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pigeon controller

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Posts posted by pigeon controller

  1. Some years ago I was requested by my pigeon buyer to supply some squirrels as he had an order from an American Base . I was informed to skin them while still warm as it is easier. They are weird when skinned as they have a similar muscle mass to us but with a tail.

  2. I paid a state pension for 41 years to qualify and retired at 56 and lived on redundancy and works pension until 65 when they both kicked in.

    I can understand that they have not sufficient funds as noe you only have to have 31 years to qualify.

  3. 23 minutes ago, Spr1985 said:

    I realise from the way that your post is written that you’re not looking for sympathy but…..im very sorry to hear of your recent struggle and sincerely hope you make a speedy and full recovery! I really enjoy reading of your exploits in the field and shall look forward to reading many more. Onwards and upwards pc 💪🏻

    That’s the only way!!!!

     

    37 minutes ago, old'un said:

    That's ok mate, I feel for you.

    I do wonder just how long us old’uns (73) can carry on acting like we are still in our 30s, I do sometimes have visions of the farmer finding me face down on a field of rape with all my shooting gear still strapped to my body, think I will have to look at one of those powered trolleys.

    I’m still 18 in my head !!!!!

    24 minutes ago, Spr1985 said:

    I realise from the way that your post is written that you’re not looking for sympathy but…..im very sorry to hear of your recent struggle and sincerely hope you make a speedy and full recovery! I really enjoy reading of your exploits in the field and shall look forward to reading many more. Onwards and upwards pc 💪🏻

     

    24 minutes ago, Spr1985 said:

    I realise from the way that your post is written that you’re not looking for sympathy but…..im very sorry to hear of your recent struggle and sincerely hope you make a speedy and full recovery! I really enjoy reading of your exploits in the field and shall look forward to reading many more. Onwards and upwards pc 💪🏻

     

  4. 3 minutes ago, old'un said:

    I know the feeling when for most of your life you have been fit and active and then something comes along and knocks you off your feet, I was knocked of my feet with polymyalgia, took 12 months of treatment to get me back to something like normal, okay now but still a little weak and the odd day of shoulder and arm pains but a couple of paracetamol helps.

    Glad to see (with the help of friends) you are at least getting out and shooting a few, as you say its not been the best of years for pigeons but I have seen more pigeons about the last month or so, had a few good days on that field next to the M5.

    Hope you make a full recovery and can get back to what you enjoy doing, shooting more pigeons.

    All the best Dave

    That’s very kind , I’m determined to beat this one way or another, thanks.

  5. As I have previously stated in some replies to other members posts  it has not been a good start to the year. So the purpose of this post is to set the record straight as to my absence from the forum.

    Following a long holiday in Greece I returned to  UK  to find the birds feeding on natural foods so I concentrated my efforts on catching some Zander from the local canals which have been in existence for over two hundred years and hold some quality fishing if you know where to go.

    During these night time manoeuvres I noticed I was getting breathless carrying my gear, I put this down to being an old **** at 75. I only managed to catch fish up to 3 pounds much to the amazement of the hoard of lure anglers I met during my travels who seemed not to catch much at all.

    On the 6th of December I collapsed at home with no warning with a temperature of 41 degrees and blue lighted to our local university hospital, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and anaemia and stayed in hospital for ten days . During which I had various scans, my breathlessness was put down as the oxygen level in my blood was so low that the muscles required oxygenated blood so the lungs had to work harder. The scans confirmed that I had a problem with my blood and bone marrow for which I’m undergoing daily tablets and weekly hospital sessions for the next nine months. All is fine and I feel fine in myself but the effects of the steroids and the chemo do affect my shooting.

    My wife decided to buy me a belated Christmas present in the form of an electric Carp trolley to allow me to carry my gear around the fields. I’ve used it once so far  to good effect. Bunny_Blaster has taken me on his permission three times now with the results being 9 and 16 respectively. This is a farm with concrete roads allowing good access.

    So yesterdays report, BB sent me a video of the field in the week with a good number of birds flighting on the rape, so I set up at 09.00 after putting a rope banger on a local farm but it was very windy and I think the hole string will be burnt out in a couple of hours. BB arrived at 09.30 and as we talked about our plans for the day I had two in the decoys , luckily I dropped them.

