neilthepiker1 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Hello to all on this forum. I have been pigeon decoying for several years now with some succesfull days and poor ones. My local farm I shoot vermin on has three fields of rape which the woodys are now hitting quite hard since the snow. Despite my best efforts and cooperation from the farmer moving his crow bangers around to where I suggest I am having very limited success. I own and use a pigeon rotar and flapper both of which I made myself but neither seem to be working. I will set up at one end of the field and the damn woodys feed at the other. I have a freind which joines me on occasions and then if we set up at either ends of the field they then ****** off onto one of the other fields.All of which is hellish annoying as there is a hell of a lot of pigeons in my patch. Any advice would be much appresiated in order for me to have a little more success. Kind regards to all Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Try tying bags/plastic to canes in the ground which will move in the wind and keep the birds moving around eventually to where you are waiting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 As above and maybe try your pal on one field you on another and heavily bag the areas that are not covered by yourselves. Its one of the joys with winter rape shooting im afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Always make sure you are under the flightline and make sure the birds want to feed where you are shooting. At the end of the day there is so much rape around at the moment and acorns etc so pigeons have a large choice of food at the moment so it is hard to get any good days on rape or any crops. Most of my shooting over the past 3-4 weeks has been in the woods because the birds are feeding in there and not coming out to the fields. As already said but bags out on the places you cant shoot etc because this will put the birds off, but make sure you take them home at the end of the day the farmer does not want them in the field when he is spraying etc. Dont set up a huge pattern straight away, you may need to move after a while so set up light at first and if the birds come in well then you can add to the pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilthepiker1 Posted January 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2010 Many thanks to Kev, Deny and David. It looks like the wifes old tesco's shopping bags in the cupboard under the sink will have some use after all. Gonna put advice into practice tomorow, will let you guys know how I get on. Again, many thanks. Regards Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 1, 2010 Report Share Posted January 1, 2010 Like others have said, old fertilizer bags (or something similar) on sticks do work well. Also, have a word with the Farmer and see if he has any string bangers (or buy your own). Strategically placed they can certainly help funnel the pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted January 1, 2010 Report Share Posted January 1, 2010 We sometimes use a scarecrow or two, these are more effective if they have a face on them and we move them to suit flightlines etc.Polly bags can also be very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted January 1, 2010 Report Share Posted January 1, 2010 This time of year i find you have to get as many decoys out as possible , magnet can work for or against you so don't be afraid to pull it in . I use rope bangers on the other fields and try to get the 3 going of at 10 minute intervals (not as easy as it sounds sometimes ) If you sit and watch birds on a field all newcomers will head to the biggest feeding flock on the field which is why i get as many out as i can carry . Hope this helps PS , also sit for an hour or two to watch where the birds are flying and where there feeding and set up accordingly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilthepiker1 Posted January 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2010 Hi all and thankyou. My mate is coming over tomorow early so we can get set up in our chosen locations where pigeons were feeding today. I have placed bags all over the place to keep them on the move except the field we are decoying. Putting all advice into practice so fingers croosed. I will report back with the results. Regards Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Birds are spooky at the moment in most areas on winter rape IMO due to over shooting . Not over shooting as in too many birds shot but shooters shooting at the birds that are too far away over 40 yards etc. This makes the birds spooky and dont forget by this time the birds are nearly all mature wise birds that have had a few rounds put up the side of them. My view is to let the birds build up and then have a good go ever two weeks I know this is hard due to being unable to control other shooters in the weeks inbetween . Regards OTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilthepiker1 Posted January 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Yesterdays results. Not a bird shot. They have just vanished. Four days ago there was well over a couple of thousand feeding on the three feilds of rape on my patch. Yesterday nothing, they've all gone. Why and where god knows. The farmer is delighted, I on the other hand am livid. "Grrrrrrrr " Regards Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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