kitchrat

Yes, they are eating their summer home in the arctic bare. There is still a closed season but the daily bag limit is up to 50. The environmentalists have ASKED us to have a spring shooting season as well as autumn, to thin them out on their way back north. I'll keep you posted on what happens in October....

As I eagerly await my goose-hunting trip on the prairies in October, I read an article in the British Columbia Wildlife Federation magazine, about decoying snow geese. The crux of the matter seems to be that full-bodied decoys are best (you can't use dead birds, because of bag and possession limits). It seems you only need about 25 DOZEN, full-bodied decoys, so you need several "trailers", like small furniture vans to transport them!! Note: they cost about £20+ each!! On the other hand, "windsock" decoys, (Silosocks type) can be transported flat and are "inexpensive" and, I quote: " As a result they are often used in situations where 1200 to 1500 decoys are required....." You think we have to carry some kit!!!! You are not allowed to "bait" fields but, for snow geese only, you can use amplified electronic calls. There is some point in this as geese are very vocal in flight and, as they approach decoys (or feeding birds) their calls change and if they don't get the expected reply, will pull out at 75-100 yards range - not much use if you are using steel shot. Magnets and motorised flappers are OK too. The whole thing is a sight to see and hear, 1000's in a flock, you can hear them miles away. (literally!) I'll try and take a few pictures and report on my adventure, if anyone is interested... Kanada Kitchrat

Shame if you need all that BS.. Maybe I'll give that idea up!!

Very interesting! I think they are in the tramlines, a) because there is more food there, which they find by trial and error but also b) because it is easier to land ON a flattened tramline than in 6-inch long, sharp, stubble. I have often watched pigeons flutter over stubble then drop onto the tramline, and usuallly set my decoys like that. Challenge that observation if you like, ........ Next question, anyone used one of these drone things yet, either to find pigeons or to scare then off the wrong part of the field you are set up on?? What radio range do they have??

That's typical round my patch. All year the farmers complain if they see more than 1 pigeon, then when we have a chance to do something about it, 1st it's all ploughed up then 2nd, "you can't go on the winter rape because of the pheasants in that wood a mile away". Pee-ing into the wind!!!

Fully agree that most of the time the hare should escape but when I was a boy I watched coursing and if a hare escaped the initial pair of dogs, another pair were released until the hare was eventually killed. This sort of abuse is what gave the " Do-gooders" the ammo to get the sport banned. That and the ever present threat of violence......... Properly carried out, there should be no problem with coursing. Or fox hunting for that matter but it was a political move by Blair as hunting was seen as un "upper-class" occupation - (although it's not). We are lucky the Left got booted out or pheasant shooting would have been next. There was no move to ban the "working Man's" sport of fishing....

Even the gravy would be tough!!

I WISH!! In Saskatchewan, when goose hunting, you can get a map which shows each field, who owns it and where he lives. So you find the geese, drive to see him, get permission and shoot the next day. EASY!! I wish the UK was that simple..... Most farms have detailed maps, but you already have to have your feet well and truly under the table to get copies!! Goggle Earth maps work well too.

The kit you have with you is perhaps the least important part (ammo apart - take enough!). IF you are in the right place, at the right time and the birds want to be there, the stuff you describe is enough, as long as you are well hidden and don't move when they are on final approach. If the time/place are wrong, all the kit in world won't help much. Having said that, "real" dead birds are always best, magnets and flappers and floaters help. Field craft is king - maybe that's why I struggle to get a good bag.....

On the other hand I have, several times, seen a lone crow drive a flock (100+) pigeons off a field he feels is his territory. He did this by repeatedly dive-bombing feeding birds. Ever seen this Motty or is it another of my halucinations?? On another day, you can see a mixed flock feeding happily........

The deer idea might work, but I don't have a decoy deer!! Seriously, I think pigeons are "smarter" than many people think but whether it comes from reasoning or past experience or "this is what to avoid" teaching from parents or others I don't know. I've related many of my observations of pigeon behavoir, only to be ridiculed by those who haven't seen it. If you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! That's why I quit posting, except when I'm bored.....

