The Duncan Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) Did anyone read the Shooting Times, 23rd March issue? John Humphreys wrote "...it is rare that a rape field is seriously damaged long term by pigeons." Really? Every farmer who grows rape that I know thinks the man is off his tree! What do you think? Duncan Edited March 31, 2011 by The Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semiautolee Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 is he actually a pigeon shooter or a dog walker maybe he has just fell out of a tree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 is he actually a pigeon shooter or a dog walker maybe he has just fell out of a tree Yes I totally agree with you there mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Did anyone read the Shooting Times, 23rd March issue? John Humphreys wrote "...it is rare that a rape field is seriously damaged long term by pigeons." Really? Every farmer who grows rape that I know thinks the man is off his tree! What do you think? Duncan Well he is not totally right there, but like we have all seen in the past where a field has been battered all winter then by mid may its all up and in flower . The biggest thing they do is slow it down so some flowers and seeds before the rest meaning more of a pain to harvest . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 whilst i like most of what he says he does talk utter **** sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingercoxy Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 i think he is right may delay the harvest time but reduce yields i know they dont from using sat mapping combine of fields it shows a improvement of yields in grazed areas coxy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 as long as they don't graze it right down and kill the plant then he is right, looks bad and slows it down but yield wise doesn't make that much difference in most cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Taking out the main shoot encourages the plant to tiller, which is to send up multiple shoots which can increase the yield. Research has even been conducted into whether it improves yields if Oil Seed Rape is 'mowed', which is a not dissimilar thing to what Pigeons do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Hi, Never shot over rape so haven't a clue. If what Teal and Ginger say is right and I don't disbelieve it - it does seem to make sense, but as said, I wouldn't know, what effect would that fact have on the open licence if it were proven that the pigeon were actually doing some good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 on growing rape and only if they don't go too far, they still are a major pest on drilling and lots of other crops so no real fear about the general license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 farmer we shoot for has just ploughed in a fair few fields of rape,and put in beans instead,due to pigeon damage, that said I have seen rape that looked like it had been grazed by cattle rather than pigeon, recover into what looked a good crop. KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueflame Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 It's just as well that farmers think he has got wrong otherwise they would not let us on to shoot pigeons! As for John himself, well I have known him for about 35 years now and he has been a good friend.Any shooting man with a double 8 bore magnum that he uses on the geese has just got to be the real deal! Straight Powder Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 I get Shooting Times every week on subscription. I ceased reading the Humphreys column several months ago. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 (edited) Love him or hate him the mans a legend on shooting pigeons whats he says in is book is spot on also is pigeon pate recipe is spot on too good on you John Edited April 1, 2011 by here iam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 I had to move off a 60 acre rape field today, ( having set up my full layout ), as the farmer came to harrow in 30 acres of the field that had been eaten so low by pigeons and rabbits it wasn't recovering, despite two doses of nitrogen. Tomorrow he is drilling peas into the new area. Light browsing by pigeons early in the plants life is not harmful and the research Teal refers to is very valid. Unfortunately, on some fields the pigeons and rabbits don't understand "light browsing" and will eat the plant down to the ground, then it becomes a problem and a financial loss for the farmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 I've no problem with JH. Read loads of his books and always look forward to his ST column. He OBVIOUSLY knows his onions about shooting pigeons and wildfowling. He's also an opinionated guy who stands by his guns whatever the flak from dissenters. To add to that, he's a jammy ****** that gets invites all over the world to shoot AND gets paid to tell us all about it! But he was brought up the right way and tells of his shooting education in the fens that tought him to respect the countryside and it's wildlife. One of a dying breed fellas, lets not kill him off just yet eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingercoxy Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 for a farmer to soley blame pigeons for a crop fauilure is nonsense more crops fail due to poor crop managment and weed comtrol than any other form of attack yes pigeons attacking a area full of weed will not help but the reason the area is poor in the first place is because the weeds have taken control coxy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 (edited) Not lookin gto kill him off, but he does spout some garbage sometimes. Some of my local farmers are planning to re-sow failed rape due to pigeon attack - virtually no weeds on the fields in question. Edited April 2, 2011 by The Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastair0903 Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 for a farmer to soley blame pigeons for a crop fauilure is nonsense more crops fail due to poor crop managment and weed comtrol than any other form of attack yes pigeons attacking a area full of weed will not help but the reason the area is poor in the first place is because the weeds have taken control coxy or they feed on the headlands and around wet spots where the soil is compact , but this is no reason to drop the blame from the pigeons for doing this crop damage ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Some of the worse damage I have seen has been from large numbers of pheasants and redlegs, generally consists of a 20 to 40m bare strip alongside a wood or gamecrop. The reason is the game birds attack the crops when it is still a seeding, destroying the whole plant, whereas pigeon hit the rape later in the winter and a only eating parts of an already established plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greymaster Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Whether the damage is long lasting and/or significant is not really the issue, it seems. However, if pigeon are not controlled and thus thrive on rape, then there will be more to deal with on cereal and other crops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 I had to move off a 60 acre rape field today, ( having set up my full layout ), as the farmer came to harrow in 30 acres of the field that had been eaten so low by pigeons and rabbits it wasn't recovering, despite two doses of nitrogen. Tomorrow he is drilling peas into the new area. Light browsing by pigeons early in the plants life is not harmful and the research Teal refers to is very valid. Unfortunately, on some fields the pigeons and rabbits don't understand "light browsing" and will eat the plant down to the ground, then it becomes a problem and a financial loss for the farmer. you have got a point their Cranfield about rabbits i have seen it with my own eyes they like it just as much as pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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