Flightline and hide positioning

[hattochr]

Hi guys after reading on here about the importance of finding flightlines i now have a question as to where to set my hide and decoys up in relation to the flightline. Should i be looking at setting up as the birds are flying into the field or going out of the field, or does it matter? I have a big field of Barley and pigeons are coming into the field over a small hedge then flighting across the field before spliting into two directions, one into a set of trees and the other out of the field and onwards to god knows where. Any help is appreciated thanks.

[proTOM1]

Hi guys after reading on here about the importance of finding flightlines i now have a question as to where to set my hide and decoys up in relation to the flightline. Should i be looking at setting up as the birds are flying into the field or going out of the field, or does it matter? I have a big field of Barley and pigeons are coming into the field over a small hedge then flighting across the field before spliting into two directions, one into a set of trees and the other out of the field and onwards to god knows where. Any help is appreciated thanks.

 

 

For me the flight line coming in sounds the best

[hattochr]

For me the flight line coming in sounds the best

Thanks for the reply. Will it matter that the birds will be coming in over my head from behind because this is the only way I could shoot them coming into the field?

[bakerboy]

Thanks for the reply. Will it matter that the birds will be coming in over my head from behind because this is the only way I could shoot them coming into the field?

I agree with protom, ensure you are sitting under the canopy if possible, as always lay your decoys facing into the wind.

Have fun and enjoy yourself, sounds like you have an ideal spot.

bakerboy

[The Essex Hunter]

If the birds are coming over the hedge, how are you going to stop them?

I shoot one flt line that sounds the same, and the way i do it, because the birds are travling to a wood and beond. I stick the rotary out (if you have one) to slow them down.

Then a big pattern out around 40yds because the birds are commited to the wood etc, they take a bit of time to slow down and swing back in. So having the pattern a good way out, they then (to qoute Archie Coats) "over fly their pals" and drop in, then it is up to me and Mr Browning.

 

I shoot this flt line when there is not much around, as it is a good back up site when they are some where else!

It is a lot of trial and error so keep going, each flt line is different, dont get stuck in a rut! there are a few basic things which you should follow, like one of the other guys spoke about, but it is about time served in the hide that will put the birds in the sack!

 

Good luck

 

TEH

[stealthlyninja]

Why not just stand in the hedge and shoot them as they come over.

If they are going over quite high and don't want to come into a pattern, a rotary should pull them closer to shoot at.

It can be very sporting.

Good Luck.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Dr D]

stick a pattern out in front of you. Then turn round so they are behind you. look through the hedge and take the birds as they come over the top like a driven pheasant. Brilliant fun.

Edited October 5, 2010 by Dr D

[hattochr]

Well guys thanks for the tips. I set up under the flight line with th wind left to right in front of me. Rotary out, loads of birds flying at me and from behind so going both ways. Really hard shooting but great fun. They were feeding on a bean stubble field behind me. Now that field was full of birds!! Not my land typical! Seperated by a road the bean field has been half ploughed nearest to me so the birds were well in flight which made it tough. I managed to fire 63 shots and killed 23 birds! Although tough my shooting could have been better! Lol. After packing up at about 4.30 I had ran out af cartridges and my battery had died aswell I thought I would do a bit of investigating as to whose land the beans were. I popped up to see the farmer who's barley I had been shooting over and he told me the farmers name. Hey presto! I already shoot for the guy!! So I went to see him asked about shooting the field. He said yes no problem. I'm a little unsure why he hadn't told me previously that this was his field but hey maybe I should have asked where all his land was! Anyway I'm here shooting the bean field now. Only trouble is the flight line has really dried up and the bloody birds arnt feeding on the field today!! Just my bloody luck. Ah well you live and learn. Shot 15 so far but expected a really good day. Cheers

[Batch]

Beats being stuck in the office day dreaming of being out shooting as I am at the moment fella Hope the birds start to play ball for the remainder of the afternoon for you?

[Mightymariner]

I would go for coming in as then they will see your decoys and hopefully come in to them, rather than on the way out when they may have already fed and will only be heading for the trees. Also, even if they don't come in to your decoys you may get some shooting by being on the incoming flightline. I set up on a field of rape last week before I saw where the real flightline was, hoping they would come to me, they didn't and I ended up moving to the flightline itself, where things improved dramatically.

Good luck.