silver pigeon III

5 hrs for 1 pigeon today. Nothing was moving about and that one was the only one that came in for the decoys!!

Canada are listed on general licence so will be covered under that.

and the amount of **** they produce is beyond belief!

Canada geese, apparently 10 geese eat the same amount a one sheep in a day and there must be at least 100 milling about. Nothing has succeded in scaring them away so will be culled under General Licence. I'm sure once a couple are popped off, the rest will get the idea. Will probably be with rifle on the ground but needs must unfortunately.

I'm enjoying being outside as much as anything else and can't wait for short sleeve weather. I'm going to concentrate on the geese next time and try to clear a few of those with a mate who has a FAC. I'm sure I'll get there eventually Motty lol

Farmer isn't worried about sheep being scared. He's very much of the "they'll get out of the way" opinion. FAC will be the next step for geese, foxes and deer( loads). I am just desperate to do a good job for the farmer as he's a genuine chap and has been so accommodating. To get some land within 10 minutes of home around here is a miracle too.

Motty, several of the fields will have 50-100 pigeons on them at the same time. Is there a way of improving the odds of picking the right place. I have looked at the flightlines and set up near or under them but they just **ss off to one of the other fields. and just to be sure that I'm on the right track, a flightline is the route that most of the pigeons use to move from one place to another???

Thanks for the advice. It's just so frustrating but then if it was easy it would be called hitting not shooting. Lol

No they just don't appear to notice the pattern on the whole. The odd bird comes in but most just fly over.

Yeah it is a sheep farm. Plenty of pigeons about though, more than enough for a starter like me. Might be the opportunity to get some rape fields elsewhere as well if all goes well. I'll try the turbo flapper and some bouncers.

They are going to feed on other turnip fields or clover on the pasture. I have not tried to roost shoot yet but just set out the decoys as there is a lot of movement from that particular copse. Lakeside , I am intending to get a flapper probably the AA turbo one to see if that improves the numbers. Its frustrating as I can, on the whole, hit what is coming into range. Apart from using a dead bird, is there any kind of decoy that can be used with one as the wife is reluctant to have frozen whole pigeons in the freezer. She's not so fussy when they've been breasted and cooked!!

I have got my first permission on a sheep farm set over several fields some of which are adjacent with just a fence line, some separated with copses and others the other side of woods. I have spent some time looking for flightlines, roosts etc and have set up on the edge of a copse being used as a roost with loads of pigeons on the turnip fields. I am putting out 18 decoys. After setting up, I might get the occaissional bird showing an interest but most fly past or go to a completely different part of the farm and feed there. Do I need a flapper or magnet to put some movement in the pattern to attract more interest? At the moment I feel I'm just chasing the pigeons off one field to another part of the farm. I went out yesterday and got three which was every bird that came into range. My brother and I have tried setting up in different fields to try and keep the birds moving but this hasn't made a difference and I am keen to do a good job for the farmer. The other things I have considered are rope bangering the other fields and flagging but this would means doing several fields over a large area. Any advice and suggestions gratefully received.

Yet again PW comes up trumps. I'll put in for .22lr and the .243 and see what happens.

Thank you for all the advice. I'll have a cards up front conversation with the FEO and see what response I get

Farmer puts down turnip and kale to feed sheep and alternates with grass and I think maize. Apparently turnip really puts weight on sheep quickly. I wasn't thinking 22 hornet for deer but as a starting point for first FAC as I have very little experience for FAC. Land has never been cleared as far as FEO knows for anything as was originally crown estate land. Sorry about Canada/Canadian geese faux pas