    BB was on his quad so he decided to set up in the very large field to my rear/right the day was very hit or miss with long periods with no birds then one would appear from over the hedge behind me.

    BB packed up at 16.00 with 24 birds , I think I was taking his birds as they came over the field. He had a couple of birds in my hide sharing the gun. As he left it started to rain and I had a downpour  but finally  packed up at 17.30 and picked up 48 birds . I thank BB for accessing his land and allowing me to take his birds. DB and Topgunners have been out during my layoff but have had one good day but not much more.

    Well that’s  it , my consultant is happy with my progress and very positive attitude. My reason for posting is to make people aware that if you have a condition that suddenly appears get it checked out . If I had not collapsed I would have got worse without my knowledge, I feel a fraud as I feel basically OK , my attitude is that I will carry on doing what I want to do until I cant . The picture shows my birds laid out by order of " The Peaky Blinders" and BBs laid out "Norfolk Style" at my feet.

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  6. 1 hour ago, Wilts#Dave said:

    Have you not managed to find any yet PC? You were always a very regular winter rape shooter! 

    It’s a long story but I’ve had two invites from Bunny_Blaster to help him cover large areas of rape with my totals being 9 and 16 respectively. So it would appear that I’m the perfect Worzel Gummage as a scarecrow.

  7. 89 is not a bad result in the current situation. The main thing ins that you able to find them in trees etc not interested in feeding but we all know that they have to feed at some point, it’s just when. When I phoned you on Friday about the field close to me I returned two hours later and it was still devoid of birds, they had just lifted and left. So you were lucky that yours returned.

    The buds situation is starting break so that will throw another spanner in the works!!!

  8. 17 minutes ago, bunny_blaster said:

    The problem round here is finding a field they are committed to. Most of the rape is either in big blocks or there’s other fields not far away so they are just lifting up and not returning.

    As for when my next big bag will be, honestly I don’t know. I’ve got the numbers about but like I said they are just not committed anywhere. This mild weather has made the dreaded tree buds start to show early so we will soon be losing them again. Along with others this has been my worst winter on record. I do hope my luck will  change sooner rather than later. I certainly won’t give up though

    Well said.

  9. 1 hour ago, old'un said:

    well done in finding and shooting a few, you deserved a bit of shooting after putting all those miles in, as you say its hard work this pigeon shooting game.

    I still believe there's been a lot less pigeons about this winter, its perhaps been one of my worst years for a long time.

    Totally agree.

  10. With respect to heavy loads, it’s a personal thing but if I’m roost shooting I will use them also in winter with more plumage. It’s a quirk of mine that I will always carry them in the Disco and if I’m hitting birds and not dropping  them I will change as I believe they impart more energy.

  11. Well done for an honest report of a roost session. Both myself and BB are advocates of lighter loads and small shot yet I still shoot 32gram  4 and 5  under certain conditions. I’m yet to find a field worth shooting this year, BB has seen large flocks but they do not commit to decoys or are on fields that are difficult to shoot and not safe. On a recent investigation on some felled trees the dreaded buds we’re starting to break.

  12. BB has been seeing large flocks on various rape fields over the past few weeks but they are very quick to move on.

    I’m seeing lots of flighting birds in my locality which is on the very edge of the urban sprawl of the city, these tend to be feeding on the ivy along the canal and railway banks. On the late afternoon dog walk I see large numbers very high returning to the city. 
    The closest rape is five miles out along the flightline and upon inspection is devoid of birds after checking at various times of the day.

    DB has been checking our normal farms and not finding birds , Oldun  reports the flock moved off his shooting field which is a problem when you have a concentration of rape fields in a small area. Rope bangers can keep them on the move but at £70 a box can be expensive the other option is the flag off fields or include other guns.

    We are informed by Mr Pwackam that the Wood Pigeon is increasing in numbers following the bird survey they carry out each year so it may be that they are becoming more urban thanks to the amount of food that Oldun and my wife feed in the garden?????

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