Malc

This may seem like a stupid question to those of you who have lived in Southern England for a while, but I'll ask anyway. I've found a field of freshly drilled sweetcorn/maize on a farm near where I shoot. It was only drilled 2 days ago and there are no pigeons on it yet. I'm wondering if it's worth me tracking down the farmer for permission. Do Woodpigeon like sweetcorn? (They don't grow it where I come from.)

Has anyone ever been refused permission to use magnets by farmers?

I use something similar to what you describe. A canvas "sea sack" with a plastic drum inside. Sea sacks are available from army surplus stores for about £10 and the plastic drum is an ex curry spice drum which I bought from a stand at the Midland Game Fair, about £5 , but I have seen them advertised in shooting times also. These drums are about 50L capacity and are a snug fit in the sea sack. I can fit all my nets and several deeks inside the drum and once in the hide I just turn the drum over and sit on it. All in all it's not too heavy and quite comfortable on the bum.

Do any of you fine fine fellows know of any woodpigeon clubs in Oxfordshire? I've heard that there is one named Banbury and District Woodpigeon and RC Club. I even got a contact Tel no. from BASC but unfortunately it was 2 years out of date. All my efforts to trace the club locally have failed. Anyone help?

It's funny you should mention joining BASC because I too need to join but was quite shocked to find out how expensive it is now. Previously I got automatic membership of BASC through the Woodpigeon Club I was in. Having moved to a different area I am too far away to take advantage of that club so need individual membership, but I was only paying £5 more for years club subscriptions! I suppose I'll just have to pay though.

I've always used a military issue "headover", which for those who aren't familiar with them are stretchy green fabric tubes that go over your head and fit around your neck to keep you warm. They are large enough to pull up over your face when required. I've always thought this was one of my most important bits of kit when decoying or roost shooting, until yesterday. Yesterday was my first trip out decoying for nearly a year and guess what? I couldn't find my headover. Needless to say I went without and it didn't make an ounce of difference. I was getting clear shots at pigeons directly over the hide and they didn't seem to bother about my pale face peering at 'em. Until it was too late that is. Of course there is another reason for using a headover- they only cost £2.

You've sparked my interest with this one, but do Woodpigeon enter feed sheds or were you shooting ferals?

I got a big black bin liner with my choke barrel at 50yards.

If the paint that's already on the deeks is the right colour, then a cheap and easy way to take the shine off is just to rub muck on 'em. (This is a tight Yorkshireman technique!) Also, I find a good dollop of matt white emulsion, on the neck bars, works a treat.