from this point and they continued to come in. Anyway, finished at 2:30pm (had to go but still coming in ) with 29 shot from 58 shots - picked up 23.

Set up this morning at 10:30am with a patch of wheat that's been blown down a gun shot in front. Simple horse-shoe pattern of half shells facing into the wind that was blowing quite hard - few sharp showers too! Shot 17 and a crow finishing about 3pm, usual story of only being anle to pick-up 12 - don't want to cause any more damage. Crops of several birds full of green and very milky wheat. Many of the lower flying birds very happy to decoy in, but higher birds not really stopping and with the strength of the breeze. Good to be out though - as always a chance to study the flight lines and patterns. It never fails to amaze me how birds will come from over your sholder and fall like a rock into a decoy pattern if it's the dietary choice for the day! Be interested to hear if anyone else is on blown wheat or barley what decoys have been working? Think a flapper of rotor might have caused a bit more attention for the faster, higher moving birds?