cloudwalker

Had a phone call from my shooting buddy to say that 2 small fields of former pasture had been drilled with wheat. These fields had been pasture for about 3 years. They used to be good fields before as they had good flight lines over them and I had shot some good bags there in the past. Anyway arrived at 9.00am and sure enough pigeon were flighting over it. Unfortunately the only spot I could set up up meant I was looking straight into the sun all day. My mate was banging away in the next field just behind me, They were obviously dropping in well to him. Managed to drop a few despite the sun and soon they started to decoy well. Packed up at 3.30pm and between us we picked up 99 woodies. We could have had more but unfortunately each time one of us shot it scared the birds that were that were coming in to the other. Anyway a good day but I was surprised that the farmers have started spring drilling already.

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. I had been decoying all day and had about 25 in the bag. Next thing I knew 3 blokes turned up and stood behind the hedge i had set up on. They were on their own land so no use complaining to the farmer. In the end i packed up as they were shooting at all the birds that were coming into my decoys. They knew I was there too!!!

Exactly. These were supposed to be high bird experts with super loads- what was the shot to kill ratio???

Good video but I am afraid those pheasants were too high to be shot, especially on the first 2 drives. You saw many birds just pricked.

As above- great dog and video!

Excellent video and shooting. Do you ever miss or are those edited out?

Same here.

Hopefully!!!!!!

I always thought they only ate seeds and insects.

Are there Ospreys at Pitsford? I didn't think they were any this far south.

It is. Sadly it is one of those fields that had all the hedge rows ripped out 30 years ago. it must be nearly a mile long but quite narrow so it makes it difficult to cover with just 2 off us.

I was out last week on another futile pigeon shooting trip. I had already sat in my hide for an hour without a shot when I noticed a few pigeon dropping on the field about 1000 yards away. Decide to pack up and move to where they were feeding. As i set up a dog walker was walking around the field. He wasn't on a foot path but exchanged pleasantries and wished me good 'hunting'. I think he was Scandinavian. Anyway I sat in my hide and not a pigeon in sight. I then saw the dog walker heading back across the middle of the field (this time on the foot path). Next thing I saw was a covey of Partridge heading my way. I was fortunate to get a left and right and went to pick them up. I was surprised to see they were Greys. The next day I dressed them out and was shocked to see they had rape in their crops!! Is this a common food source for English Partridge? By the way I think Grey Partridge must be one of the tastiest game birds far different from the French variety.

I wish they did come back. Gas guns have been put on 2 areas that I shoot and I haven't seen a pigeon near for weeks. Numbers were just beginning to build up too before they were put out. One of them hasn't worked for a couple of weeks but no sign of any pigeon coming back on to the field

I agree with you. I stop shooting pigeons end of April and dont start again until end of August. I think they do need some time to breed even though they seem to have young all year round. The summer months are the main breeding season and they should be left in peace. I know others on this forum will disagree with us!

Beds is the only place we have found any but it's an hours drive away and we cant shoot it more than once a week. It is the only area I have seen any large flocks 200+ birds.

I have just managed to get some more rape to shoot over in the north of the County. Only problem is there isn't a pigeon in sight. I have checked the fields over several times at different times of the day and not a bird in sight. Even our regular ground to the south is devoid of pigeons. Usually we look forward to these being drilled with rape as we can almost guarantee goods days on it but this year- nothing. Driving around the County I am not seeing any birds in numbers anywhere. Is anyone having any luck??

I have had mine for a year or so and have found it very comfy even without a cushion (I am under 12 st). I agree the major problem with it is adjusting the height of the legs. I tend to leave mine set all the time so I rarely have to adjust them.

+1

Our numbers are definitely down and have been decreasing over the past few years. We would usually average at least 20 in a days ferreting with some bags of 40. This year we have been lucky to get double figures

2834 See page 7 under 'Vermin control'

Personally I would shoot the 80 acres once every 10-14 days and the 150 acres once every 7-10 days

Had exactly the same myself today. First farm I visited not a bird in sight. Went to another and there were a few about. Set up and within minutes one came in and didn't leave again. !0 mins later a bunch came in and 2 dropped in the pattern. Thought this could turn out quite promising.... 3 hours later I hadn't seen another pigeon. So frustrating!!!

Couldn't get out yesterday as the boy was ill so had to babysit. Got up extra early full of anticipation and arrived at the field 50 mins later. Not a bird in sight either on the field or flighting. Where had the 1000's gone that were there only 3 days ago? Drove round all the rape fields in the area and not a pigeon to be seen. Where these the controversial " migratory" pigeons that were just in the area for a day before moving on?? Whatever back to square one!!!

It was quite frustrating seeing 100's of pigeon flighting to the middle of the field. I set up about 100 yards from where they were coming over the hedge. This worked quite well to start with and quite a few came in. later on they were coming over the hedge about 250 yards away and it was very hard. My 30+ dead birds, plus magnet and flapper did not compete with the 1000 plus in the middle of the field. i managed a few more when they went back to roost and as the day went on they started to come back in 10's rather than 50's and were a bit easier to decoy. I am thinking of setting up in the middle of the field under my fishing brolley, not sure if it will work though. I was in Bedfordshire, that's why it took me an hour to get there. Trying to get round Northampton in the morning is a nightmare!!

Went out to check one of our farms today. It is an hour drive away so can't reccy it, just have to turn up and hope. Checked it out a couple of weeks ago and only about 30 pigeon about. Arrived about 9.30am and was gobsmacked 1000's of pigeon on it coming from all directions. Don't think i have seem so many for years. In my excitement managed to get the Jeep stuck (must get some off road tyres!). 20 mins later managed to get to where I wanted. Sadly the field is about 100 acres and the vast majority of pigeons where heading straight for the middle. However managed to pull some over to me. Picked up 51 for 93 shots and the old boy managed another 26. Going back on Wednesday for another crack.