MarkD. Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 New to the whole shooting sport but have no one to guide me so I'll have to teach myself. So I have a few questions for the experienced members. Was shooting over tillage land a months or so back, noticed one stage the pigeons were taking one flight path, then they decided to change it to another. Is this common? What way do you line up decoys? how many and with or into the wind. Also lately a farmer has asked me to shoot over rapeseed land, roughly about 200acres. But I cant figure out where I should set up, theres so much land I dont know where to go and theres so much land if I leave off one shot they'll move on.. Also do they actually congregate around 4 foot high rapeseed? Sorry about all the questions, Im only learning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 To start you off, go to the pigeon shooting section, then tips and tricks. Have a look at the pinned topic on decoy patterns etc Also best to fill in your location, might get someone local to help out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkD. Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 To start you off, go to the pigeon shooting section, then tips and tricks. Have a look at the pinned topic on decoy patterns etc Also best to fill in your location, might get someone local to help out. No one local about to help, its not a big tillage area just this one farmer has just started going down the tillage route. Local gun club are only a pheasant group, no interest in vermin or pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 No one local about to help, its not a big tillage area just this one farmer has just started going down the tillage route. Local gun club are only a pheasant group, no interest in vermin or pigeons I bet you there'll be someone close to you on here. Someone with land who needs advice rarely fails to get an offer. Your local shooting lot sound snobbish. Nothing wrong with vermin shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkD. Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 I bet you there'll be someone close to you on here. Someone with land who needs advice rarely fails to get an offer. Your local shooting lot sound snobbish. Nothing wrong with vermin shooting. Im from Ireland, most people are bankrupt and majoruty lack kindness to guide the youth in a new sport.. Sad I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Im from Ireland, most people are bankrupt and majoruty lack kindness to guide the youth in a new sport.. Sad I know I'm from Harpenden. I have Luton, which is twinned-with-Afganistan, 5 miles away from me, so you could be worse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkD. Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 I'm from Harpenden. I have Luton, which is twinned-with-Afganistan, 5 miles away from me, so you could be worse... I feel lucky now... lol On another note, Im eager to learn myself. Its harder, but I feel I'll learn valuable lessons this way. But I would like tips from others (I will keep askinga round locally in saying that) I got good info on decoy patterns off this site there a minute ago thanks for the heads up HW682 Now for the other questions, do the pigeons change flight paths often daily? change weekly or change with the wind... Also will I good decoy pattern somewhat keep them in the area and not ******* for good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 (edited) Always take advice from those that know , be more specific with you location . The Irish are world renown for their generosity , so I would have no doubt if you put a request on the system you will get an offer. If you do not get an offer locally I will pay £10.00 to the PW Charity shoot, if you do I will pay £20.00 Edited April 16, 2011 by bakerboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 (edited) Come on you pigeon shooters in Ireland, help your fellow shooter out, if he starts with bad habits he will keep with bad habits, help him get the most out of our sport Edited April 16, 2011 by bakerboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Nice offer baker boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 It might be better to be a little more specific with your location, Ireland is quite a large area. Pigeons tend to stick to the same flight lines with little variation, unless there is some major disturbance in the way. Pigeons like to land into the wind and you should bear that in mind when setting out your decoys. Take a look here for layout tips, http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/153348-setting-a-pigeon-decoy-pattern/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hi Mark, I can't claim to be an expert, but I have noticed a few things that might be relevant to your questions. Flight lines on my shoots seem to follow prominent features on the ground. For example, one large rape field is next to a dual carriageway and the pigeons fly directly over a very large road sign, another shoot has a particularly large tree and they fly over this too, another has a railway line going through it and they follow the track until it cuts through a copse then they veer off. It looks to me as if they navigate by these objects. If you have a field with trees alongside, such as the poplars that were often planted as windbreaks, you can see pigeons landing in these trees to check out the field before they come down. Some decoys with a bit of movement such as the types on sprung sticks can tempt the birds down before they get to the trees. The rape you mention will be difficult to shoot now, it's 4 feet tall here and there are no longer large numbers of pigeons. Now they are in twos and threes feeding from the tractor lines and if you manage to shoot them you'll never find them. Pigeons are now looking for shorter crops they can land in, I wish I could tell you what but they've gone from my shoots. I'm sure you'll get some expert advice soon, Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Come on you Irish pigeon shooters help a friend out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkD. Posted April 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Well lads thanks so far for the tips. As for my location it is Co Cork. Very Southern county on the island. What other types of fields will they be feeding off now? Lower height crop then rape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Well lads thanks so far for the tips. As for my location it is Co Cork. Very Southern county on the island. What other types of fields will they be feeding off now? Lower height crop then rape? Do you have any fields with clover ? Best I can think of is you spot a couple and watch where they go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 So only £10.00to pay out at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 I bet you there'll be someone close to you on here. Someone with land who needs advice rarely fails to get an offer. Your local shooting lot sound snobbish. Nothing wrong with vermin shooting. Vermin shooting - espesh rabbits and woodiesis incredibly enjoyable. There are days when I feel vermin shooting should be the sport of kings. There are also days when I think I should take up croquet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 New to the whole shooting sport but have no one to guide me so I'll have to teach myself. So I have a few questions for the experienced members. Was shooting over tillage land a months or so back, noticed one stage the pigeons were taking one flight path, then they decided to change it to another. Is this common? What way do you line up decoys? how many and with or into the wind. Also lately a farmer has asked me to shoot over rapeseed land, roughly about 200acres. But I cant figure out where I should set up, theres so much land I dont know where to go and theres so much land if I leave off one shot they'll move on.. Also do they actually congregate around 4 foot high rapeseed? Sorry about all the questions, Im only learning Sometimes you'll find that the majority of pigeons arrive by the same route. Other times they can come in two or three different routes. They will however always turn into the wind to land. It is best not to place your hide under a flight line as they will see you as they pass over your hide. Decoys should always face the wind in medium to strong winds. In light or no wind you can put a few facing different ways. Put a cluster of four or five at the head of your pattern then use the others to make two arms widening out so you have an arrow or 'V' shape. The incoming pigeons will aim to land in the 'V' behind the front group. 12 - 20 flocked shell decoys with spring sticks is enough to be going on with. On OSR look out for where the pigeons are feeding or roosting. This will change dependent on weather and other factors such as other food sources. Never set up unless you have seen pigeons feeding in that area. Now the rapseed plants are well up the pigeons will either be on stunted areas such as under trees, in wheelings or on clover or tree buds elsewhere. If you shoot a pigeon open its crop and check what is in. That gives you a clue as to what they are feeding on at the moment. It will be quiet for a few months until the barley goes milky then it will be hectic shooting up to and past the harvest. From what I've seen of Ireland I would advise getting a couple of crow decoys and thinning them out until the pigeon shooting picks up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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