Lg1

My observations over harvest or right at the start as it my be has shown me that the birds don't disapear in woods etc they simply thin out into smaller pockets spread across several feeding areas! Smaller groups of 50/100 are easily hidden among standing crops just out of sight.. Also at times, lucky for them they find a feild that's not easy to reccy, this I think creates the biggest illusion of all! Fields that are inbetween feild's so to speak, several fields back from any roads and well out of sight.. I'v found this lots of times and when you do the place is generally blue over, thing is without grabbing the dog and been super inquisitive you just don't see them.. They make there way to these fields from all the other little feeding spots in twos and threes so at times it's not easy to spot. When they disappear round my area I'll see a couple of birds and actually chase them in the motor! I go as far as I can with that then wait for the next 2... So on and so forth! At times you get lucky when close enough if the flock spooks and mills around in the air for a few moments giving away there position before quickly dropping back in, all I can see is there defo there! You just have to put the extra mile in sometimes... Thankfully I love this part so it's no real chor lol

Hi Dave, Welcome to the site mate, there's some very experienced lads on here who I'm sure will help out were they can! This sports not rocket science pal but it defo gets you ahead if you take time out to learn a bit about bird behaviour, field craft and crops etc... To get you started I'll give you my basic ideas on a decent horse shoe spread but first off,, on the gear side of things I'd defo invest in a rotary or flapper! Both if possible, these I would say are part of most pigeon shooters bag of tricks.. Horse shoe.. Based on wind left to right for example.. Birds facing into the wind always Use sprung sticks if you have them (Movment Kills) I would put the decoy that's at the point of the horse shoe about 25 good paces out from the hide, then build back over either side to create your u patern! The closest decoys to the hide my be around 17 paces or so... The two rear decoys that make the entrance to your kill zone should be nice appart giving the bird a easy/inviting entrance, if it's to tight they may flare away and not commit.. Play with this if needed as the day goes on... I think an investment in a few more decoys would help also, try and get another 6 to make 12. When spacing them out keep them around a meter or so appart but don't be afraid to clump a couple together, think natrual! One thing I always will do is leave a large gap in one side of the spread, this is to give birds a "exit route" out of the horse shoe! This can give the Decoying bird a little more confidence.. Keep your kill zone tidy and uncluttered so the bird has an easy landing site! These basic tips should help out I hope mate, setting things up the way iv said should give you a kill zone at about 25 yards which hopefully will be comfortable shooting.. Biggest tip is don't be scared to play around with your pattern through out the day if things arnt working! Adding and taking away decoys etc etc to find what works on that given session.. Good look and you'll find others will add to this and help you further 👍👍

Lol well done, It's seems you made a great choice in the end with a top bag to show for it! Great when things fall into place like that.. A fantastic start to harvest.. Bravo👌

Pea take.... End of!

The busiest..... or one morning and the other afternoon!!! 2 birds with one stone and all that stuff👍

Wow well shot... 👍

Shooting can be a funny thing mate, maybe it's not that people don't want to help but there's only so Much space on any field and so many birds that are there to shoot... I'm sure I can help you get more permistion though,, firstly ditch the phone approach! It's the worst possible start, think about it... Your cold calling a farmer who dose not know you and asking to roam his land with a gun! Hell your not even giving the guy chance to look you in the face... When you think about it logically would you entertain this ? You need to start working a bit smarter mate,, this means knocking them farm doors! Before you do this make sure your well turned out and looking smart pal, first impressions kill. Another good tip in gaining permission is do you homework, find the fields were the birds are visible and hitting the field! Pointing this out to the farmer will increase your chances twice fold.. Be polite and let the guy know you have been observing the birds hitting his crop for days and you were hoping he would be kind enough to let you have the afternoon to move a few on and box some up for your tea, often asking for just a day or an afternoon shooting is a good start and better than asking for outright permission. When you get the nod, go and do a good job and make sure at the end of the shoot you go back and thank the farmer! Let him know how much you have enjoyed your afternoon and offer some pigeon to him, they never take them for some reason lol.. That's your little rapport going with the guy and I'll bet he will let you back next time... Right... So let's look at things from a differnt angle! You done all the above but never got the nod to shoot.. There's one thing you need to do here, make sure before you leave you get his name... Make sure you do this!!!!!!! Ok so you never got the permission this time but you did get one great thing,,, his name! It's time for a bit of toung and cheek lol! Go to the next farm and talk with that farmer, let him know you have just been next door having an ald chin wag with Bob Smith next farm down about the amount of birds pestering his farm! Also that you have noticed them crossing this new guys land a getting at his crops also... You talk like you know Bob very well lol, at this point you just ask the new farmer that while your out and about thining the birds out can you keep an eye on his field aswell ? Honest this works a treat... The guy thinks you know Bob well and are keeping the birds down for him which gives him confidence to let you do the same for him 😂😂 Now look! You haven't told any lies, you never said you actually shot for Bob or new him well! You simply give the impression that you did... No harm done really lol.. This approach will get you land to shoot I'll gauntee it👍 Set aside a day and repeate this until it works, you will get land that day I'll bet you... It's easy!!! Go get it done and let me know when you have picked up your new patch of fun lol...

For what ever reason I never thought badgers eat that sort of thing, I guess those big old lumps could paddle a fair bit down if they hung around for a while... And raptors lol ? That one a leg pull 😂...

You know the answer don't you lol! More Permission More Chances👍 It will swing your way soon enough

Hi mate, often there can be several flight lines that the birds may use from one feeding place to another, this probably will be dictated by what feild's are offering what food source at that given time! My feeling here is the birds you once saw were using a smaller subsidgery line which took them to or over your permission for a time, now there feeding area has changed so there just taking a differnt route.. If you take time to study the area you will have a good chance of finding the main flight line they are using wich will give you a better idea of what they are doing and were they are heading, these main lines are better sighted at first light or just before dusk when the birds are going to home to roost! I don't think your simply going at the wrong time as even if you are not catching them coming in to your fields its obvious that field isn't holding them either, that's because they have found a better table than yours. Unfortunately without been rood I don't think you have things pegged down as much as you think you did, try looking around to see were else there heading and then that will be another Flightline you will no, over time you can piece the jigsaw together with these smaller lines and also find the main flight lines! From that point on it makes life much easier to pin them down and hopefully get a good chance on them... Good luck👍

played it Bob on for me,, last thing he needed is some bloke ranting at the farmers door... Now he knows how the farmer will react to dinks like this he can relax knowing he's not going to loose his perm, best off playing it cool like he did then sound it it with the farmer. If there's a next time then I think we all know they will be a differnt answer to the strangers abrupt approach ..

Lol you do come across theses ******** every now & then but sounds like you played it just right pal... Like the way you slipped it in about the 56 shot 😂😂

Hi mate, Iv seen you comment this same answer on a couple of posts, what preditors do you think will come to scavage and damage the crop ? Cheers

I would personally be surprised if there was a bird left in the field after 48 hours, On several occasions shooting feral pigeons I have pretty much ditched good amounts in the hedge only to find the next day there all gone! Once them foxes turn up they will sharp clear the lot.. I stand to be corrected but it sounds like a bit of a polite excuse as the farmer is not keep on shooting over there standing crop..

Id also become familiar with the closet barley/wheat fields around that area, if they blow over or get harvested there's a very good chance the birds will turn there attention to that table. Sounds like there's sone good opertuinys in that area so just keep your eyes peeled.. Good luck 👍