kitchrat

The flapper doesn't seem to impress the pigeons, so it doesn't impress me much either. They are certainly magnet aware in many circumstances (but not all!!)

Buzzards don't seem to bother pigeons much, if at all. Do bother me sometimes, by attacking my decoys!!

Well, I'm on a local farm tomorrow - super-nice farmer, he gave me a day on his pheasant shoot. Quite a lot of birds (a few hundred!) there today but I suspect it will be an uphill struggle......

Yes, Hull superfast are excellent. As I said in another post, if you are confident in what you are using, you shoot better.

I agree and think it's time to respect the closed season on snipe! I think most of us that have got mixed up in this are pretty knowledgable but the unusual season has resulted in such wildly varied local bird behavoirs that some of us find other's experiences difficiult to believe. For example: I know there are less birds near me and they are not hungry - Motty has plenty and they are stuffing themslves. Different world, could his be immigrants from Europe that have just flown across the N Sea and are therefore hungry? Arriving in the UK, they find loads of rape etc, why would they move inland? My birds are not hungry so I pray for snow, Cat doesn't want snow because he (rightly) says they are difficult to decoy in snow. I want snow because it will make them feed more and at least you have a chance. (difficult though it may be) In some areas they are diving onto maize, not here. So, let's put away the knives and accept that conditions vary so much, it's these challenges that make pigeon shooting so much more interesting than clays, clays are predicable and boring by comparison. I know trap shooting is a "discipline" but I try to avoid discipline!!

Yes it's a funny winter. I think, all sniping apart (closed season on snipe now?) we can agree that, on avereage, there are less birds than usual, it's been warmer than usual and many parts of the country have had a bumper year for acorns and berries. We should also be able to agree that some very varied local conditions have resulted from the above. Don't know what to do about your swans though, is this another unusual occurence?? Are they eating the rape??

Good post, thanks for keeping things on an even keel. I only disagree about the copious natural food, this year in my area acorns etc have only been average. What is different is that there are less birds, so the supply of acorns and berries lasts longer. As you say, the personal snipes are becoming unpleasant, I'm sure we're only spending time typing posts because we can't find pigeons to shoot and are getting bored and frustrated.

30 is a great bag just now up here. Let us know how it goes....

I'm moving to Norfolk!

Well done you lucky so-and-so, send them my way please!! Other posters note - they had been feeding on roebuck's field for weeks, now he's had a great day and done a great job for all farmers in the area. That's how it should work.....

Just the same as I'm finding. Motty says he has them all in Norfolk and can see 1000's in a few miles drive. Either very different local conditions to most of the rest of the country, or else I'll have some of what he's drinking!!!

You've seen lots in Essex??? Near Dunmow I suppose you'll say, then I'll know it's a wind-up!!

Not just a different world, a different UNIVERSE!! Lucky you lot in the right parts of Norfolk.

Norfolk must be a different world, perhaps you pick up tired, hungry immigrants who have just flown in from Scandinavia??

Yet "Motty" is in Norfolk and keeps telling me that loads of shooters are getting100+ bags!! I'm seeing the same scenario as you, so unless Motty is in a "pigeon pocket", I'll believe that there are less birds about than usual and that they are not hungry. Cheers,

Just goes to show that Cat is right on one thing - vastly different behavour in different areas. Of the 50 or 60 I have shot in the last week or so, NONE had a full crop, most were nearly or completely empty. All birds plump and fat. Some had a bit of maize, or wheat, some had a bit of rape and some had a few berries. NO acorns!! When they ARE hungry for rape, the crop is like a small rugby ball, they can hardly fly and you can see the crop as they fly over. NONE OF THAT this year!! (Not round here)

Lots of "Essex birds" are magnet shy. It initially draws them in, then, at about 65 yards away, they see that it is a magnet and pull away. So, there is a case for setting up well (30-40 yds??) behind you and ambushing them before they catch on. All you need is a hedge to hide in at the right place, the wind in the right direction, a feeding field in the right place, and the birds to cooperate!! SIMPLES!! NB Always leave a landing zone in front of (upwind)the magnet

Dead right!!

Hi Cat, well we argree on this much! However, up here (only a few miles away) there is no above average supply of acorns or berries to feed the pigeons, just less pigeons about, and they are well fed. I still say that cold weather will make them more hungry, so we will have a CHANCE of a good bag. But suicidal??, only after a prolonged freeze like 1963, when you could get them with a hockey stick!!

Well Motty, that's something we DO agree about!! I had exactly that last year.

Yes, I know loads, we're all struggling. I took 23 (2 days bag) to the game dealer, they were only the 2nd double-figure bag he's heard of this year. (Hide and Deeks near Bishop's Stortford if you don't believe me) The maize strips (and I have several) are attracting a few dozen but they have no committment and don't come back after you have shot a few, just like winter rape this year, Norfolk is in a different universe!!

They have loads of young to feed then!

Thank you!! Anyone in N Herts/ West Essex getting a lot??

Yes, it's a bit cooler and they have started on the rape to some degree, but with no conviction. I've been watching a farm near me for the last few weeks and they are there OK but can I shoot more than a few?? They slowly build up in the trees around the farm, then all follow the brave 1st bird down. Feed for a few minutes then back to the trees, wait half an hour and repeat: follow the brave 1st bird down. Feed for a few minutes then back to the trees. They almost never arrive and go straight onto the field. Anything put them off the field - noisy lorry going past, gas gun 1 mile away. A gun shot repeats earlier scenario: all leave then they slowly build up in the trees around the farm, then all follow the brave 1st bird down. If you see them all streaming in from the trees, it's like a good old-fashioned flightline but I call it a flock-string, it's just the built-up birds following one another, It only lasts a few minutes, then almost as soon as all birds are down - they are up again. They are NOT hungry, they are plump and fat, crops are mostly empty, just a bit of rape here and there, or wheat from old feeders or maize from old game covers but mostly nothing. When it's warm they can just sit in the trees and use very little food to keep warm. A single gas gun will clear a 500 acre farm right now, unheard of last year, it was lucky to clear a 100-yard circle. They are NOT hungry and until they are we will have to scratch about for bags of a dozen or so.

Shooting a few pigeons now and again does little to help protect crops, long term. I know it keeps them off whilst you are "on the job" but next day they are back. You might just as well walk round and put them off that way. Then you can cover all your perms, say twice a day, and get that warm glow of satisfaction, believing you have done a good job!! Of couse you don't want to let them build up to a level where they do excessive damage but by allowing some build up you can shoot far more and also scare far more than by having a pop at the odd few.