andie Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 hi all just purchased 2 flocked magpie decoys and 2 flocked crow decoys and i all ready have 4 pigeon decoys all my decoys are full bodied and i have just got a rotary the question i am asking is do i still need more decoys as im only just geting into decoying so still a novice any help would be great lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 if your going after the pigeons then the more grey you put down the better , i have 12 when out on my own but when my buds out we have over 20 down and they seem to do a lot better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andie Posted April 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 sorry about that im after those pesky pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 sorry about that im after those pesky pigeons I use 30 with a mix of Essex springs, F/b and shells, 2 groups split to leave a path to the rotary that is out at 25/30yds, which is a nice sporting shot and the 1/2 choke giving a good pattern at that distance. Much closer and you can take a landing net Good luck TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Get rid of the Magpie and Crow deeks and replace them with pigeon , the rotary can be deadly in getting you started but it doesn`t work everywhere or all the time. Assuming you`re setting up on good pigeon ground with traffic and that you pick the right spot, I`ve found 8 or so flockies sufficient to get a few knocked down and added to the pattern as you go. I personally stop adding to the layout around the 40 - 50 mark if not less as I find what little extra draw they create is negated by the crowding up of the killing spot(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcw65 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 I have 60/70 full bodied and shells plus rotary and bouncers/flappers as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 A dozen shells will do and proper recon you should do fine. I use about 20 deeks tho for pigeons and a couple of bouncers. Rotary an optional extra. For crows about a dozen deeks and two hypa flaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 when i first started i had 3 heads down and 2 heads up, full body pigeons. it worked but then 12 half shells made the difference now on winter rape we use 100+ birds plus the magnets, bouncers and flapper. each and all have their day and no two days are the same. in summer i just stick to 12, either flocked half shells and FUD all on high sticks to get above crops, a magnet and a couple of bouncers. in fly fishing its called match the hatch. you need to show them what they have been use to over the last few days. if there is hundreds on the field when your doing reconnaissance that show them as many as you can. if their in small groups then give then a small group. having said that i have gone out with 6 shells, a bit of netting and still had good shooting, just adding birds to the pattern as their taken. crows, always use odd numbers and magpies, use one on a fence post of near the hedge just to give a bit on confidence to the pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 During the summer months you can decoy with half a dozen decoys. It's during the winter months when the birds are flocked that you need a bigger spread. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't bother with getting any more full body decoys, there is nothing concrete to say they are better than the shells; The advantage you have with shells is that they stack and take up a lot less room in your kit bag. Personally I would buy a dozen shells (flocked if money allows) to add to your decoys, but they are not absolutely necessary right now. To summarise, a magnet with a couple of real birds on it and 4 pigeon decoys can work absolutely fine in the summer months, you can add real birds to the pattern as and when they are shot. Since the crops will be quite tall, you need to think about getting your decoys above the crop or on bare patches if you can. Your magnet will attract them from distance then the decoys should take over as they approach hopefully guiding them to the kill zone. Best of luck, and if like me when I started some of the answers seem confusing, just ask and ask again and again...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Another point is that the more deeks you have out the more chance of one of them tipping over and putting pigeons off as they come in. This is especially the case if you have a big footed clumsy springer spaniel called Ruby that you use for retrieving! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazsl Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 a dozen shells are plenty enough then when you've shot a few you can add them to your set up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redditch Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 I have 39 (Wanted to make it 40, but still have to get one LOOOL), assorted full body and shells, two rotary´s and two flappers, and am getting two springers as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 I am having good success with 12 fud decoys easy to carry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 One crow away from the pattern for confidence, 4 doves out to one side just to fill gaps (small easy to carry & was verry cheap)12 full body & 12 shells done me for a while, I've just got some flocked shells + some Fud's on order & will soon decide whether to sell the full bodies or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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