TIME TO TRY DECOYING

[Graham20g]

I have always been a walking gun but due to a spinal injury I am finding this more dificult. So with to help of you out there with more knowlage in the art of decoying than I A tip or two will be most welcome. [ie] holes in patterns deek s into wind and so/on thanks guys

[Cranfield]

Sorry to hear about your back problems, there are a couple of other sufferers on here.

 

Check out "Tips and Tricks" on the front pages , where there are some diagrams of suggested decoy placements.

 

Any other specific questions, ask away, there are planty of people here with good advice.

[webber]

Graham

 

Cranfield and I have differing views on the transport of pigeon decoying equipment. He has several bags, and enjoys his walks! I on the other hand utilise a large fishing rucksack, into which everything except the gun fits, but it is a little heavy. Given your back problem, may I suggest that you seek out a shooting partner, therefore half the load etc.

 

webber

[Graham20g]

Thank s for replying lads

Like webber I to pack what little i have into one of thoes backpacks with built in seat I onlt have 12 half shells n 2 crows a cammo net .

what is the ideal range to set the deeks as I usualy set mine at around 25/30 yards They havent harvested yet on my ground so I have been setting up on flattend areas close in with little sucses any more tips thanks for the one on patterns Cranfield!.

try to learn somthing every day and fox the antie,s

[Cranfield]

Decoy layouts are really "trial and error", what works one day, may not work the next.

 

Much depends on the wind direction, if there is any.

Remember that birds want to land facing into the wind.

This influences whereabouts on the field I set up, more than anything.

 

Assuming the wind is from the rear of the hide, I set out two clumps of decoys between 20 and 30 paces from the hide (always facing the wind), on either side of my hide, with about a 20 pace clear gap between them.

 

I also use this layout, if the wind is coming straight into the front of the hide, but I place the decoys 30 to 40 paces from the hide.

The stronger the wind, the further from the hide go the decoys.

 

The theory is, that incoming birds will land in the gap, or at worse, behind the decoys.

Either position makes them very shootable.

 

If the wind is from the right, across the front of the hide, I use a horseshoe shape and place the decoys to the left of the hide.

Making the birds pass in front of the hide to get to the "killing area", which is the gap in the horseshoe.

 

If the wind is coming from the left, I just reverse the layout and put it far to the right of the hide.

 

Once you have some experience, there are lots of variations on the layouts you can try.

Hopefully, others may have some different ideas, but these are my basic setups.

[Guest Mr Pieman]

Hi Graham,

 

firstly, welcome to the site. Second, what part of the country are you in?

 

PP

[invector]

As far as the wind (or lack of it!) is concerned just watch how the birds drop into the field or the trees. They will mostly land into the wind but will often cheat the wind by coming in with the wind either behind them or quartering then suddenly change direction to face the wind as they land.

 

The prevailing wind direction can sometimes lead to you setting up in the wrong place if you are not careful, depending on the direction of flightlines entering the field. As well as the wind direction you must take notice of the direction of the sun or you`ll be forever squinting and missing shots. Obviously wind and sun at your back is the ideal but sometimes you must sacrifice one for the other.

 

As far as decoy patterns are concerned they don`t take account of those awkward birds that land on the edge of the pattern, within 5 metres of your hide, or in your crow deeks!! I suppose my advice would be to expect anything!!

[lurcherboy]

You will love deacoying Graham, it just takes a while to get used to it

 

 

 

LB

[Graham20g]

Hi and once again many thanks for the info!

 

The logic in what you have all said makes it sound so straight forward.

I HAD BEEN!! setting the deeks out to attract the birds in when I should

have been using the sun wind and cover to my advantage its what ive

done for years walking up and air rifle shooting

 

I surpose its the uncertainty of somthing new that makes you question

everything, you know master one thing at a time instead of looking at the whole thing.

To answer PIEMANS question im from the west midlands just north of Worcester

 

Reguards to you all Graham

p.s

dislexia rules KO

[invector]

Initially your binoculars should get more work than your gun!!! Setting up where the pigeons are feeding doesn`t always work, get a handle on the flightlines into and out of the field and choose carefully where to set up. If you walk them off the field watch which direction they take out of the field and expect them to GENERALLY come back from that direction.

 

Don`t be afraid to move if pigeons are flying over the field and not seeing your deeks or are set on going somewhere else. Get under the flightline and pull them down to you. Once you`ve had a bit of experience and success you`ll be pulling them down on concrete!!!

[hawkeye]

quote invector

(Once you`ve had a bit of experience and success you`ll be pulling them down on concrete!!!)

