Be Brave

[henry d]

I went out today on rape and took 5 dead pigeon decoys,2 for a rotary and 3 for the pattern :thumbs:

I thought it time to experiment,and within an hour had 8 and ended the day(2 1/2 hrs) with 18.

Normally I would have 30 or so shells,8 full body,a rotor and 2 bouncers and the dead ones as they were shot.

The birds came in as singles and upwards to 30-40 at a time and sometimes I had 100 or so overhead at 40 or so yds but didn`t shoot at them.I wanted them to return in smaller numbers :thumbs:

anyone else mess about with the patterns etc?:thumbs:?:thumbs:

[sutty]

I juggle with the patterns all the time, ( to much maybe, who knows?)

One day i may just hit that MAGICAL set up that brings them in 3 or 4 at a time

all day, untill dark, (yeh right, and my hair WILL grow back as well, lol)

And when i find the Formula, the next time they wont want to know!!

Its all a part of the sport Henry D.

Who can say that ten dead birds in your pattern would'nt have given you a red letter day today and frighten them off tomorow!!!!!

I suppose its what stops us all from taking up Brass rubbing.

Regards Sutty :thumbs:

 

 

PS Appologise to the Brass rubbers amongst us.

(we know who you are.) :thumbs: :thumbs:

[Cranfield]

If things go quiet, or birds seem to be passing me by, I will change the pattern (after checking the hide).

It oftens improves things and is a better alternative than going home, or moving to another field.

[Kikkan]

If things go quiet, or birds seem to be passing me by, I will change the pattern (after checking the hide).

It oftens improves things and is a better alternative than going home, or moving to another field.

hehe you english ppl are spoilt!

you said : "It oftens improves things and is a better alternative than going home, or moving to another field."

 

Here in Norway your lucky if you get a field to hunt on!

And even if you get permission to hunt there, the farmer usaly says no the day after :thumbs:

 

 

 

I just want to add a question.

Would a pattern like this work?

 

 

 

Arg! had to edit the post as you cant make "images" with symbols in the post :thumbs:

 

 

The pattern i was trying to make was a V-Shape with dubble wall (like a V inside a V)

 

Hope you guys understand :thumbs:

Edited March 16, 2006 by Kikkan

[Catamong]

It's all about being in the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME.

 

Sounds obvious, but over the years I've watched others shooting from places that suit them, and not where the Pigeons want to feed.

 

Time spent on reconnaisance is NEVER wasted - a difference in hide placement of 100 yards can make a big difference to your bag.

 

If you're in the right place then the pattern placement / density is a bit academic, as the birds will be coming to you anyway, and each bird shot, (up to about 100), is added to the pattern.

 

Don't overload your pattern by keeping on adding loads of birds to the fringes, as new incomers will land on the outside edge, and frequently be beyond effective killing range.

 

Keep the killing zone in front of the hide clear at all times..!!

 

Cat.

[henry d]

I was just wondering if people experimented with set ups etc. or whether they just lug out the same old stuff,rotary/flapper/bouncer/30 shells without trying something else.

What started me off was the pigeon had been hammered on this rape field by all and sundry.When they came over they came in big flocks high up60-80yds and very slowly as if reccying the field.Some would fly on and some would fly to the sitty trees,and then one would swoop down into the field 5-10yd from the sitty trees,to be followed bit by bit by his m8s,and there they would feed until disturbed.

However the farmer has sown beans and cereal 1/4 mile away and they soon found this,so the tactic changed,instead of 15-20 deeks and a rotary I got every kind of pigeon deek/flapper etc. I could lay my hands on.I intended to have 3 people shoot but it ended just jim and me.I was on the drilling with 12 dead birds and a couple of bouncers jim was on the rape with 30 shells 12 full bodied and a rotary&bouncer for movement.

It worked well with 50+ between us.The weather then took a turn for the worse and covered the rape and drillings for a day until a gentle thaw uncovered the rape tops.

I couldn`t get out for a day or 2 so the pigeons,according to the farmer,turned the field blue.

I then just did what I said above and it worked beautifully,with one little glitch,the farmer had got a"sporting"agent out with an elderly Italian person and they shot in the bigger rape field,while I shot the smaller one.

I feel confidant that without him about I could have shot a ton as he was shooting in a corner near a flightline and trees which meant the pigeons were wary of dropping in,and being a paying guest he decided to shoot at birds at various heights from 20-100yds up.these birds were coming my way :<

Anyway the reason why I decided to use a small pattern was each time I`d seen this "guide" he used 40-50 deeks and I thought that a few may work better.

So has anyone ever used an odd set up and why did you use it?

[BTMS]

HD<

 

Once I tried 10 decoys just in a bunch ie within a foot of each other nothing else

no rotary bouncers etc shot 60. They just seemed to like it weather was v hot no wind and brilliant blue skys on stubble. Tried it following week nowt to speak off ie 10.

[remmy1100]

I was out today walking a permission decided to settle for 5 min under a sitty tree ,1 pigeon came towards tree so after shooting it i put it 15 yards out from tree.them few more came went to join single bird on field shot couple added them within 1 1/2 hrs i had shot 16 birds with no gear at all had to go but birds were plenty ,such a good spot im going to shoot it sunday,beats humping all the gear

[henry d]

Good man,I like the cut of your jib :thumbs:

[remmy1100]

also noted birds are starting to break up seen plenty pairs /single birds and had a couple of small groups come in ,better than 100+ at one go :thumbs: :thumbs:

[lurcherboy]

HD, I spent 2 hours before dark tonight moving this and that around.

 

Ended up with 1 woodie and that was shot out of a tree!!!!

 

 

 

 

LB

[henry d]

2nd only to shooting on the ground,well done m8 I`m proud of you