kyska Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Hi All, We've put more rape down this year than normal, typical with the wheat prices... The swath is really quite high, about 3 foot or so, the stubble is a good 12 or more inches high, We tried yesterday and had lots of interest but no birds committed. I used a simple U pattern and put most deeks on the top of the swath. I kinda gathered that the stubble was so high and so dense that a bird wouldn't even committ to the ground, hence no flaring for a easy shot, is this normal over rape? We had 70+ birds on the powerlines above us, good flight line, but a poor days shooting. Any ideas or do I just sack it and wait for the wheat to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 I've heard good things about using a rotary in this sort of situation, but then again you are now so close to the rape getting cut, is it really worth it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 I've heard good things about using a rotary in this sort of situation, but then again you are now so close to the rape getting cut, is it really worth it? Hmm, its been swathed, cut, whatever, just awating the combine to pick up, I have no experience on rape. I just can't see the birds committing to stubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Use a magnet close to the hide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Swathed rape is a pigeon shooters urika . Depending on when you are going to combine I would keep my eye on it and shoot it before the combine gets to it . My farmer dont swathe his rape but sprays it off and combines directly . So I dont get a chance on the swathes . I envy you . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Last time any of my farms swathed rape I set up in the middle of a field with rape piled against the hide, had a good day if memory serves me right . I always remember with swathed rape my boots full of seed afterwards, all my farms take it standing now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 (edited) Swathed rape is a pigeon shooters urika . Depending on when you are going to combine I would keep my eye on it and shoot it before the combine gets to it . My farmer dont swathe his rape but sprays it off and combines directly . So I dont get a chance on the swathes . I envy you . Harnser . Thanks, thats good to know, I must of just had a bad day. Reason I asked in the first instance is that I couldn't see the birds wanting to land on the stubble, it just looks as though there is nowhere for them to land. Now, decoys...should they be on the stubble, on the swath, both? and pattern, random? or just use a magnet and no deeks (as I've read some people do) Sorry for all the Q's, I missed the rape shooting last year, and there was only a small amount, this year we have about 300+ acres of swath to shoot over. I'll get back out this afternoon. Edited July 13, 2011 by kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 decoys can be on the swath and in tramlines etc, they will land thats for sure. We used to have swathed rape and it used to be great for shooting over. Now sadly sprayed off like most these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 decoys on the swathe, a rotary and perhaps a couple of floaters/bouncers, sit back and fill yer boots (and not just with the seed ). None of my farmers swathe rape any more, very depressing. About 3 years ago they all did. Pigeons find plenty of room to land among the rape stalks. If you look at wheat stubble, most of it is higher than a pigeon, but it doesn't put them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 swathed rape.. i can only dream, like others the rape i can shoot on is sprayed off and cut standing, the pigeons do hit the bits the sprayer has flattened, they quite happily land on this. enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertan_J Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Rape getting swathed this weekend and I've got time off next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Plenty swathed round my way ,place decoys on the swath or on canes to lift above the crop use flapper or rotary to give movement .It can be very good if your in the right spot on the day, just be very carefull after a week of it being swathed as it just pours out with the slightest of touches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I find the pigeons are normally feeding hard in the standing rape when it is nearly ready to be combined. As soon as it is cut i try to be there within a day or two - normally with decent results. The first field is being cut as i write this and across the road from there 3-400 are feeding in the standing stuff. Looking forward to having a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted July 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks for all the replies chaps. I'm going out this afternoon, I was planning on using the magnet, but I don't think I'll have transport this afternoon so it may have to stay at home, my shooting bud can't get out so I'm going solo and don't have the inclination to yomp it all on my own. My plan is to use my shell deeks...put most of these on the swath? I only have two bouncers...in the swath too? Any particula? pattern or just random...should they be spread out or bunched together? Never been on my own, I'll report how I get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumsoldier Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Rape getting swathed this weekend and I've got time off next week If ya need company,I,m off next week Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks for all the replies chaps. I'm going out this afternoon, I was planning on using the magnet, but I don't think I'll have transport this afternoon so it may have to stay at home, my shooting bud can't get out so I'm going solo and don't have the inclination to yomp it all on my own. My plan is to use my shell deeks...put most of these on the swath? I only have two bouncers...in the swath too? Any particula? pattern or just random...should they be spread out or bunched together? Never been on my own, I'll report how I get on. Put your decoys out in random fashion - that should work. Put them where they are most visible. Same goes for the bouncers, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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