bob_cbr

Wow - so many good responses. Right I normally go out on Saturday, but the weather man has predicted poor weather for the weekend. So I will put everything that you have suggested into practise the first dry day we get. I will even take the old camera out, take some Pic / Video. The good news is that there is not much scope for me to get worse. If I hit 1 in 10, I'll be over the moon. Watch this space!!!!

Normally our hide and decoy pattern is very good as we have been using air rifles for many years. In the summer it is fantastic to see pigeon after pigeon landing in your designated kill zone!!! However, we have never decoyed in winter. Have lots of land to shoot, but this particular field just so happens to be on a very very busy flight line. Next week we are trying a different place which we believe might be better for decoying, slowing them birds down and bringing them closer. I think then the hit count should rise.

This I think has been a factor I need to improve from. When I see a pigeon in the distance I am popping up too early and following it with the barrel from miles out. Will try and find someone. Failing that I will make a video, and post it on this thread. They you guys can advise, laugh a mix of both. Supporting Sheffield Wednesday is punishment itself. I think your correct, I bet these birds are much further away than I think. I need to estimate my distances better, but until then I will just measure a 30 yrd shoot zone and keep to birds within that. I would love to hit 2 pigeons for a dozen shots. I think I'm at 150 for 2 birds, 1.333% accuracy. This is my number one thing to do, I just hope the bird fly within this area. I think this will make a big difference. I have indeed installed my 1/2 choke into the gun. I agree not following through was something I was not doing, but it is something I have in the front of my mind when pulling the trigger. I shall shoot like I play snooker.

Updated!!!!! I live between Sheffield and Chesterfield, Jk30 M1. Support the mighty rubbish Sheffield Wednesday.

30 decoys, on springs so they peck. Flapper + Magnet. Facing the wind. In the summer, we decoy, the land, then hit them with our air rifles. 20+ kills in a could of hours. So the pattern is much the same as we use then. Hide was rubbish, and not help by the windy day.

I think your spot on the money. I feel that i have shot at every lead, but can not find the correct one, which leads me to think I am also shooting over or under my target. So doing this over the weekend!!!!! I was doing this, but am not in the habit of following through. A patten plate should help with this too. Depends on how you use it. I could bum, belly, beak, Golf ball, keep on going. Should do the trick. Agreed, but right now I do not know at all where to aim. This might get me in the correct ball park. You could rotate it to simulate different angles. You never know, might be the next big learning aid. LOL

I think the tip about putting stakes in the ground at my maximum range is golden. Defo, going to do that next weekend. Coaching I agree would be nice, on the cards, I am just amazed how hard this sport is. I tip my hat to these people that seem to get a kill with every shot fired. I think my current problem is two fold: 1. Failing to judge the correct amount of lead of a pigeon flying 50mph @ 35 Yrd. My proposed solution is; instead of guessing, I’m going to get a decoy and suspend a yellow gold ball the correct distance in front of it. Place it 35 Yrd’s away and point the gun at the golf ball, this MIGHT help me visualise the correct lead to use on a pigeon. 2. I’m a rubbish shot. Solution; find some heat seeking ammo.

Hello all, I am new at this game and have only just bought a shotgun last month. Me and a friend of mine have permission for a patch of land that seems to be a very good flight path. The field is ploughed, but not seeded, the other fields around have plenty of food for the pigeons. So, they are fly over our field to get to the other fields. They do not slow down for our decoy at all. Been three times now, hit 2 the first time, and none the 2nd/3rd time. We are talking about 150+ shots and I have claimed 2 birds, TBH I think they were easy/lucky shots. I would say that 85% of the shots were 30+ yrd, with the birds flying high and fast. I would prefer for them to slow down and come in to the decoy patch, but that is not happening. Gun: Benelli supernova Choke: Improved cylinder Cart: Special Pigeon No. 6 Trying to give plenty of lead, but I just hit fresh air time after time. Been doing some clays to improve, but these fast moving pigeons are in a different league of difficulty. Please any advice for the newbie. Bob