Passionforangling

Is anyone on here a member of this club? I've done a search on the forums and can find hardly any mention of it so will I have the marsh to myself?😀😀

"The next meeting will take place within a fortnight" 14 days after the press release date of the 23rd August takes us into the first week of September. I wonder what has been happening behind the scenes since 20th February?

Well, it's been a while since I posted on here but I can assure you it's not through want of trying. I had a really bad winter on the rape with only handfuls of pigeons on each outing. A busy period working during March-June meant hardly any shooting but now I have a bit more time to get out and have had a few decent bags ( by my standards!) recently. A couple of days ago I noticed the pigeons had found the bean stubble so set up on the brow of a hill in a large field under the only oak on the field. This gave a great opportunity to see the pigeons coming in and I set up the magnet with a dozen birds for decoys. Unfortunately, my lack of skill in decoy patterns meant the birds didn't really decoy well but slowed down enough as they had a look as they flew by and I had some great shooting at some birds and was pleased to make 30 on the day. Not a big number, but as I say, a good result by comparison to earlier outings. So, the freezer is a little fuller and the pigeon pate for Christmas is all sorted.

Have a look at Fenway Labradors on Google. They are based in Lancashire and have a good set up

I'm always amazed at your successes! The scenario you describe with birds playing follow my leader and then disappearing when the gas gun goes off resonates perfectly with me?? On Saturday me and a pal toured all our rape fields and saw exactly the same thing. Eventually I decided to set up at one particular field where there were a good number of pigeons but......they didn't come back at all so stayed for an hour and a half and went home to watch the rugby. Congratulations on your first 100, I'm still looking for my first 1???

And I thought you would love to see that AYA again? Never mind, I'll no doubt raise a glass ( or several) to you

There are not too many people that would do that I'm sure. Your sweet talking and dedication was well rewarded. Florida, cruising, Portugal......your friends need to have a day in the hide with you to sample REAL excitement

In my relatively short shooting career I have yet to find pigeons around here prolifically feeding on acorns......maybe this Autumn?

No John, I haven't taken him just yet. Hoping to towards the back end of summer. Oh, and I haven't got a clue how to post a photo on here

With the rape having been cut on a farm I had access to, I eagerly made plans to get out on Saturday. When I arrived at the field at midday I was met by the farmer who told me that he was going to be dicing the field in a short while. So, I set up along the hedge line 15 yards from an oak and sat patiently watching him in his tractor going up and down, and up and down.... Eventually he finished and I put out the rotary and half a dozen dead birds. By this time it was approaching 2.00pm but the birds came steadily and seemed to be committed to the rotary so some nice decoying ensued. I was pleased to get to 30 and possibly could have made 50 if the heavens hadn't opened and forced me to retire early to avoid a proper soaking.

Sounds like a good day. Can't beat a threesome!

That's some afternoon! Amazing. I bet the springs on your car were sagging as you left!

It's an old thread but I just wanted to say that we had the most amazing time at the Cornbury Festival. Lovely people there, some great food, lots of beer and superb music from the likes of Jack Savoretti, Imelda May, Tom Chaplin and the Kaiser Chiefs. It was the last one that's going to be held apparently which is a shame, I would recommend this festival to anyone.

Well, I feel a bit like Lord Lucan or Shergar having not posted for a good few months. I've had a very poor period over the last 6 months with plenty of outings but only small numbers of pigeons shot. I couldn't seem to get anywhere on the rape in the winter, very few birds seemed to be using the fields I have access to. So then I eagerly awaited the peas but they only produced smallish numbers, whereas last year the same crop on the same farm half a mile away produced some good numbers for me. Today I went out to a barley field that adjoins a large strip of uncultivated ground that itself adjoins a field of rape. Neither the barley or the rape has been cut so they weren't really an option but I know from last year that this strip of land between them acts as a sort of runway. The pigeons don't seem to be feeding in there but it seems to provide a reliable flight line. So, I set up on the edge of the barley with a good wind against my back which is ideal in this particular spot because the pigeons are coming back in towards the town against the wind. Arrived just after 2.00pm and shot until about half 5 and ended up with 32 pigeons of which 27 were taken home. The birds provided some great sport and actually surprised me in that they were not consistent on a line but came from all directions. The 5 that were lost unfortunately fell in the standing barley but we're all cleanly killed I'm sure. This particular farm should provide me with some good decoying opportunities in the next few weeks when the rape has been cut but I was happy to have a few to take home to top up the vastly diminishing freezer.

I am envious of your bag of 27. I have not shot 27 in total since way before Christmas. It's odd, but around here there just don't seem to be the birds to warrant setting up for. I'm sure it can only get better in the next few weeks with drilling but unfortunately it's coming up to exam season so I'll be working, to pay for the cartridges, that I'm not going to need, for the pigeons that aren't here. As soon as I get a bag of double figures, boy will you guys hear about it!

Thanks for the recommendation JD but unfortunately I don't move in the same social circles as your good self Thanks for the tips fellas, as I understand it this is a more family orientated gathering so hopefully the riff raff who steal won't be there. I will take heed of your advice though

As I approach the big six o, I've decided to experience a music festival. Have booked the camping option at the Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire in early July. It looks like it's going to be a great three/four days and I'm really looking forward to it. I wondered if any more experienced festival attendees would have any advice that would be useful? The wife has already made sure we've upgraded to the VIP toilet package!

That's an interesting observation regarding the variety of rape. On the three farms that I have access to the pigeon shooting has been absolutely dire the last two months. Two of the farms regularly have bangers on them which would explain not seeing any pigeons there but the third farm is banger less, nobody but me shoots it to the best of my knowledge, and despite visiting it to observe regularly the past few weeks at different times of the day I've not seen anything worth setting up for. All very frustrating but things can only get better ( hopefully!)

Been looking at these for a while and wondered if anyone on here had got one? I don't need one really, it just looks like fun so if they come down in price after Xmas, I might be tempted.

That's a great result and an encouraging one. I had a drive round my permissions at about 8.00am Saturday morning and didn't see anything worth setting up for. I was back home for 11.30am. Maybe I was out too early!

My advice would be NOT to go with a company called Extra Energy. They appear cheap, but they don't issue you with a bill for a year, but direct debits up for no reason. I should have looked at all the awful reviews for them on line. Thankfully now rid of them.

Probably better tackling some predators in the river at the moment. I'm hearing of some good pike being caught

That was an evocative read, almost felt I was there with you!

I agree the prices are really cheap at Aldi, we shop there for some stuff. I do wonder though, how they make any money out of a 9.99 sander? Is it the case that someone, somewhere, who is piecing them together is being paid a real pittance? I don't know, just a thought.

B325 means out in the field JDog, not in the love nest!