Wilts#Dave

This, absolutely.

Me too. I’ve never had huge credit card debt etc but always bought the best I can afford, often seemingly above my pay grade so to speak (as others see it). But I’m a good saver, don’t drink or smoke and just wait until I can afford things before doing my research and pulling the trigger….I do get pleasure out of owning nice things, and knowing if push comes to shove I’ve some considerable assets I could sell rather than ******* it up the wall like some seem to. In fact it baffles me what some people spend their money on, that earn double what comes into our household but they’re always pleading poverty!

Great few hours there, the weather is the bane of our lives at times…..had many a day cut short with heavy rain, very frustrating and always when things are going well! Looking forward to getting back out myself, but looking at the forecast it’s rather unsettled for the next week or two (that I can see).

Well done Marshman, I just love the first of the stubble shooting and it looks like you had an enjoyable few hours in the hide. I’ve had a couple of weeks break now with a holiday and lots of work on, but looking forward to the next day in the hide…..before I went away there were pigeons on various fields, but I’ve no doubt there will be a lot of change over the next few weeks as the combines roll. It seems to be over in the blink of an eye every year, and like buses it all comes at once! Keep it up!

Excellent work again Jdog. Things are certainly hotting up where you are. It’s nice to have the choice as to how many you shoot by how long you stay / shoot!

Of course you need to bear in mind the % is an average not a guarantee…..some win more and some much less! I did ok with them when I had 45k worth, but shifted some into a one year fixed isa and with 25k now the winnings have noticeably dropped off. There’s luck involved with it, good idea if you need tax free savings but otherwise at the moment with interest rates on savings accounts so much higher I’d go for a fixed term account and get a guaranteed return.

Frustrating but you made the most of the situation…..I think that’s happened to us all, making a bag despite not being able to be in prime position is where the skill comes in 😉👍🏼

Fantastic Jdog. They’ve certainly turned up in force for you haven’t they, as you mentioned previously it’s amazing how there can be none there for so long then suddenly they’re everywhere! I didn’t manage another day this week due to time, but have seen pigeons on my travels in various places. Those combined will be rolling before we know it and it’ll be hard to cover all the ground!

Don’t let that put you off buying one, it’s proven they’re more effective at cleaning your teeth…..hey you could even turn it over and use the brush on your tongue!

Almost as bad as Mendip shooting ground that have managed to enforce only being able to use the cartridges that they sell on the ground (due noise blah blah)…..talk about doubling the profits! Not that I’ve been there for years, and very rarely shoot clays now but always annoyed me that I couldn’t take the shells with me I had at home I’d bought in bulk that I liked using! To the point in question, pure marketing gimmick I’d say that will make them a few quid purely through shooters curiosity to trying anything a bit different regardless of cost 😂

Lovely job, glad you’re getting a few. I must admit shooting on barley can be hard work when it comes to finding them…..personally I’ll usually go out every time I’ve shot one unless it’s close in or it’s really flat. They can just disappear down underneath the barley and you never find them, how on earth some folk will say they’ve shot 100 plus and found them all afterwards is beyond me 🤣

Very smooth, can fire them all day and hard hitting!

My preferred cartridge has been the Hull High Pheasant 23g 5/6 shot. Used a box of Gamebore regal on the latest day and they were hard hitting too! As you say they kill as well as a 12g if you can shoot straight out to sensible ranges! I use 1/4 and 1/2, killing some stonking birds with the 1/4 choke….Beretta Silver pigeon. Never actually pattern plated the gun but not felt the need to tighten up the chokes at all.

Thanks for all the replies! Was another wonderful day, most enjoyable with the 28 bore and the numbers just don’t seem to dwindle. Shot another 193 last Thursday, again with the 28 bore packing up at the same sort of time although on the opposite side of the field in the shade of an overhanging tree and they decoyed equally well. I’m not sure I’ll ever have the same success over one field again, but one of the beauty’s of pigeon shooting for me is that you never know what’s round the corner……makes all the watching and fruitless searching at times seem worthwhile. The best shooting of the lot.

That’s a mightily frustrating thing to happen, just when the action is hotting up (or any time come to that). It’s happened to us countless times, people complaining about the noise but only once we’re we actually stoped shooting by the farmer…..we were up round 180 at the time and did put a dampener on the day! Glad you persevered though and made the most of the situation 👍🏼

Wow, now that’s what you call a busy spell Jdog…..pigeons seem to be coming out of the woodwork in numbers all of a sudden don’t they! That’s some going in such a short space of time. I’ve had some great days on flattened barley but yet to go over 200. The only thing I don’t envy is having to carry them any distance let alone having to try and pick them!

