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Another good weekend


Topgunners
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Saturday

 

Out nice and early for our usual reccy of numerous fields. We went and had a look at the numerous rape fields first but it seems like the pigeons have pulled off the stuff in our area. Found only 1 field which has not taken at all and is very bare. We sat having a coffee whilst watching for half an hour, but decided not enough birds flying about to set up.

 

We then split up and went off to check out the bean fields. I eventually found 5 fields all being battered by pigeons. We sat watching for fight lines for a while and then set up in the middle field and put out the whole armoury.

 

2 x magnets, 30 half shell decoys. 6 home-made SWINGERS, 2 floaters and 3 home-made spreaders.

 

The birds started to appear very sporadically and we were struggling to get any size bag as a lot of the birds were now flighting across the top of the hill and down towards the last field. Alan decided to grab 6 decoys and go try the field to keep them on the move.

 

I stayed put and after a while decided to start bringing in the decoys and moving the pattern about to try and get them more interested. I finally brought all the shell decoys in, moved the magnet to my far right with just the swingers and floaters left.

 

YESSSS. the birds started to drop in like bricks and I then shot 38 more in just over an hour and half. Alan returned to say they just would not decoy in to him and he ended up with only 7 more.

 

Total for the day 75.

 

Sunday

 

I rang around for some more guns to join us as I reckoned we should have hides on all of the fields. Unfortunately only Pete could join us and I set him up on the field I was on. We went down to the bottom field for a look and way in the distance was a large wood and hundreds of pigeons were flying in and out of it. We decided to set up with the wind blowing left to right down the hedgerow. What a TREK. Climbed over a barbed wire fence, had to jump across a brook and then walk about 200yards up the field with all the gear.

 

We had birds dropping in from the off and it was Alan that saved the day on bird count. I shot like a ******. I just could not hit them with my normal regularity and it was commented on in no due terms by my mate. I don't know what it was; but it must be my worst day in years.

 

We ended up with 81 and pete had 37 and 2 magpies.

 

We then went off to zero in the .243's , ready for some fox shooting this week.

 

Total weekend count. 193 pigeons and 2 magpies.

Dave K

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A good report, its interesting how the pigeons seem to be leaving the rape a bit early this year, in my area they seem to be preferring clover to rape, whether its the dressing thats going on, or a different variety of rape, I don't know.

 

Also, another good example how changing the pattern can sometimes change your fortunes, it always surprises me how many shooters I know will just sit a bad day out, rather than do something to try to change things.

 

Let me be the first to ask, "what are SWINGERS" ? :unsure:

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same here with the rape, shot last week and managed just bags of 10 or so. sat. didnt even set up as no birds to be seen, those we shot had empty crops so not sure what they are feeding on, talked to the guy I shoot with on the Isle of Whight and he tells me that despite recent drilling there are very small numbers there as well.

So went Stalking Fri and Sat and we managed three more fallow does for the cull plan, I am gratefull for the extra month but something inside me is still very sad when they are well advanced in their pregnancy.

Back to work this week so will be gazing out the window wishing I was back out in the field

doc

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Excellent report Dave, as always!

 

Sorry if I'm sounding thick, but what are swingers? I'm sure someone will crack a joke on that one :unsure:

since they are home made, any chance of a piccie?

 

Are these the Greenhunter type decoys?

 

 

Thanks

Cos

Edited by Cosd
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