Dispatching a Pigeon

[Stuart049]

Hey guys

as i explained in my last topic about roost shooting, i'm still a beginner at shooting so iv lots to learn.

i went roost shooting again yesterday and shot 3 which i'm pretty chuffed about to be honest, iv only been a few times a no one else shot that many

 

but one of them wasn't killed in the shot, i struggled a bit to wring its neck as iv never done it before and not completely sure of the best way how... i got there eventually but i want to know the best way to do it quickly as i obviously caused the bird a bit of pain in my slow failed attempts at doing it...

 

So yea i'm looking for the best way to wring a birds neck... i'm not talking about wacking it on a tree because i don't entirely agree with that, or using bird dispatch gadgets because i don't really want to buy one and carry it around everywhere, and if i forget it i'm screwed. i would much rather learn a quick way of doing it myself (i know these dispatching gadget things are probably much more simple but id rather learn this way).

 

So any tips of tricks, certain techniques would be very helpfull helpful

 

Thanks

Stuart

[jollysp2]

I use a priest on the back of the head job done

[12guage]

as above or just hold them by the head and a quick flick of the wrist away from you and back again normally does the trick breaking the neck quickly but its up to you when you feel ready to try this

[Stuart049]

thanks, iv no idea what a priest is and if i google it i just get holy men so someones gonna have to explain haha

im ready to try anything i just wanna know how to do it best as id rather get it done as quick as possible rather than yanking the birds head about for 10 mins whilst its in pain...

[rascal_2005]

 

my priest im making.

 

its a weighted object to give a blow to the head

Edited February 14, 2010 by rascal_2005

[Stuart049]

ohhh i see, so basically just wack it on the back of the head with a stick?

[rascal_2005]

exactally

[Stuart049]

i see, thats fine but i want to know how to wring a birds neck properly

[rascal_2005]

dont do it too hard as there heads do come off

[Stuart049]

Yea i noticed ...

[gottsy boy]

dont do it too hard as there heads do come off

ye i yanked the birds head off when i first started and blood spraved all over the barel of my gun and i couldn't get it off when it dried i learn't the hard way, dont pull too hard.

they can flap about abit when you snap the neck..i find a priest quiker and i think it's fool proof i've seen people spinning pigeons around like a helicopter and it doesn't look good..

[KillStone]

I personally hold the birds feet or even the base of the wings in my left hand, take its head in your right hand (i am right handed) tilt the head backwards and pull downwards at the same time, you will feel the birds neck dislocated and break and job done. it is fast and as humane as any other method but try it on already dead birds first before you put it into practice in order to be as fair to the quarry as possible.

[Stuart049]

yea but iv also seen people give the pigeon a quick twist of the neck and its over in a second.... i know this takes more skill than bashing it over the head but its quicker and id like to learn to do it properly.... i found it very difficult to beak to the neck i twisted it and bent it but it was very difficult to break... so there must be a certain trick to it? if a gamekeeper can do it that easily then surely anyone else can with abit of practice...

[Stuart049]

ahh thats what i was looking for

[Pepe]

I hold the pigeon by the head with my index and middle fingers and my thumb on the top of the head. Then I tilt the head back slightly and twist the head clockwise and anticlockwise in a quick motion. This seems to work well. You need to be carefull not to pull the bird away from you otherwise you'll end up with the head in your fingers and blood all over the place.

[ash243]

OK the trouble with necking the bird is if you then use it in the pattern it just don't look right at all i was shown this method years ago by Archie Coats and John Bailey i had the pleasure of meeting them both and being able to shoot with them individulay so here goes if your right handed hold the pigeon in the left hand by the Brest with your right thumb place it across its back between the wings in the center and press down you will here a click and feel the spine give way once this is done death is instant and no sad heads or pulled necks to ruin your pattern simples

[jinxy72]

ohhh i see, so basically just wack it on the back of the head with a stick?

 

not just a stick ... a priest is pretty weighty for its size as usually have lead in the middle .... try flea *** ... can get them cheap

[Stuart049]

thankyou all very helpfull comments

[Alanl50]

If you cant find a priest, get the vicar to do it

Alan

Edited February 14, 2010 by Alanl50

[PaulABF]

I've only ever had a few pricked pigeons but in those cases I just strangled them. Oh, apart from one - I drowned him in my coffee cup.

[2bangs]

I also use the thumb between the wings method, easy, quick and still leaves the bird in good shape for the pattern.

[sitsinhedges]

You can also hold the pigeon and put your fingers and thumb either side of the breast under its wings at what would effectively be its armpits and squeeze. This stops the pigeon expanding its chest and so it can't breath. You can feel the muscles fight against you and the heart bump, but it will quietly expire in maybe 10 secs or so. Just keep holding it for a few seconds more to be sure. No tools required

 

Apparently a favourite of taxidermists because it doesn't harm the carcass

[top shot]

quick option just shoot it rather than wringin the neck try it on a few dead pigeons first then ul get ur finger work righy

[enzedder]

OK the trouble with necking the bird is if you then use it in the pattern it just don't look right at all i was shown this method years ago by Archie Coats and John Bailey i had the pleasure of meeting them both and being able to shoot with them individulay so here goes if your right handed hold the pigeon in the left hand by the Brest with your right thumb place it across its back between the wings in the center and press down you will here a click and feel the spine give way once this is done death is instant and no sad heads or pulled necks to ruin your pattern simples

 

This sounds the ticket - will try this technique next time I'm out shooting pigeons. Normally I just wring necks.

[humperdingle]

OK the trouble with necking the bird is if you then use it in the pattern it just don't look right at all i was shown this method years ago by Archie Coats and John Bailey i had the pleasure of meeting them both and being able to shoot with them individulay so here goes if your right handed hold the pigeon in the left hand by the Brest with your right thumb place it across its back between the wings in the center and press down you will here a click and feel the spine give way once this is done death is instant and no sad heads or pulled necks to ruin your pattern simples

Wouldn't mind seeing a video of that before trying it myself. How hard do you need to press? Is it a sudden movement with the thumb, or just push until you hear the click?