After last weeks unexpected red letter day I didn’t plan on going out again, but mid week thought I’d just drive by the same field out of interest and once again saw a few still flighting over and pitching in. Had another proper look on Thursday mid afternoon, and to my surprise there was still a good number of pigeons clattering out the trees on arrival and a few getting up off the field itself…..after fifteen minutes or so they started flighting back in, almost identical lines to the previous week. This week though, the field looked quite different with large patches of yellow flowers all over it from the charlock in amongst the Lupins. Another go it was then, so the following day we arrived at the field just after 12 o clock, and due to the wind direction decided to set up in the same spot as previously. All set up and ready to go, I was back from parking up and no sooner than getting the gun out of the slip there was a pigeon in on the decoys…..I wasn’t loaded up quick enough for this one but less than a minute later the first one was dispatched. I decided to take the little 28 bore today, as I wasn’t as fussed on numbers this week and to be honest when the pigeons are playing ball it’s so effective with barely any recoil I enjoy using it more than the 12! After a steadier start than before as we expected, things took a turn for the better and they switched on from 2 o clock ish, coming with increasing regularity, the barrels red hot for a good period of time and pigeons being dropped left right and centre…..they were decoying really well again, and giving me plenty of opportunities for doubles at times. Once again the sun was beating into the hide, and with Dad deciding not to shoot today I called time at just before 5 o clock again as I’d shot plenty and needed to drop them off after unloading all the gear at home. After another lengthy pick up I should have carried on for another 10 minutes as I ended up picking 198, with a fair few having crashed into the thick undergrowth behind. Another unbelievable day, and certainly not the norm for us in our area so will be one to remember for sure!

That happens to us all (the line moving). I’ve sat many times and shot half what I could have shot by moving, but especially when you’ve had to walk and set up all the kit it’s a lot of effort to move…..especially when you’re getting some sport anyway! An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon though Jdog, there’s none hitting the few fields of peas I’ve got to check, yet.

This would be quite acceptable. Obviously one continuous length is preferable but there’s no issue with a joint done properly in a waterproof enclosure, especially one above ground in an accessible position (like the side of your block built shed). It’s how it’s fed in the first place that’s more likely to need checking!

I love coming upon fields like that following a storm. Had some great days over laid barley in the past, especially when it’s green and milky……if there’s any pigeons in the area I’ll be amazed if you don’t get to shoot over that Jdog! Oddly last year we had no laid barley at all which is most unusual. We didn’t get the same level of storm as you so I’m guessing there won’t be any down yet here either.

It’s somewhat amazing isn’t it, that there can be such a drought for months on end then a bag like that can come out of nowhere. I didn’t shoot over 200 last year on peas/stubble or anything yet saw much more promising days numbers wise than I did in this instance. If it doesn’t shoot up too much I’m hoping so, saw some floating in there earlier on from a distance when I drove by this afternoon so maybe have a closer look later in the week if time allows! Absolutely, it’s great to share days like that with someone. We talk about a lot of days from the past, this will be one of them I’m sure 😁👍🏼

Thanks PC, yes it is definitely one to remember. Will be in my memory forever, as a standout day. I’m sure you must be sitting on a good day very soon, it’s most unusual for you not to be shooting good numbers in your area isn’t it, maybe it’s about to change? Thanks Alan 👍🏼 Thanks, it was a great day! Thanks. They’re just folding aluminium chairs, I’m not sure where they came from now but if you type in folding aluminium directors chair they appear on Amazon etc. They’re surprisingly comfy and not heavy, I can’t sit on anything without a back now! It certainly was, thanks! I’ve spent 30 years chasing them along with the old man, that’s certainly not an everyday occurrence for us but I’ve had some great days over the years…..it’s what keeps me interested I guess, if you do it long enough your red letter dat will come 👍🏼

Thanks Marsh man, was certainly a turn up for the books as they say…..those unexpected red letter days are the best, and was great that Dad was there to be part of it. He actually did more shooting than usual as there was so much action which was nice, as I’ve done the lions share for a long time now. It’s the first time we’ve shot over them, I only kept an eye on the field as it was late drilled and there’s nothing else in that area (peas namely) which is why they’ve gone on it so hard I guess…..the satisfaction is in finding them! Dad was a little overheated but the air con in the truck soon cooled him down 🤣 Thanks Jdog. I must say you sensed right, it’s been a frustrating winter / spring really with seemingly nothing to find. This really was a turn up for the books, and as you say just goes to show they’re often there somewhere it’s just pinning them down. This particular area is one I’ve shot a lot of my bigger bags in and definitely attracts a good number of pigeons when the cropping is right. I hope you’re keeping well and starting to see some showing. This has oddly been the only place I’ve seen any of any numbers yet produced such a good bag. Thanks, you’ve had a good run too recently I see which is good 👍🏼

I think you can let things like that bother you or just embrace it, as there are physical attributes we all have we’d probably rather not have but can’t change. I’m pretty short and get reminded of the fact fairly often by people in jest (as if I didn’t realise), it’s an easy thing to pick on I think but it’s certainly never held me back in any way (being short that is), so I’m still not sure what the fascination is! I’ve never been properly ‘bullied‘ though, as my nature wouldn’t generally allow it. I think bullying goes on through life in all sorts of ways, but is usually fairly easy to stamp out with choice words rather than having to resort to punching someone. I do feel sorry for people who have a really soft nature (which you can’t change really) as bully’s see them as an easy target to make themselves feel better, which is why bully’s do what they do. It’s an awful trait in anyone, being a bully.

Great to be getting out PC, you certainly deserved the bag. I’ve a feeling you’ll be back in action on the pigeons in the very near future.