kitchrat

Don't forget tree buds....

For roost shooting, where the birds are well above tall trees, I use 3/4 choke and a good game cartridge, something like 32gms of No5 shot. You need the extra weight of shot to keep the shot count of the larger no5 high enough to keep a good pattern density. I have some success and some failures this way, but it's good fun trying!!

OK. let's try again. With a "normally-choked" pigeon gun, (1/4 or 1/2 choke?) if a decent shooter can get the pattern to include the bird, at 60 yards, the thin pattern density will make a clean kill a matter of chance. One or two pellets will hit the bird but where? Will it be a clean kill?? Sometimes but not always. On the other hand, a very tightly-choked gun will increase the pattern density such that IF the shooter has the skill to get the bird in the pattern, a clean kill will almost always result. However, few of us use extra full choke and very few of us, I suspect, have the skill required to get the bird inside the pattern at that range with that choke. Any better??

Now I know why you are such a good pigeon shooter - if you can get a border to retrieve, walking on water will be so simple, as will winter rape shooting - congratulations. PS he only fetches them because He wants to....

No contradiction really, let's try and clarify for the masses. At longer ranges, UNLESS you are using a super-tight choke, AND you are good enough to get the bird in the pattern, the pattern density is not high enough to ensure consistent clean kills, it's a matter of luck where your pellets hit the bird. Comprendez??

FANTASTIC!! Many thanks for the photo and the biggest surprise I've ever had from Pigeon Watch. My family have had several Borders and the only thing they would fetch was their dinner!! Fabulous dogs!!!

Glad you don't subscribe to this "I can regularly clean-kill birds at 60+ yards" myth!! Some you do, some you don't but with the pattern density at that range it's a matter of luck, not skill (Unless you are Digweed using extra full chokes)

There are pros and cons I think. Pros - When coming in, I find high wind means they have less chance to look for danger as they have to think about flying a bit more. Shots do less damage to nearby birds and windy days seem to encourage flying. "Siily Socks" decoys behave well. Cons - when coming into the pattern birds have to deal with wind-shear etc and swerve about, making it easy to miss "a sitter" Hides get blown about, it can become cold. Sometimes a nice hedge, which can provide shelter for the shooter and also feeding birds, can, I think, set up such turbulence in the airflow during final approach that birds give it a miss.

Is that an old Border terrier?? If so, I'll bet you can't get him to retrieve!!

I wish my farmers WOULD call me when they see pigeons. What I get is "You should have been here last week, after I drilled that wheat field". They don't tell us anything and I can't watch all fields on all my farms every day. I spend £100/week on fuel as it is!!

I agree with Motty this time (!!!) but my opinion is that the more, hotter lead is up there, the better the chance of a clean kill. OK, a perfect shot doesn't need much help, but I know I do....

This should shift them!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/SNPJMk2fgJU

These new machines can to too d****med good, no spillage and all seed 4 inches down. Pray for a bad operator - I doubt if £20 will do it!!

I've thought of using a UV light shining on the decoys to highlight the neck rings......

Me too, 5 miles away -not in jest!! I did see a ??young?? buzzard trying to get at some roosting pigeons last Saturday. It had no luck, usually they take no notice of buzzards but this was WAS having a go...

Me too, 5 miles away -not in jest!!

I got a dozen from difficult roost shooting (about 30 shots) so I'm not bothered either - I wonder if he had as much fun as I did??

One of my farmers grows several fields of brown bread, just outside Dunmow!!

It seems that some people do think they know better than those actually there but that;s forums....

I think this is getting a bit silly!! Clearly, to shoot a large bag you need a lot of birds in the area, I don't expect anyone can shoot more than 5 or 10% of the population. Equally clearly, you need enough fieldcraft skills to draw the birds within range - this will vary according to "bird type", the area you are in,wind, time of day, food available and probably a dozen other factors. Finally, you need to be a decent but not expert shot. If you keep missing, even dumb town birds are going to get the idea and stop coming back. Finally, yes, I am envious of those that can regularly get a big bag but good luck to them. I'm just not so fortunate.

I had to shoot at not-so-close birds today, my luck was in - several I thought I had claen missed went 100's of yards then fell dead or just made it into a tree and later fell dead. All a matter of chance, some days you know you have hit them, feathers fly, and so do they!!

Seen the scouts in action, many times.

Tried that this week, we covered 2 farms but there's always ONE more farm you don't have permission on. I could see 100's stuffing themselves a mile away, we got 14 between us. NB The other farm keeps the shooting for themselves but it seems they have to work (4-letter word), so Mon-Fri it is a sanctuary, but many of my mates can't shoot weekends (family stuff!!)

You could well be right - but Motty says not!!

Surely with 1/4 choke at 50 yards the pattern density would make a clean kill a matter of chance, ie where the odd pellet or two happened to hit. Don't they say you need 4 or 5 pellets in a bird to do the job properly?? Do a Digweed and choke up a bit if you are good enough to shoot long /high ones.