 

thats where im going wrong i keep trying to get them down on rape stubble :( :o :o :o

[Cranfield]

Once you`ve had a bit of experience and success you`ll be pulling them down on concrete!!!

 

Well, thats something I might pay money to see.

I really must try harder. :(

[Highlander]

I have always been a walking gun but due to a spinal injury I am finding this more dificult. So with to help of you out there with more knowlage in the art of decoying than I A tip or two will be most welcome. [ie] holes in patterns deek s into wind and so/on :o thanks guys

Graham

 

Don't know how bad that back is but Archie Coats had a seat specially made for him when his legs gave out. Swivelled so he could swing sitting down. A friend of mine only has one leg (well only one real one anyway the others plastic) and uses same idea. He can sit all day and shoot sitting. Only problem is getting him onto fields. If it's not drivable it's a problem.

[invector]

Decoying pigeons on concrete: Not as mad as you may think. There have been examples of swans trying to land on wet roads thinking them to be rivers!!! :o

 

First find your concrete then get lots of green paint. :o

[Highlander]

Decoying pigeons on concrete: Not as mad as you may think. There have been examples of swans trying to land on wet roads thinking them to be rivers!!!

 

First find your concrete then get lots of green paint. :unsure:

and watch out for the ricochetes

 

 

Once had a pair of mallard drop into the patio after a quick rainstorm. The way they hit they obviously thought it was water. No long term damage done though. Well not to the patio anyway :yp:

[pigeon master]

Graham,

Welcome to the site my friend.

You’re in the same position as me, this time last year, I‘d only really only had the experience of walking with the gun, and I did much the same as you mentioned in an earlier post about setting up in the fields next to the crops. It made me chuckle because I did the same.

 

Now this can be successful when you know when, and where the birds are coming from, but me, when I first started decoying I didn’t have a clue so the sessions where sometimes very bleak.

 

You’ve come to the right place mate I did loads of reading when I first took this game up but it’s the fellas on here that make the most sense of it all, I reckon I could even give advice on a fair few decoying subjects myself so I dont think it'll wont be long before you’re getting some good days.

 

Enjoy,

 

The PM

 

P.S what range of guns and rifles to have?

[Graham20g]

Hi pigeon master its nice to know that so many of you guys out there are ready to give away such hard earned knowlage.still thats what its all about isnt it how else is our sport going to grow .

As for my list of guns. My favorite isthe Ruger 20g m/cit just fit so well comes up great you would think its on viagra.

then theres the Razzine12g o/u sporter an old belgian fn sbs n/e full n full an old un but goodun then its a Falcon fn19 air rifle12fp .I surenderd my F.A.C. three years ago on that was .22 rimfire a.223 both with mods .

hope to speak to you soon reguards graham :unsure:

 

p s the only thing lacking on this site is a spell checker for the dumb old farts like me. :yp:

[Big Dog]

Graham welcome to the forum.

 

I am a bit like you. Use to be a walker. From dawn to dusk. Constantly walked other guys into the ground. That was some years ago and before serveral accidents such as motorbikes, skying, rock climbing, marage and kids :unsure: . The last 2 are a joke, I love them all to bit

 

Now I walk very little and it is a pain in the butt. However, rifle shooting and clays have helped.

 

I use to do some decoying years ago but it was alway pot luck. So I to am getting back in to it. I would shoot mainly crows but pigeon are good to.

 

I am currently reading "The Pigeon Shooter" by John Batley & Ashley Boon it is a guide to pigeon shooting, which contains up to date information on decoys, hides and the relevant EC regulations. It easy to read although a little traditional in style, not any photos but some good drawings.

 

I also got a good site last week on the net and printed of hide formations and tips. I have forgotten it but will look up the site at home and let you know.

 

Take it easy buddy, I know what pain is and the frustration that come with it. :yp:

[Big Dog]

On another note. any good tips out there on decoying crows??

 

Do they have flightlines like pigeons??

 

Went out on saturday and was a waist of time, crow sitting 2-3 fields away not one near me. I really only set up to let my wee son see the decoy set up but though some birds would have wanted to die :yp:

 

So I need some help too :unsure:

[invector]

Yes crows and rooks do have flightlines but they change them quiet often according to the available food. I find the easiest crow shooting is when I`m decoying pigeons. I always put three crow decoys out on the edge of the pigeon pattern and crows often come over for a look.

 

The best tips I can give is to keep hidden and use a crow call for that final con, when a crow hesitates some distance away. Stop calling as soon as they seem committed to your position. It`s a lazier type of shooting than pigeons, but just as enjoyable, and crows often announce their presence with a loud `caw`, which helps.