andy.m. Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 is it possible to pick of decoyed pigeons with an air rifle...the rifle is a weirauch hw35 thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.m. Posted September 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 as you can tell i`m very new to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam-1990 Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 Yes if you let them land in the decoys at close enough range for your rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 I have seen videos of this being done very well so yes it is possible given the right circumstances and approach with ideal hide positioning that allows a rested gun to be poked through the netting and have even done a little bit myself when a shotgun wasn't appropriate. BUT it is far from a doable proposition on a regular basis by a regular person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted September 17, 2012 Report Share Posted September 17, 2012 Yeah definitely possible! I've done it a few times, but made the mistake of shooting from a high - low angle and wasn't really that good with it! Birds come in quite happily enough though if you have your decoys set up nicely. it's a lot easier with a sitting position and a shooting rest, because you can't guarantee the birds coming in exactly the same position, so you need to be able to move round surreptitiously in the hide without spooking the birds that have landed. This is hard if you're in the prone position! It takes a bit of practice but it's definitely a skill worth working on. here's a handy vid on someone doing it. You're never gonna match a bag you'd get with a shottie, but it's a lot of fun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 (edited) Well worth trying if you have reasonable numbers of pigeons. I decoy them regularly, 4 or 5 times a week at this time of year and shoot them with a prosport .177. You need a hide of some kind but don't assume you need to be buried in a hedge or looking like a green chewbacca to fool the birds. One of the best hides for me is my car, woodies are used to seeing vehicles around and don't take a lot of notice as long as you hang some scrim over the window to break up your outline. The best scenario for decoying is when you have a sitty tree that the birds use regularly, put decoys around out to 35 yards amd ideally with the wind in your face, birds landing will come over the top and give you a chance of a shot to the back or head. If you build a hide in a hedge try and get really comfy, I use a folding chair and shooting sticks and always take a good supply of food and drinks. My average bag this year is 7 but I only normally go out for 2 hours or less over the busiest feeding time, watch your birds to see when that is. Best bag is 16, I'm well chuffed at that. I haven't tried to put pics up but there are plenty on the hunting section of AAOC if you want to have a look. Good luck. Tim. Edited September 18, 2012 by timmytree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garden gun Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 We bag pigeon in the garden when numbers get high and they eat everything (damage caused legal to invoke the general licence). An air rilfle will take down pigeon no patricular problem. However, you only have one pellet to a shotties many so the target should be still to enable a clean kill. Never tried it in the field so will bow to fieldcraft etc of other shooters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackinbox99 Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Wont be as easy as a shotgun, but ive done it myself in the past. Love pigeon meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jega Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Yep no problem at all mate,just a couple of pointers to help you along .First get a good zero on your rifle,next sort out ALL your aim points (mildots etc)up to about 45yds which is about as far as you would want to take a shot at.Now set a few range markers out i find that one at 20yds one at zero distance (35yds) and one at45yds is adequate i use stones ,a bit of wood or anything else thats handy for range markers do just fine. Make sure youve got enough room to cock and load your rifle while staying under cover and have a pellet pouch around your neck for ease of access. Other then this its pretty much the same as any other sort of decoying.Good Luck and good hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 (edited) The guy in the video is using an FAC rated gun-so you will struggle to match his results but it can be done.Over stubble can be tricky cos the stems will deflect pellets so your best bags,as timmytree has said, is to find a sitty tree-in really hot weather its also worth looking for the nearest water source-cattle troughs can be suprisingly productive. Edited September 18, 2012 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chandler Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Hey there I'm a real fan of decoying with an air rifle! As said already, bags will not match that of a shotty (for every 10 shootable pigeons on the wing, you'll get 1 land), but it's still a great way to bag some pie filler at this time of year, or in fact any, done right! I put out 5 - 7 full bodied pigeons in an area I've seen pigeons feeding that day, using a variation of a horse shoe pattern, facing roughly in to the wind, from 20 - 30 yds out from a hide, using the decoys as markers, mounted on rubber coated coat hanger type wire as apposed to pegs (I think it was used on an electric fence originally), to get maximum movement in the pattern as the decoys bob very effectively in the wind. Then it's a case of sitting under or in a bush/ in deep shadow with as much of you covered in drab/camo as possible and trying not to move too much. The trick I've found is to bag a couple as early as possible and set them out in the pattern. The difference in attraction between a decoyed pattern and that with dead birds in is quite noticeable. On average at this time of year, I'm shooting 7 - 9 in about 3 - 5 hours with my best being 17 (first day this year on a cut barley field, truly amazing day, I missed as many as I shot, it was raining pigeons, I've never had so many coming in at once to a pattern, you could shoot one and more would still come) and my worst being 1. 