Mike

Mr Pie Man.. I am from the same school as yourself.. I believe it is the hide that is important. I have seen countless pigeon shooting videos, and the shooters are not wearing cammo.. I know it makes people feel invisible, but does it actually work. I dont believe it has affected the number of pigeons shot. Does it honeslty make a difference >

Gentlemen.. This is my last weekend shooting before I get Married next week. Lets hope this is a good weekend on the spring drillings!"! TTFN.

I Have new bettinsoli Diamond .. My fav gun also... shot seemed to improve.. Good looking gun at a good price in my opinion. Any other views?

Hi all thank you for the response - The problem we have is location i will try to demonstrate ............. above = open fields. ( 3 acre) Farm Buildings Large . x x x x x x gar'dn . rabbits (mess) . x x xx x . hedge ............ GATE ============== (only real shooting point) -------------------------------------------- Busy Road --------------------------------------------- I hope this can give a half decent idea. Can you use a high beam, with a normal sight at night time? Proud dad, I am in Euxton, Chorley, the Farm is in Hesketh Bank. Lads, I think we will have a go, but if the problem persists I will be calling on your service. The farm next door also has a problem and with planting season coming soon, this is a real problem, and we cannot afford to lose crops. The increase is down to one person leaving about 1/2 acre unkept for about 18 months. I think the problem will need knocking on the head pdq. I will certainly keep you all posted. Cheers. M.

Folks, We are currently experiencing a major rabbit problem on our farm. Unfortunately we have no experience of Lamping/ air guns etc. We usually tackle the problem with Tractor and Shot gun at night, but due to location this is proving to extremely difficult. We have decided to try a new approach, but need advice. We have a decent airgun ( not the new gas one), but no lamps etc. What equipment would you advise, and approx cost. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance - Mike, Lancs.

*******$ that is not right! Arrgghh....

If I were to ask if this road leads to Boston, would you say 'Yes'? This is the only answer I can come up with???

True, unfortunately it does go on..

Correct, different strokes for different folks, however where does it end? I am just worried... with all the media about fox hunting etc - people who do not understand our sport will exploit any unconventional methods. We must have the discipline and responsibility to look after our sport. Because no ****** else will!

I agree, but the shoot near our farm was!

It is not a case of being jealous, but could you justify it? I have had plenty of opportuntiy to shoot pigeon, and plenty of them, thank you kindly. ( you do when they are destroying your crops) I just care about the sport, and everything that surrounds it. If all people care about is "bag numbers" then our sport is heading for self distruct. Feed all the fields you want, then when the pigeons are gone, don't complain. The reason I have jumped on the band wagon is simply because I am hearing more and more people feeding fields. Chase the bags - pay the price. I May be out of order and against the majority.

Fair Comment and I myself have fed ponds, however not to over shoot, but to offer good sport and to put a nice meal on the table. I guess I am not for turning everything into commercial benefit. Besides, a thousand bird day is simply "manufactured" and can be "re stocked" year after year, also can the game keeper get rid of 1000+ birds a week or are they simply turned into fox bait? You are right, people do enjoy diffferent types of shooting. However with most of my shooting consisting of good company, walking the countryside and taking in 20+ birds with all kinds of different challenging shots, I cannot justify to myself standing at a peg to shoot 100+ birds, leaving them at the shoot, and the wife coming home from the supermarket with a pre packed pheasant/duck fed on factory food!, Are these people doing it for the "image" "status" or for "sport"? My views may be naive, but shooting has been in my family for generations, and like a great deal of things in this world, once it has been made commercial, the history, traddition and values seem to be lost. I hope this doesn't offend, but it isn't often you can have this discussion without an anti shouting the odds..

I have just read in "talk from the field" about a bag of 750 over 7 hours with 3 guns. There was a similar bag near to our shoot. Maybe the field craft was excellent, however, it is a matter of fact that this day was achieved through "feeding" the field. Does tipping grain on a field substitute good field craft? I think not. I friend of mine was at this shoot and walked out after 2 hours. He was simply not enjoying it. He said he may as well have been on a clay shoot. My grandfather used to pay people to shoot pigeon on his land, now we have to pay the farmer in most cases. Personally, I would be happy with 30+ through good field craft, and good shooting. Not pure carnage. People like this are ruining the name of pigeon shooting, and disrupting the natural balance. People may disagree, but It upsets me when people "cheat" to achieve stupidly high numbers of bags. I repsect people who have experience and use all traditional methods. Sorry for the rant.

Folks. There was a similar session near to our shoot. I myself was not impressed with the method. It is one thing to have excellent field craft, but another to "feed" a field. How can this be sport when you see a trailer of grain being scattered next to a wood? How many other people do this? No wonder pigeon numbers are dwindling when they are getting a clobbering like this. Not impressed. :<

Will this Snow be a help for pigeon? And what effect will it have on Roost shooting/ shooting over crops?? Are they likely to vacate to areas without snow cover - ie another county??? I am in Lancashire.... TTFN. :unsure: