Balotelli

Come back, Balotelli, all is forgiven!

Might be different in Norfolk. But all the posts above are saying the same thing - no pigeons and that includes Leicestershire. I do quite a lot of driving and I can assure you that field after field of all the main pigeon attractants are barren. Believe me.

Isn't that pretty well what I was saying under the Fenland Pigeon topic - no pigeons in Leicestershire and was "shot down". My inexperienced eyes couldn't see them whilst others claiming daily bags of 20-50. Additionally I needed more permissions to find them and need to be travelling about all the time. Well Balotelli might just have got it right. There's none about in my neck of the woods and a lot of other places too by the sound of it. Maybe East Anglia might have them. If so, you're lucky.

That is a superb post, informative and helpful.

During my posts I seem to irked some Forum members. I don't think that I have directed any insults at anyone and "spoken" in generalities. However, I have been on the receiving end of many unnecessary personal jibes. That's fine as I think that it says more about them than me. Slightly at a tangent, I attended Hazel Leys Secondary Modern School in Corby having failed my 11+. So far, so bad. But I was lucky enough to get a job with one of the Utility Companies. I wouldn't say my academic grounding was anything to write home about, quite the opposite. So why is the standard of grammar on the posts so dreadful? It seems that hardly anyone can string a sentence together without it being littered with errors. I suspect that some will say does it matter? Yes it does, it implies sloppiness and takes away the credibility of a post. On that note, I wish you all good luck with your shooting. Balotelli signing off.

Just my personal opinion but I don't find "driving all over" very interesting. I've got lots of things to be doing as I see driving about frustrating, boring and futile. I love pigeon control but dislike the wasted effort not to mention costs and if you wish to be moralistic, pollution. Much better to concentrate your efforts on fields with pigeons. I'm starting to work on intelligence on the ground. I did suggest this previously but was poo pooed. It has worked for me on one of my shoots. Dog walkers are out most days and one phone call can save an awful lot of resources.

My intention is not to offend people. I clearly haven't put some of my thinking across very clearly. The points that I was trying to make are as follows: You must challenge anything in life including pigeon shooting otherwise we shall not progress. Remember the flat earth theory? Some still believe in that. The fact that rotaries / magnets used to be very effective. Not so much now. Have you asked yourselves why? I have my own ideas on this. Relying on experience is fine as long as you build on that and are not dogmatic. "We always did it that way over the last 50 years" is not good enough. Challenge it. That's probably how rotaries came about, a bit of innovation - what was used prior to rotaries were old grey socks. I'll bet some of the old guard will no doubt have said "Well grey socks have always worked for me over the last 50 years" so need to change. Well that's as maybe but the rotaries were a step change. How many on the Forum are still using stuffed grey socks and rejected rotaries? Not many I suspect which means that most have embraced change at least to some degree. When I referred to "Experienced Rubbish" there was no intention to insult Forum members who undoubtedly have a great deal of experience and of course experience is something to build on. But some of the tripe that I have been told by "experienced shooters" "in the field" beggar's belief. It's time that we thought a bit more about pigeon behaviour. Maybe I am lazy but I see fruitless forays on barren fields a time and money sink. If it were possible and I could reduce these journeys I would be a happy man. As Forum members we should be pushing the bounds of our understanding of pigeon behaviour and not just accepting what is in front of our eyes.

"Eagerness and enthusiasm" Snap, That's it. Point well made Sorry, that you didn't get it. I'll try and make it clearer next time.

Sorry, Jacko, I stand by my comments. To improve in anything you must challenge old established ways of doing things. Listening to experienced rubbish is not the way to improve. This is not aimed at Forum members as I don't think that I have been given any advice. Ironically, what does stick in my craw is some of the patronising comments aimed at you and I don't like it. I'm actually batting on your side which undoubtedly you will reject, more's the pity, but hey ho.

For the reasons that "bone" gave, I invested in one. I agree with stuartyboy's comments and it is better coupled with sub-sonics. It doesn't work with a ported gun. The sound of a shotgun is obviously a red rag to some people. If the sound is changed to something which is not obviously a shotgun then it will in all likelihood be ignored. I need to carry out some further tests with my A-Tec before giving a definitive answer. I'll get back to you on this Forum.

I tend to look after my kit and crazy, I know, even FUDS get washed. Nor do I see the connection between state of decoys and numbers of pigeons shot. Do tell. Incidentally, I don't buy this "experience" thing. It's the thinking shooters who will succeed. In my experience a lot of so called experienced pigeon shooters are as thick as the proverbial. Naturally, Forum members excepted. Thick people can do OK in a limited and narrow way which is true in life including pigeon shooting. But the bright ones will eventually come out on top.

Well at least that's encouraging. I was getting to the point of whether it was questionable going out on fruitless searches? It's strange how these fields can blow hot and cold. We just have no idea on pigeon behaviour. If only we could predict it, would save a lot of time and money.

Very wise words. I wouldn't be so bold as to include myself in the "Experienced Guys" and know my place. Just pragmatic

OK, sound as though you have it sussed. But shooting barren fields isn't much of a learning curve.

Sorry a little bit of the same. I more or less kicked of this post regarding a clot who went out everyday (literally) popping away whether there were pigeons or not. At the moment there are very few pigeons on the stubble. I'm not taking the mick out of Mellors but I suspect the same mantra will be spun by the clot I'm referring to as "Doing a good job". He's deluded, he's doing a rotten job for the following reasons: first up the farmers would prefer the pigeons to clear spilt grain. Secondly, any build up of pigeons is likely to be jeopardised by the constant popping all over the estate. The only possible "good job" is keeping pigeon numbers down for next year and that won't happen because numbers of pigeons aren't there and the few that are will have moved on. Incidentally, rumour has it a bag of 46. Sure! I haven't seen that number in total over umpteen farms over different days. Maybe different where you are, I hope so.

Spending time and money on fruitless ventures isn't the ticket. You need some intelligence on the ground.

Well done, That's the way to do it. Just as a matter of interest, I've witnessed stocks being "fitted". This is not a slur, just an observation, I couldn't believe just how crude the process is. Hack a bit off with a band saw, shave some off with an electric file and all done in a matter of minutes. Sand it down and voila. Quite incredible when compared to a bespoke suit that I had made.

Thanks everyone who have contributed so many interesting posts on this topic. When I originally started this post I never imagined there would be so much interest. I thought that there would be a handful of posts at best. Clearly "gun fit" strikes a chord with many shooters. It seems clear that we can adapt to pretty much any gun but it's easier to adapt to something that is half right in the beginning. For example I have seen big guys with small guns which are way too small for them and small guys with guns far too large. Getting a gun that is of roughly the right size is paramount. Might be obvious but a starting point. Obviously linked with size of gun is weight. A small guy will struggle with weight and consequently another reason why he might shoot badly. In my opening gambit, I mentioned that I was sold a gun which appeared to fit me. It didn't it was too big and a lump. It was a rushed purchase. When purchasing a gun try a few. Put them down and go back another day and see which gun flies to the shoulder with ease. Don't rush the process. Admittedly this might be difficult if you have your eye on a secondhand gun which may not be there on your next visit. In which case put a deposit on it. The Dealer will almost certainly transfer your deposit to another gun should you decide against your original choice. Finally and this may seem obvious, decide primarily what your gun will be used for. Clays or field. The manoeuvrability is important in a hide but not on a clay ground. Maybe, just maybe I can see some reason for attempting a fit for clay shooting but for pigeon shooting in a hide, don't bother. And while you are at, anathema to some, a decent semi-auto with no shiny bits has to be the weapon of choice in a hide. And don't forget some semi-autos have the clay ground in mind. Again, make sure you buy the right gun for the right job. Any other choice whether O/U or SBS will be based on tradition. Nothing wrong with that if it's what you are comfortable with. Next up from me will be Gun Mount.

You will be proud to know that a Scottish guy developed it. There's quite a bit on youtube.

Some very interesting points and thank you to everyone who replied. I'll probably induce rage on my following comments judging from previous posts. But I am honest and maybe a little too forthright. I am a very average shot and I have lots of excuses for this. Over a period of time I have helped friends improve their shooting. You don't have to be a top in your field to be a good coach. Often as not it's the other way round, for example Mourinho. Here's my opening gambit. I believe that "gun fit" is largely smoke and mirrors. Remember Harry Enfield and Chums and Paul White "suit you sir". I believe that many of us can pick up pretty well any old gun and shoot half-reasonably well. Sure a gun that you've used for a long time becomes an old slipper. But I think that you adapt to the gun. I do believe that there are some guns that just don't feel right whether it's the length, weight or balance etc. I had one such gun and it had to go. It wasn't cheap but there was no point in perservering with it. As one Forum member commented, how can you have a gun "fit" with winter clothes and summer clothes. Maybe a number of stocks are required depending on the season! Then we are back to balance. So a gun for all seasons is a compromise and has to be one that we are comfortable with. If you like a gun for whatever reasons you will probably shoot well with it. With the gun that I purchased that was a disaster all sorts of "fixes" were suggested changing the butt pad, raising the butt pad etc.all of which were futile. I'm not convinced adjustments for cast, comb etc. really add that much and I see them largely as sticking plasters. If the gun feels right it probably is right. The next post that I make will be on gun mount which I feel is the crucial factor.

Like most on the Forum, I have a shed load of shotguns some relatively cheap and one at the higher end and yes, I did have the pricey weapon"fitted". For the most part the Benelli semi-autos come out for pigeon shooting, as you may have guessed. However, I love my O/Us which I do use from time to time. Just for interest, and not relevent to this post, I have an ancient double barrel .410 of unknown make. Apart from the last mentioned, my guns are all 12 bores and range from an Ultralight to lumps.

To kick this topic off it would be interesting to get an idea of how many Forum members have had a gun fitted to their requirements. Clearly, we can't put our hands in the air but if anyone would like to share a gun fitting experience that would be great. The subsequent question, just how much did a fitted gun make to their shooting? Would anyone like to share their experience?

I cannot recall being asked to produce a shotgun licence on purchasing the decoys. Now, now Dodgy Dave, I don't think that Old Farrier deserves a retort such as that. Understandable but a trifle curt.

OK, it's probably not worth pursuing this any further as we seem to be on different sides of the divide. I'm sorry that you have got yourself in a tiz-woz.

I would have hoped you might have read between the lines on some of my posts. I'm not poking fun at shooting being an avid shooter myself. But sometimes we take ourselves a little too seriously and a bit of banter does no one any harm. Clearly, you took some of my comments to heart and I'm sorry that is the case. As I have posted earlier, I'm not apologising for the sentiments of my posts and stand by them. I can assure you that the post was not intended as some giant **** take.