Yes, I'd like to shoot some pigeons but I'm in Canada and there aint any! Still, I've got goose and duck shooting on the prairies to look forward to in October before heading back to the UK to take up OSR protection duties! Glad to hear there are some birds in Essex waiting for me, hope they don't all go to Norfolk like they did last winter!! JK

Spot on! His part of Norfolk could just as well be on the moon, it's so different to what I see and experience. But that's pigeon shooting...

I take it this is another "idea" you don't share?? I don't know either way but would like to read debate rather than plain denials if YOU don't agree. (I did this reply wrongly, it's in reference to the idea that a magpie decoy could "calm" pigeons by its presence)

Dead right!

I agree that the wet foot thing could be a myth but round my area we have very sticky clay and their feet can become geat balls of mud. They don't like that if they can avoid it. I have shot pigeons in a snowstorm, once, years ago, when drilled peas were still a big draw. They don't seem to bother much now. Fog they don't like...

Yes, I'm a thinking man (too much most would say!)

Pigeons are forever hearing gas guns or gunshots and getting moved on but what about thunder? I'm here in Canada awaiting the goose-hunting season and we recently had a very loud thunderstorm. There was a flock of smallish birds in the garden and they showed NO sign of hearing the crashes and bangs, even though slamming a car door will spook them. They actually enjoyed the rain when it was light, deliberately taking a shower but sheltered when we had real stair-rods. Just a thought........ Anyone ever seen a flock of pigeons put up by thunder??

That's the way to do it!!

Sounds like most of the days I used to report from Essex.

Yes, let them build up in the summer so there are huge numbers to attack the winter rape, when it is so difficult to shoot them. I've seen flocks of 1000's strip fields of the crop. My farmer friends would love this approach!!!!! Also, as someone noted, we put in a massive amount of effort and expense, so we do appreciate getting some decent action. If you enjoy just watching wildlife, fair enough, I expect we all do, However, the BBC put on some wonderful wildlife programmes, that would save all that driving around looking for pigeons, creating greenhouse gases.

Fully agree - I don't know if it's an "Essex thing" but they seem to love standing wheat, especially if there are power cables or trees they can use as a dropping-off point, also an indication that all is safe if there are 50+ birds on the wires. Then they "helicopter" down into the wheel marks, pulling a few stalks with them, eat the grain off the stalks, then helicopter down a few more. They are up and down like a yo-yo. Quite frustrating as you can't get many birds to come in if the wires/trees are empty. Then, of course, you can't drop the fallen into the crop, you'll not find them without damage, just mess up the combine or the straw with rotting corpses. If you can find a tree near the edge, with the wind in the right direction, a few lofted decoys can produce a useful bit of sport as you can ambush them on the way in but the conditions need to be right! My other theory is that many farmers use a chaff-cutter on the combine if they don't want the straw. The chaff floats down and covers what little grain (which falls faster) has been lost throught the machine or missed. Pigeons can't/won't scratch, so the field pretty much becomes barren to them. I also suggest that this could be why a field sometimes become MORE attractive if rough-cultivated, the partial turning-over may actually uncover some of the previously hidden grain. Any thoughts??

My GUESS is that most adult, UK resident birds have either been shot AT or have been in a group where another bird has been shot at. The sound would be very scary, let alone the shock-wave. I guess it is the shock-wave they swerve away from when having a near miss? Pigeons have all sots of sensors we know nothing about, allowing homing pigeons to home etc. IF they had seen a movement or noted a magnet before the traumatic event, it is possible they could link the two and become cautious in similar situations. Of course, they could end up with post traumatic stress disorder and need therapy, perhaps we should avoid stressing them out on the grounds that it is against their human rights??

I have seen a slightly different type of bird in the UK too, a fraction smaller, a bit darker grey with a tiny hint of yellow or gold around the end of each feather. They still have neck rings etc so are not young birds. I suspect they are European imports but have no evidence. Anyone else noticed them??

Any/all the above!!