3 best bits of advise I can give are: 1. if you don't get a couple landing in the first 45 mins to an hour, change something or move to a more productive area. They don't believe your pattern is real/ have bugged off elsewhere 2. try and time the raising of your gun in time with the pigeons literally as they are about to land, follow them by looking down the barrel, then through the scope. The birds are looking at the ground, not you and you can be on them before they notice that they've landed in a bunch of plastic and fallen brethren 3. Enjoy and experiment, it's a great feeling when you beat your previous best and murderously frustrating when things don't go your way! Sorry about elongated post but rarely post anything so figure i should at least make an effort! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiedenny Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 as above, field craft, a good hide, the right location and some luck. biggest thing i have learnt is you can not decoy them if they are not on the flight line. ive been in fields next to a busy pigeon frenzy and they wont drop in. just enjoy trying :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Chandler is spot on, I've been out this evening, moved twice because of the birds not showing, at the 3rd spot I took 14 birds in 45 mins. My second best bag this year but the best in terms of "minutes per pigeon." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 Excellent post Chandler, it's always easy to pick out the ones who write from actual knowledge rather than regurgitating stuff they've heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I just shoot the beggars at roost, enough for a pie, or soup.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I just shoot the beggars at roost, enough for a pie, or soup.... pigeon soup? that sounds like fun; you got a link/ideas of a recipe or two, Mole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBD81 Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 Yeah definitely possible! I've done it a few times, but made the mistake of shooting from a high - low angle and wasn't really that good with it! Birds come in quite happily enough though if you have your decoys set up nicely. it's a lot easier with a sitting position and a shooting rest, because you can't guarantee the birds coming in exactly the same position, so you need to be able to move round surreptitiously in the hide without spooking the birds that have landed. This is hard if you're in the prone position! It takes a bit of practice but it's definitely a skill worth working on. here's a handy vid on someone doing it. You're never gonna match a bag you'd get with a shottie, but it's a lot of fun... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLVVfZQUcjA&feature=plcp In the making of my YOUTUBE video i got near on every pigeon to land into my scope.. Us air rifle shooters know that minimal movement should be a high priority to lessen the chance of spooking a bird.. I use a method in the decoy pattern that attracts the pigeon the the drop point near on every time.. i simply make space for the pigeon and alter the pattern and my position until i have my scope set to a landing point.. Saying the above it is hard to get them all to land were you would like, but its possible to get the majority I prefer to lay down and make full use of my bipod. every one prefers different i know, but if i get the chance to lay down and shoot i will lol ATB Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 (edited) pigeon soup? that sounds like fun; you got a link/ideas of a recipe or two, Mole? Cream of Pigeon Soup ngredients Serves 4 2 prepared pigeons weighing 400 g (14 oz) each 1.5 litres (2 1/2 pt or 6 cups) cups water 1 tsp salt Strip lemon peel 2 small onions 2 leeks Small piece celeriac Sprig each parsley, thyme and dill 2 egg yolks 5 tbsp double (thick) cream 1 tbsp fresh dill Method Wash birds well inside and out, put into a large pot with the water, salt and lemon peel and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Skim off scum continuously as it forms. Peel onions, cut in half, and place cut sides down in a dry frying pan to brown. Take the white part of leeks only, wash and cut into fine strips. Peel, rinse and dice celeriac. Rinse herbs and tie together. Add prepared vegetables and herbs to stock and continue to simmer, half-covered, for 30 minutes. By the end of this time the liquid should be reduced by half. Strain the soup. Remove the skin and bones from the pigeons and chop the meat before returning it to the soup. Beat egg yolks with cream, combine with 3 tbsp hot stock and stir into soup. Serve the soup sprinkled with dill. Tested, info, let soup cool before reintroducing the egg/cream mix or it will separate! Edited September 20, 2012 by secretagentmole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 superb. one ingredient missing: Pigeon. I think a morning over some decoys is called for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 One bonus over shotgun decoying is that you can have a roof, or cover on the hide... All you really need is a gap to see the decoys through. This will help conceal you even more effectively. Place decoys out at measured intervals - 10yds, 20yds, 30yds, etc, so you know instantly where to aim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I also have a superb pigeon pie that uses two pigeons and bacon, no damned steak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackstone Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) A legal power limit rifle can easily reach out to 40yds, you just need to make sure you're capable of accurate shooting at that range Edited September 23, 2012 by Blackstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Actually a legal power limit rifle will kill at 70 yards, given ideal conditions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoben fenman Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Anyone questioning wether you can shoot pigeons with an airrifle just go out and buy the latest edition of airgun world and look at the 2nd to last article. I got less with a shotgun!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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