the hitman

Hi folks Yesterday’s forecast was for heavy rain beginning about 10-11am, but sometimes they get it wrong ( I hoped). I was set up by 9.30 with pigeons on the move but not favouring the field I was on. I shot 2 and missed a couple more before the heavy rain started- which brought an abrupt end at 10.15. Today I hadn’t planned to go shooting however the conditions were perfect, so I was able to change my schedule and I was set up at 10.30 after a quick recce. My chosen field was a familiar one under 3 beeches and I push about 200 birds off as I approached. I had forgotten my decoys and only had 2 dead birds for the magnet. The birds I pushed off had settled on another field with more pitching in. I fired 2 shots in their direction and they lifted- and about 10 headed towards me. I shot 1 and missed 1, however these shots lifted the birds again and more came over, and I soon had 5 which I set up on flexi sticks Geoff Garrod style. My shots seemed to have put the pigeons back on the original flightline and for an hour it was pretty much nonstop shooting. I soon had about 35 out as decoys including the magnet which was really pulling them in. By 12.30 it was slowing down, and I could see pigeons heading to another field, however I was still picking away and shooting some lovely over the trees shots as well as crossing decoying shots. By 1.30 knowing that I had shot a good bag I gave it another 30 minutes then called it a day with 68 shot.

Sorry to hear that PC - advice from my wife is - plenty fluids and keep taking paracetamol even if you feel you don’t need them. You will just have to sit it out - feet up and Netflix on.

Great result- thank you for posting. Wind is essential for decoying at this time of year, I love it when they come in low into the wind like driven partridge. Keep your posting your reports- Happy new year.

Hi Folks What is everyone drinking this New Year’s Eve ? I am having a quiet night in with Mrs H - sharing a bottle of Campo viejo red with iberico ham and Stilton as nibbles.

I don’t think you need any advice- I have sent you a PM Hi MM Nice report- definitely a shot the young fella will remember. Thank you for your shooting reports this year always a good read.

You probably have a touch of bird flu with all those pigeons you have shot recently. Hope it’s nothing serious- and well done getting out again.

Hi was unable to get out yesterday which was a shame as the conditions were perfect- however I did do a small recce and was itching to get out this morning. The pigeons had moved to another field not to far from where I spotted them yesterday- the problem was that I would have to walk the length of 2 football pitches to get to where they wanted to be. I was set up at 9.45 after pushing about 500 birds off the field. There was a proper westerly blowing and after a 20 minute downpour the pigeons begin to return. It was a case of 20 minutes action then 20 mins waiting. There was an initial reluctance to commit to the decoys, however by 11.30 I had exchanged all the sillosocks for 15 dead birds and 2 on the magnet. A flock of about 150 pigeons kept making an appearance, so I let them in before gently making my presence known, they would carry on into the wind, every time at least 3 would spin around for a second look and I made my presence known in a more noisy way- both barrels. I spent a lot of time looking at an empty sky, however everything that came near decoyed so I kept picking away. It was a real mix of singles and groups of 6- 10 which gave me some nice left and rights. At 1.45 it had that end of day feel- so I decided that I would shoot one more pigeon or pack up at 2pm -whichever came first- it was a pigeon straight into the decoys, and that was the last pigeon I shot this year. I had 40 pigeons and the walk back to the car needed 2 trips across a very muddy field- I hate this getting old malarkey. I would like it wish everyone a healthy and happy new year.

Nice report- roost shooting is always a special occasion. Go back in daylight tomorrow and you will find the other 3.

I have used the blue case Jocker 28g no7 when Bywell shooting ground stocked them - great decoying cartridges. Spanish Trust cartridges in the 28g no7 are also a great budget cartridge.

My game dealer told me that so many well established shoots have had to cancel the season as woods are flat or too sparse to hold birds- we might see more game crop going in next year. Bring a chainsaw and trailer for your log burner.

Storm Arwen certainly left it’s mark on the countryside locally- but some trees do still remain. I had a walk though the woods which surround my place of work last week, and we have lost more than 200 hardwood trees. Some were pushed over, while others have been twisted and snapped off midway down the trunk. Apparently Kielder forest lost 12,000 trees. I know you have friends up here who will has already described the devastation.

The wind finally picked up today- however the threat of rain was in the forecast, but I was desperate to get out. I did a quick recce and was set up at 9.30am with a decent North Easterly blowing. I was in a block of 3 fields of OSR with pigeons on all 3 fields. I chose the shortest walk possible as the fields were so muddy. Pigeons began to arrive straight away and I had 2 for the magnet after 3 shots. There was a stronger line going to the furthest away part of the field, however every time they lifted they came over me. The rain was getting heavier but the pigeons didn’t seem bothered and kept coming- sometimes singles sometimes 30+. It was just good to be out getting a few shots- and I am happy with the 27g super fasts -and one particular pigeon was shot dead at 49 paces from the hide. The magnet was pulling a few in and although I had spells of inactivity, I was happy to be out. By 1pm both the rain and the pigeons had dried up so with 22 shot I called it a day.

Every cloud. January transfer window to look forward to.

The weather locally has been terrible for shooting pigeons- flat calm. I had convinced myself that conditions would improve today and I would be able to get a few shots off. The fog has not lifted all day and the temperature has not risen above 3 degrees- so I have been doing housekeeping duties and watching darts. I have the agony of watching Newcastle against Man Utd tonight. There is always hope that the fog will clear tomorrow and we will beat the red tonight- yes I am bored. Hitman

Nice write up of a very eventful day. Good recce paid off with a great bag in a relatively short day out. Nice picture. Merry Christmas.

Well done getting out -and a decent bag for the time of year. Conditions have been hopeless for pigeon shooting locally, flat calm, overcast and cold. Plenty birds sitting up most of the day- so I have decided to leave alone until conditions improve.

My wife is an NHS nurse who worked in full PPE during the first and second lockdown with on occasion a full ward of covid patients, most of which didn’t make it home. She has been wearing a mask doing 12hr shifts every since. What ever people choose to do in the coming days and weeks will have a huge impact on the NHS . Just because Boris and his minions are a bunch of irresponsible, arrogant idiots it doesn’t mean responsible people should follow.

Nice report- well done finding a new permission. The birds clearly like the area by the amount of birds that you described. Keep an eye on that area, if the conditions are good you could have a cracking day to come. Hitman

Nice read - thank you for posting . I am always encouraged to see pigeons on the wing heading to feed rather than just a load down feeding. Well done picking the right place for your hide on both occasions.

Well done- again You are picking away with good results, and the call of the wild lured you out of a warm bed. I enjoy that kind of winter pigeon shooting it has a magical appeal. keep nailing the carrion’s - the songbirds will appreciate it in the spring.

Nice read with some very interesting information- especially that they came straight back after being disturbed. If it hadn’t rained you might have had 3 trips back to the motor- every cloud. Glad you enjoyed your day.

Nice report- good work especially with the carrion crows.

I am supposed to be going to Madrid in 3 weeks time, however the new rule of having to self isolate until the PCR results come back are putting my trip in jeopardy as Mrs H is due back to work the day after we return. What happens if the results take 3 days or more to come back? I think this will put a lot of travellers off going abroad unless they can allow time for a period of isolation.

I wonder if watchlaw has been affected

Al There is a 20 ft wide channel of flattened trees from North to South ( about 20) at my school as if a tornado has cut through it . It’s unbelievable the damage that has been done.