Feral Pigeons

[Grandad]

I have been asked by a farmer to clear his barns of feral pigeons. I think its an air rifle job and the need for accuracy is obvious when you consider its an asbestos roof. I realise its not the normal type of pigeon shooting that is discusssed here as they are sat on the rafters, but they are contaminating the cattle feed with the droppings from their roosts so need to go.

 

I am looking at buying an air arms S200 for the job, but would want to use it for rabbits afterwards. Would a 177 do both or would I need a 22?

 

Any other suggestions please. I had thought of driving them from the barns and using the shotgun, but feel the noise would frighten the rest of the stock unless I can borrow a silenced shotgun.

[kent]

I do this fairly regular, not for sport just favours for friends. .22 all the way and no fiddly loaders i like the break barrel Hw80 with a tiny whitetail classic 1.5-5X 20mm scope the most as its easy and quick to load in the dark. You need to be able to focus clearly at very short ranges and have no real aim under issues due to high mounted scopes. A friend is more than handy and its best if they know the barn inside out as they can be dangerous places in the dark.

 

Drill goes like this

 

Seal up barn as much as *** and choose a good dark night (you don't want them flying off too soon)

 

One man with the torch, one with gun

 

Light on, locate pigeon, light off rifle man get ready, light back on pop! light off again quick

 

Next

 

 

Wear safety specs to guard against ricochets and debris / blood from above and a hat thin inspection gloves. Consider a breathing mask if there are lots as citicossis is a real danger to health. After the shooting is over clean up and burn the dead asap

[Grandad]

I do this fairly regular, not for sport just favours for friends. .22 all the way and no fiddly loaders i like the break barrel Hw80 with a tiny whitetail classic 1.5-5X 20mm scope the most as its easy and quick to load in the dark. You need to be able to focus clearly at very short ranges and have no real aim under issues due to high mounted scopes. A friend is more than handy and its best if they know the barn inside out as they can be dangerous places in the dark.

 

Drill goes like this

 

Seal up barn as much as *** and choose a good dark night (you don't want them flying off too soon)

 

One man with the torch, one with gun

 

Light on, locate pigeon, light off rifle man get ready, light back on pop! light off again quick

 

Next

 

 

Wear safety specs to guard against ricochets and debris / blood from above and a hat thin inspection gloves. Consider a breathing mask if there are lots as citicossis is a real danger to health. After the shooting is over clean up and burn the dead asap

 

I do this fairly regular, not for sport just favours for friends. .22 all the way and no fiddly loaders i like the break barrel Hw80 with a tiny whitetail classic 1.5-5X 20mm scope the most as its easy and quick to load in the dark. You need to be able to focus clearly at very short ranges and have no real aim under issues due to high mounted scopes. A friend is more than handy and its best if they know the barn inside out as they can be dangerous places in the dark.

 

Drill goes like this

 

Seal up barn as much as *** and choose a good dark night (you don't want them flying off too soon)

 

One man with the torch, one with gun

 

Light on, locate pigeon, light off rifle man get ready, light back on pop! light off again quick

 

Next

 

 

Wear safety specs to guard against ricochets and debris / blood from above and a hat thin inspection gloves. Consider a breathing mask if there are lots as citicossis is a real danger to health. After the shooting is over clean up and burn the dead asap

OK I'll bear this in mind. Thanks

[Shropshire_Lad]

Hi, just to add total confusion Salop Sniper and I have just cleared a cow shed of 150 in just under two hours. All the lights on, one stood at each end with a multi shot pcp in .177 and just shooting them when they landed in the steel webs. I'm sure its not always that easy but on this occasion it was. The shed was about 40 m long and all shots were prety much point and shoot with a .177. The shed was open at both ends but they seemed reluctant to fly out into the dark. Far from sporting but a job done as asked for.

 

atvb Paul.

[Grandad]

Hi, just to add total confusion Salop Sniper and I have just cleared a cow shed of 150 in just under two hours. All the lights on, one stood at each end with a multi shot pcp in .177 and just shooting them when they landed in the steel webs. I'm sure its not always that easy but on this occasion it was. The shed was about 40 m long and all shots were prety much point and shoot with a .177. The shed was open at both ends but they seemed reluctant to fly out into the dark. Far from sporting but a job done as asked for.

 

atvb Paul.

Thanks for that as well

[kent]

Hi, just to add total confusion Salop Sniper and I have just cleared a cow shed of 150 in just under two hours. All the lights on, one stood at each end with a multi shot pcp in .177 and just shooting them when they landed in the steel webs. I'm sure its not always that easy but on this occasion it was. The shed was about 40 m long and all shots were prety much point and shoot with a .177. The shed was open at both ends but they seemed reluctant to fly out into the dark. Far from sporting but a job done as asked for.

 

atvb Paul.

 

If they have no alternative roost site this is very possible, but it is way off the mark for many venues and it wouldn't be my 1st and best plan. Like you say its not sport and can be a messy job. On one venue we counted the barrow loads not the individual birds, non of the shots you get to take could be called sporting though and i always go for total erradication as anything less and your back a couple of months later killing a similar amount

[matone]

+1 for break barrels for this job,light & quick !My old HW 35 .22 works great !