Whats the form with Doves

[foghorn]

Hi Chaps,

Went decoying yesterday but i was plagued with Doves, all white ones, some with white rumps some all grey. I was worried about hitting Stock Doves, which were also in the flocks.

At one point i had 16 mixed Doves feed in the " horse shoe " of decoys. They just kept flying around and around ! It ruined the day. Not sure what the etiquette is there.

[TJ91]

Hi Chaps,

Went decoying yesterday but i was plagued with Doves, all white ones, some with white rumps some all grey. I was worried about hitting Stock Doves, which were also in the flocks.

At one point i had 16 mixed Doves feed in the " horse shoe " of decoys. They just kept flying around and around ! It ruined the day. Not sure what the etiquette is there.

 

were you near houses? any pigeon lofts in the area?

 

you sure they werent feral pigeons??

 

we have alot of feral pigeons around the pig unit, many different colours (white, grey, blue, black, brown and mixed)..they get the same as the rooks

[foghorn]

I was out in the country, near a village but they were wild

[TJ91]

I was out in the country, near a village but they were wild

 

let me come have a look, i will tell you what the are and whether to shoot em

or you could stick some pics up

[Cranfield]

If you can't positively identify them as ferals, then don't shoot them.

You may be surprised how many people keep pigeons/doves nowadays and let them out for "exercise" every day.

Be sure that if you shoot one, you will soon meet the owner.

[TJ91]

If you can't positively identify them as ferals, then don't shoot them.

You may be surprised how many people keep pigeons/doves nowadays and let them out for "exercise" every day.

Be sure that if you shoot one, you will soon meet the owner.

 

3 people in a village i shoot near keep over 40 between them, i have shot countless ferals within a mile of there lofts/sheds and not 1 of the 'pets'

but same with any shooting, if in doubt dont shoot

 

offer still stands if the land aint to far from me i will gladly have a look and tell you whether you should shoot em or not

[foghorn]

Thanks for the offer, they were feeding on stubble, just about the last field around me, South of York.

When i drove past today, there was nothing about. I have looked at a couple of bird guide books and i think white doves have crossed with ferral pigeons / rock doves, as i said there was some Stock doves ( protected ) in there too.

Because i was in doubt i didn't shoot.

 

F

[kippylawkid]

I always let doves and ferals flutter and flap around the pattern.

They are a top notch moving decoy for the real McCoys who might be flying past.

[TJ91]

I always let doves and ferals flutter and flap around the pattern.

They are a top notch moving decoy for the real McCoys who might be flying past.

 

and more often than not the hovering ferals put the stoggies off before the come within range

[FalconFN]

Might be worth asking the landowner if they are a problem as one of my pemissions has chickens in barns nearby and the doves/ferals are a real problem so when they venture into my decoys I am obliged to shoot them; I wouldn't normally as I don't eat them.

 

As for being pets, just look to see if they are ringed, I could be wrong but I would have thought that any doves that were wanted would have rings?

 

Always best to leave them though, if any doubt.