JDog

I am not a numbers man and so far have resisted posting the tally of birds I have shot after each outing since I joined PW a couple of months ago but my game book has accurate records back to 1978 when I first started to keep it. However I do see that if someone posts their numbers shot useful information can be passed on to other PW members if the crop over which the bag was made was mentioned.

I've set up three times this week at about 2pm and although I have had some decent shooting I believe that by that time of day the birds have full crops and may not be too keen to return once disturbed. I've pushed hundreds off the fields I intended to shoot and only a small percentage came back. If there is a dry day this weekend I will attempt to set up by 11am to see if that makes a difference.

Thank you. I suppose the point I was trying to make with the observation was that incoming birds will expect to see a pattern in the tramlines and that a hide should be situated to take advantage of that.

I've been watching a wheat stubble for the last four days. The flight line in was not strong but good enough for an afternoon's sport. My observation is that almost without exception all of the birds coming in landed on the tramlines and continued to feed along the lines. This may seem obvious as the stubble was fairly long and landing would be difficult in amongst it. When I turned up to shoot the field this afternoon the field was being drilled with next years oil seed rape so I had to go elsewhere. Undaunted I went onto the next door farm where again I have been watching a line for days. The birds were feeding on three oil seed rape fields at the top (and uphill) end of the farm. There was a very strong wind blowing. My experiment was to see if I could intercept the birds fully two fields from where they were feeding in a barley stubble over which they were flying only feet from the ground to get to the rape stubbles. The flight was strong but not many decoyed and the majority passed either side of me but some did come in and I managed to shoot 26. The experiment was only partially succesful. Part of JDog's bag with two very uninterested and unphotogenic companions.

I noted in a recent post that 'Pigeon Controller' stated that he had been out and had found that the birds would not decoy. This has increasingly been the case for me this season, especially on rape stubble, and it is reassuring to see that such an eminent and experienced pigeon shooter as Pigeon Controller has come across the same problem and was prepared to say as much on the forum.

Glyphosate (trade name 'Roundup') is fine but 'Verdone' is better. This is a selective broadleaved weed killer which is also systemic but it acts more quickly. Take care not to touch anything else with the liquid. I use a small container and a small brush to paint it on.

Definately hares. Are there enough on the farm to cull?

If in doubt do not rely on the 'anonimity' of a forum and just do not say anything too controversial.

Buy one of those waterproof skirts sold by a number of retailers including William Powell. The great advantage is that they are simple wrap-arounds so there is no need to put dirty welly boots through trouser legs.

Yes the RSPB has now declared that the Eagle Owl is a non-native species. Having done so there will be moves afoot to cull them through legislation about invasive species. Such actions will never be publicised.

The 'fuss' is that the Buzzard is one of the RSPBs most promoted and revered species which, until this footage came along, could do no wrong. The film has really caught the RSPB between a rock and a hard place. The same happened last year when an Eagle Owl was caught on camera taking a Hen Harrier from it's nest.

Oh and I forgot to mention that 'longs' or long trousers rather than plus fours seem to be all of the rage at the moment.

A three piece suit is generally considered to be over the top for a gun standing in line. Better to wear a thin v-necked jumper instead of the waist coat.

It was good to see that you were so excited before your day out that you turned up well in advance of the appointed time. Good that you had a fine day as your reward. That is how it should be. I have had plenty of days pigeon shooting but I never cease to be excited about going out. The day i see it as a chore will be the day I decide never to go again.

It is the 'pleasure and the pain' syndrome. The pleasure is being out looking across wonderful countryside and doing what some of us love best of all - shooting pigeons in the company of our dogs. The pain, at the end of a good day, is packing up the kit, picking up the dead birds, cartidges and other detritus and then ensuring that the dead birds enter the food chain in the best possible condition. At this time of year I eat quite a few young birds, but the rest I take to a friend who prepares them and sells them into the restaurant trade. That drive, though essential, just about drains my energy reserves.

Poor yields, poor prices etc. Pigeon shooters will know to treat their farmers with care.

I'm struggling with that too. How do I reduce the number of pixels in an image stored elsewhere?

The shots of the Jackal and the roe deer are the most amusing things I have seen on PW. Never mind the cost have any future work done in the UK.

Stow on thew Wold, which is extremely wet as I write. There are quite a few birds round here at the moment but they are difficult to decoy. The rape stubble is gradually getting disced or ploughed and I noticed today a flight into a wheat stubble.

It would appear that many people are having the same problem with birds not decoying. I have certainly had that problem on the last few outings. Others have said how they set up without the rotary. I am not that brave.

I always build my hide first then sit on my seat to see what the 'picture' of the field is like before identifying a place for the rotary. It may be long winded but I then go back into the hide to determine where I should place the decoys relative to the magnet. Having set out the decoys I then go back to the hide only to reflect immediately that they are in the wrong place.

A walking club sticker possibly but never, never, never a RSPB one. The RSPB is one of the twisted organisations known to man and I would never contribute to their coffers in order to get a sticker for this purpose.

If we are going to do this we ought to be decisive about dates in the near future. I am not a great camper at the best of times and I certainly would not want to wake up to frost outside the tent. Other than stubble shooting three days a week I have no other commitments which makes it easier for me than for others.

Your farmer is obviously not a pigeon watcher telling you that they have been eating Ivy berries and buds because that is what they always do between November and May. There must be another reason. If you are lucky you may find that when all of the young birds are on the wing next month you may get an influx from other areas particularly if your piece of land is lighly shot.

A brolly must be the answer. In recent showery weather (and I got wet on five consecutive outings in the last two weeks) I have simply draped over me and the kit and the dogs a large green tarpaulin to sit out the storm but it was not totally effective. A brolly does however add to the kit list which is fine after harvest but not when all of the equipment has to be traipsed to the chosen position on foot.