Al Downie Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Our shoot had a coordionated pigeon day last Saturday, and I'd bought myself a whole bunch of new kit (sillosocks rotary & decoys) and was really looking forward to the day. I'd been around the top part of the farm the weekend before and had seen LOTS of damage along the edge of one field, next to a a thin strip of woodland where a flock of about 200 birds was sitting. On the other side of the woodland is another farm and our permission doesn't extend there. So I raced up to that part of the farm in the morning, switched off the gas gun (the birds didn't seem to be very scared of it anyway!), and set up my hide in one corner of the field, and then spent AGES setting up all the decoys - nice pattern: wind behind me so I put the rotary about 20yds away, and behind it a vague 'U' shape layout of deeks but with one or two random clusters of head-down birds, looking like they were eating the same food. Behind all of that I had one bouncer, bobbing and flapping nicely in the wind. Perfect! So I went back and relaxed in the hide, got a cup of coffee out of the flask, and everything in the world was good. Except... when the birds did start moving out of the trees, they all went to the corner opposite my decoys. Flippin' things. So I got up and went along to that part of the field, and set up a strip of bangers. Job done, back into the hide, wait for the action to start! Except... When the pigeons started moving again, back into that corner of the field, the banger went off and they all flew right over the woods and into the neighbouring farm. Blinkin' flip. Eventually they started reappearing in the tops of the trees, and then they started to filter back down into the corner of the field where the bangers were, then another banger went off, and they all ******** off over the woods again. Flippin' things. Eventually I reached the conclusion that I wasn't going to see much action in my corner of the field at all, so I packed up all the kit and the hide, and moved to the corner where the bangers were. Took about an hour to get all set up again. I'd put the gas gun back on at the far corner of the field because it was pretty far away and (at least when I watched the birds the week before) it didn't seem to spook the birds much at the side where I was working, so I killed the strip of bangers. Fingers crossed, I sat back in the hide and waited. And waited. And waited. Didn't see another bird all afternoon. Flippin' things. As far as I know the hide was good, well camouflaged with vegetation etc. I was wearing gloves and a realtree balaclava with 'flappy bits' attached and a facemask. The decoy pattern was pretty much by-the-book. There was no flightline to speak of (at that time of day anyway) - the birds were just alternating between the top of the trees, and the edge of the crops right below. So was I too close? I guess they were all aware of me setting up all the equipment, but I thouhght they'd have relaxed and forgotten all about it after I'd disappeared in the hide for a while. If anyone can think of what I might have been doing wrong, I'd be very grateful for advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 It's called nature mate. Everyone has days like that. If the birds don't fancy that specific area you're targeting then nothing you do will make them come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 It seems as though you did everything about right, including the move. It might have been worth taking the rotary in, just to see if it made a difference, but it does sound like "just one of those days". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldfinger Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Our shoot had a coordionated pigeon day last Saturday, and I'd bought myself a whole bunch of new kit (sillosocks rotary & decoys) and was really looking forward to the day. I'd been around the top part of the farm the weekend before and had seen LOTS of damage along the edge of one field, next to a a thin strip of woodland where a flock of about 200 birds was sitting. On the other side of the woodland is another farm and our permission doesn't extend there. So I raced up to that part of the farm in the morning, switched off the gas gun (the birds didn't seem to be very scared of it anyway!), and set up my hide in one corner of the field, and then spent AGES setting up all the decoys - nice pattern: wind behind me so I put the rotary about 20yds away, and behind it a vague 'U' shape layout of deeks but with one or two random clusters of head-down birds, looking like they were eating the same food. Behind all of that I had one bouncer, bobbing and flapping nicely in the wind. Perfect! So I went back and relaxed in the hide, got a cup of coffee out of the flask, and everything in the world was good. Except... when the birds did start moving out of the trees, they all went to the corner opposite my decoys. Flippin' things. So I got up and went along to that part of the field, and set up a strip of bangers. Job done, back into the hide, wait for the action to start! Except... When the pigeons started moving again, back into that corner of the field, the banger went off and they all flew right over the woods and into the neighbouring farm. Blinkin' flip. Eventually they started reappearing in the tops of the trees, and then they started to filter back down into the corner of the field where the bangers were, then another banger went off, and they all ******** off over the woods again. Flippin' things. Eventually I reached the conclusion that I wasn't going to see much action in my corner of the field at all, so I packed up all the kit and the hide, and moved to the corner where the bangers were. Took about an hour to get all set up again. I'd put the gas gun back on at the far corner of the field because it was pretty far away and (at least when I watched the birds the week before) it didn't seem to spook the birds much at the side where I was working, so I killed the strip of bangers. Fingers crossed, I sat back in the hide and waited. And waited. And waited. Didn't see another bird all afternoon. Flippin' things. As far as I know the hide was good, well camouflaged with vegetation etc. I was wearing gloves and a realtree balaclava with 'flappy bits' attached and a facemask. The decoy pattern was pretty much by-the-book. There was no flightline to speak of (at that time of day anyway) - the birds were just alternating between the top of the trees, and the edge of the crops right below. So was I too close? I guess they were all aware of me setting up all the equipment, but I thouhght they'd have relaxed and forgotten all about it after I'd disappeared in the hide for a while. If anyone can think of what I might have been doing wrong, I'd be very grateful for advice! I usually find that If the birds are tree hopping they are not feeding or already have fed earlier,also I also use a rotary but have found if the birds are not responding to it or are shying away when aproaching then I remove it,sometimes I find they decoy better to birds on the ground with no rotary or flapper. Somtimes you just have to experiment and find what they respond to on that day.If they are determined to feed I have had them comming in to decoys whilst taking hide down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Had a similar experience on Thursday- I have 3 large rape fields on one of my permissions - as soon as I arrived I saw almost 200 birds sat in a small copse overlooking the field I had intended to shoot- Oh yes this was a good choiceI was thinking set up the hide- put out 32 sillosocks ( a huge flock lol) as I was doing so- the pigeons decided to move away from this mad person inserting deeks into the rape and disapeared over the hedge line I sat fully camoed and very still- not one bird returned- I got out the bino's and checked two more rape fields I could see from my top of the hill position - yep you guessed they were hammering a field some 1 mile away- packed up moved over a mile and they reversed their original decision and moved back to where I set up originally Maybe I should recruit some shooters and place1 in all 3 fields- keep them moving around ( anyone fancy it tomorrow SATURDAY 13th) so it happens to us all fella- just accept it lol still it was nicer to be outside that sat inside wishing I was shooting Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Downie Posted February 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Thanks lads! I feel a bit better about it now. Better luck tomorrow, I hope... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzy518 Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Could it have been that the field has recently been shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepe Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 Join the club! When that happens to me I try changing things, even reducing the number of decoys. I always have a few flocked crows which I put to the side or back of the pattern, 20 feet or so, to try give the birds some encouragement to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 Al been there, done that got the tee shirt it can be a frustrating business. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 Seems to be the norm for me on the last few outings! Wherever I am, the pigeons ain't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliespaniel Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 same thing happening to me and kenny boy 30 we just chasing them round and getting nowt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker3 Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 keep at it m8 it will come right at some point iv had 1 good day(98 ) for 7 outings just some days it doesnt at go according to plan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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