pigeon controller Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) We were called out on Friday to try and reduce the number of crows on the wheat stubble and following the discussions on this forum that the birds would not decoy we went back to basics. We started by watching the field for fifteen minutes checking the flightine for the crows and also the pigeon. They were going between two oak trees in the middle of the field so we set up on the edge of the one tree, we had three defrosted crows and twelve pigeon and put them out on spikes I had a reed crow call and that was that. We started to pull the crows and jackdaws in straight away and could get them the land in the pattern also the pigeon started to decoy straight into the decoys on the stubble. We had the crows to the left of the hide and the pigeon to the right. We kept putting out decoys till we had used fifty spikes and after that brought the shot birds in the hide.By making the pattern look as natural as we could they kept on decoying. We finished at 17.00 as the rain was coming in and picked one hundred and thirty six pigeon and eightysix crows. Saturday saw us on the same farm on the barley stubble we set up with ten crows from the day before and twelve pigeon we put the magnet out with two crows on it, to the left of the hide and the pigeon to the right with two flyers in the pattern at 10.00. I called the crows but they would not come near and the pigeon would fly over us high not attempting to decoy. I took the magnet down and called three crows into range and shot them. We noticed then that the flightline for the pigeon was going to the right of us to another farm, so we packed up at 11.45 and moved the the other farm only to find another shooter on the rape stubble. We had a chat to the farmer and decided the go on another rape stubble field at the other end of the farm as the farmer said that he had worked it the other day and it had loads of birds on it.So we set up with the magnet and normal set up. We could hear the other shooter in the distance matching us shot for shot at first but then we had the first of two thunder storms pass us. The question was should we be out here under a metal brolly with two lumps of iron in our hands in a thunder storm??? The birds would not decoy and we had to move things around alot the get them to play ball but we ended the day with two hundred and fourteen pick up which was great . We started the day saying that we could only take two hundred at the max due to freezer room todays shooting made the total 1610 in the freezers at home. We caught up with the other shooter back at the farm and he had picked up one hundred and thirty five. Edited August 27, 2012 by pigeon controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Awesome as always, very jealous... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtailhawk1 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Excellent bag well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 nice bag ,we were out in that thunder storm ,lighting all around ,very wet kit lol and we had a few come in on the thunder storm ,only had 25 pigeons with 3 of us shooting ? only had 4 hours late afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitty tree Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 well done fella. you certanly live up to your name. what a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 That dog of yours must be sick of the sight of pigeons ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Thanks for all your nice comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotemaster Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Well done PC!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Your achievements are exceptional and you should be applauded for sharing them with us mere mortals. You must have some very good ground for pigeons, decent farmers for calling you when they see a problem but most of all invaluable experience. So 'back to basics 'it was and how well it worked in what many experienced shooters are calling a poor season on the stubbles. Time spent watching and noting movement is rarely wasted. How many pigeon shooters, including me, just dive straight in and set up before the key element is established ie the flight lines. Good for you is what I say. There is no jealousy from my quarter but an aspiration to do better in a hobby/sport/passtime in which I have had a great interest for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the poacher Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 1 word mate AWSOME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenntiger Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 well done pc. 2 good days pigeon shooting nice write up as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Your achievements are exceptional and you should be applauded for sharing them with us mere mortals. You must have some very good ground for pigeons, decent farmers for calling you when they see a problem but most of all invaluable experience. So 'back to basics 'it was and how well it worked in what many experienced shooters are calling a poor season on the stubbles. Time spent watching and noting movement is rarely wasted. How many pigeon shooters, including me, just dive straight in and set up before the key element is established ie the flight lines. Good for you is what I say. There is no jealousy from my quarter but an aspiration to do better in a hobby/sport/passtime in which I have had a great interest for many years. Thanks JDog, When I found this forum I thought it was great to see and Etalk to like minded shooters who have a passion for the pursuit of Wood pigeons. DB has been shooting pigeons for well over thirty years and when he started it was the cabbage fields of Avon or Severn valleys that attracted vast flocks during the winter. With OSR this has inproved the stocks and also spread the birds around the country. When I had to work for a living I used to travel all over the country and in conversation people would say what is your hobby and I would say I shoot pigeons and they would say are there many about and I would always see birds about from Scotland, the Fens,Wales, Kent etc. My shooting goes back approx 23 years and in that time I've learnt my fieldcraft . When I post the pictures of our efforts its not to gloat and brag or make people jealous but to show that being tenacious and to quote Topgunners " never give up" you will get the results you want. Yes we shoot in the ancient Forest of Arden and the clue is in the the name WOOD pigeon and we shoot about 45 weeks of the year and over the years know when to look at various areas to find the birds, when we are looking we see lots of other shooters out and about with all the gizmos and not a bird in sight. First find the birds or the flightline. I thank you for your comments and I hope that my little snippets each week make you and others improve your sport and achieve the results you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 A good report, as usual. The point about taking time to watch and look is so important, but I feel sorry for the shooters who, due to pressure of work, family commitments, etc., don't have the time to do this. Its even worth giving up a few days shooting, to look and learn. I have also found that rooks/crows don't seem to like pigeons on rotaries, yet will come in readily to rooks/crows on a rotary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Pigeon Controller, That's another great days shooting! Can I ask,(if you dont mind) if you are professional? You seem to constantly get loads! Or are you just fortunate to have a lot of pigeons down your way? I'm up in the North of Scotland and don't see numbers anywhere near that. Well done again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) Pigeon Controller, That's another great days shooting! Can I ask,(if you dont mind) if you are professional? You seem to constantly get loads! Or are you just fortunate to have a lot of pigeons down your way? I'm up in the North of Scotland and don't see numbers anywhere near that. Well done again I'm not sure what you mean by Professional. I'ts just a passion I love shooting pigeons also ferreting, longnetting. Fishing for barbel and Pike and Zander. I don't make any money at it just love doing it. I've been married for forty years and my wife jokes that with fishing and shooting we have only been together for ten years!!! When I was working in Bannf, Aboulour and Fife I saw loads of birds. Edited August 27, 2012 by pigeon controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I'm not sure what you mean by Professional. I'ts just a passion I love shooting pigeons also ferreting, longnetting. Fishing for barbel and Pike and Zander. I don't make any money at it just love doing it. I've been married for forty years and my wife jokes that with fishing and shooting we have only been together for ten years!!! When I was working in Bannf, Aboulour and Fife I saw loads of birds. Sorry I was just curious if it was your job ie full time pest controller. I'm just jealous you get so many it's funny, as soon as you get down Perth/fife way there's a big difference in numbers. I managed my best yet of 70 birds the other day but I only took 100 shells which was annoying. The bulk were ferals though but they still cause damage. Keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge hunter 1984 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Well done sir. You are my inspiration to keep going to get the red letter day but also to enjoy being out and learning about this amazing bird. From the age of 6 when my dad took me roost shooting i can remember the excitement and feeling i got when i got my 1st pigeon with a bolt action 410 and to this day at the age of 27 i still get excited and that feeling, even on the days where i dont shoot more than 5 cartridges. But each time i go out i think to myself could this be the day!!! I find your write ups and pictures give me the extra bit to try harder to one day get that red letter day. Thank you for suring your hard work with us. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Brilliant shooting. Well done again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markws80 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 AWSOME Shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davecooper1 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Been away on my holiday mate, just seen your post, fantastic shooting lads, and a proper good read on your write up :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG wales Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 ex, shooting p.c always a good write up aswell as the pics. i think you should do demos at the game fairs . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.