browning n spaniel Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Today weve had the first bit of snow of the year, only about 5mm , now,,,,, my mate just said he had idea to get a silage sheet and sheet up aprox 100 sq,m of rape that the pigeons have just started to feed on, the idea is that if we get alot of snow fall it will cover the rape fields so that pigeons are unable to feed, THEN we remove our sheet exposing nice,fresh, snow free rape where we set up and the pigeons come to us any one else had any silly ideas such as this ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 (edited) yes it can and does work ---------but if there is snow the pigeons feed on the only green they can find if the snow stays for days they are desperate and on the verge of starving to death ,under these circumstances I would leave them be unless my farmer insisted that I shoot ,(which he does not)they might be regarded as a pest but I would like to think ethics still come into play Also I am not sure where you would stand on a legal point of view as it is illegal to entice wild birds to feed to shoot them , say baiting a field with seed ,so I would think by doing what you suggest it may be seen as enticing the birds to feed on the part you have covered. Edited December 13, 2011 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodlepigeon Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Same idea really as putting a large cammo net down on the snow. it works though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Yes it can work and ive done the same in the past but not every farmer will be happy for you to expose there rape so be very carefull if you decide to do this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeedoodlepigeon Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Plus when you uncover the rape when you go home it will be stripped in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Plus when you uncover the rape when you go home it will be stripped in no time Surely you cover over again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army646 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 I have though about clearing a patch with a leaf blower. Do we reckon this would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 put down a few old camo nets then put your decoys on top like you would normally works a treat then when you go home take the nets away leaving crop covered it doesnt seem to work first couple of days of snow, but then it can be very good as there hungry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 If the snow is not to deep, brushing the rape with a stiff brush so you just expose the tops of the rape plant works well and is a bit more natural. Done this trick for years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 If the snow is not to deep, brushing the rape with a stiff brush so you just expose the tops of the rape plant works well and is a bit more natural. Done this trick for years had a good result during last years snow, by doing the same thing also put some camo net down to make the area bigger, worked well, we even had snipe landing on the netting ( no we did not shoot them) KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I like the idea, what if you are too late and the snow gets there first though? Can you chuck salt over an area or would this kill the rape, i suppose it would, maybe warm water but who carries that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Tom Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 I like the idea, what if you are too late and the snow gets there first though? Can you chuck salt over an area or would this kill the rape, i suppose it would, maybe warm water but who carries that? Clear the snow with a leaf blower, that will take a lot of water... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labstaff Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 I remember John Darling suggesting this in Airgunner about 18 years ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 Yup it works, but you only need to brush aside a small amount of snow from around the decoys. A gentle swipe with a welly is fine. 12" diameter will do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted December 31, 2011 Report Share Posted December 31, 2011 no to the salt idea. it will kill the rape. most cheapo weed killers are salt in one form or another. use a net, i never have but i have seen an old boy do it and it works. Trust me on the salt ,thats one thing i know about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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