Insp Grimm Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 So , as I read articles about pigeon shooting from the top guns in the country I cant help it but think that I am either in the wrong part of the country for pigeon shooting or have some fundamental issues with my approach. Do you have days like the ones the articles are made of 100 -200 birds days? I don't ! I shoot over 700 acres of mixed fields and my best day ever was 34 birds for 6 hrs. Average I hit 8-12 pigeons for 3-4 hours. What's your average? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Where are you? Sometimes one part of the country is devoid of birds (like here last year), sometimes it's better. BUT it aint easy anytime!! 100 bird days are rare, that's why people post them. I had 50 on Moday and was well pleased!! 700 acres is OK IF you have the right crops, in the right area, in the right weather etc etc etc. My group has 12000 acres, most of the time most of this is useless!! So, keep at it, 34 is good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony73 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 good topic! Although i can shoot over a lot of arable land and rarely get turned down locally(isle of axhlome for anyone local)there is not a huge amount of pigeons as not a lot of woodland,so to that end my average is approx 15 per outing which can be a tad frustrating as i put a lot of effort in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Who cares you only need that one bird that makes your day , sometimes numbers don't do it for me but that fast high crossing bird would Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Exactly so, years back on a shoot in nottingham the pigeons were coming in all day in their hundreds, very high winds were keeping them low and easy targets, but the one I remember came over very high going downwind like a bat out of hell, my dog saw it first and I had just a second or two to get the shot in, instinct took over and I bullseyed it with one barrel, it was dead but kept going for over 50 yards out into the rape but the dog found it no problem, it was just that one that I always remember, not how many we took. great days . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 (edited) I'd shoot hundreds if I had something to do with them all (like sell some or give them away), if not I'd enjoy my time out, take lunch and a flask, pick my shots carefully, shoot 15-20, take them all home and eventually eat them. I would consider that a very good day. Best day ever, personally shot 105, worst day, one. Edited November 15, 2012 by Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 The big days are nice but a friend who i shoot with always reminds me that if you went on a pheasant shoot and shot 10 or maybe 20 then it would have been a good day out, just because they're pigeons shouldn't mean you enjoy those numbers any less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 And pigeons are free!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 I shoot over 100 fairly regularly and try to shoot as many big bags as possible. I enjoy doing this and am not ashamed to say that sometimes shooting 20-30 has been a bit of a waste of time. This isn't to say that some memorable bags of that number haven't been had by myself. I don't think it's that rare at all to shoot over 100 birds per day. I know of a hell of a lot of people to do this that never get mentioned on this forum. To shoot big bags consistently takes - good pigeon areas, the right crops at the right times, good pigeon shooting knowledge and the ability to shoot straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 I think i've shot about 10 all year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insp Grimm Posted November 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 Interesting replies. Majority ( so far ) seems to be hitting simmilar numbers. I shoot in East England ( March ). Very flat and few woods. Just been out for 3 hrs and had 2 birds. Very few were flying and only the two dropped down on my decoys. On opening them it is clear that they are feeding on the OSR . On route to and back from the field I could see hundreds of birds in the trees along side the road. I guess the weather plays a major part in their feeding/ flying patterns. As much as I love quality shots , QTY matters to me and my farmer mainly as I am trying to pest control the farm. Just being told that he is getting 50 more acres of land near woods in Jan 13 so hopes are high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 My average this year is about 7, my best afternoon was 16 and quickest session was 14 in 45 mins. Onw huge difference though because I only use air rifles now, I gave up the shotties years ago. Most of my permissions are livestock farms with only small areas for arable so we don't see the pigeons in the numbers you see in the midlands and East. The few I do get are very satisfying though and none get wasted, every bird is breasted and provides meat for the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 My "average" bags vary throughout the year and for lots of reasons. Being able to get to the furthest points on the farms after harvest helps with better bags (also more pigeons about). Showing my face at farms where the crop layout for the year is not ideal, contributes to lower bags. As does periods of bad weather, short shooting days , game shoots, alpaca walkers (honestly), other shooters out, etc. This year on pigeons I have had a few blank days (couldn't find them) and a few 100+ days, I am not disappointed with any number I shoot , as long as I am not missing too many birds. Yesterday I shot 18, today on an adjacent field I shot 72, its all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 i shoot 18 farms,and at the moment not lot on any of them, not much in the summer they went up country last year and never returned.had a phone call from a farmer last week but was working on saturday, so could go out.phoned the farmer today, and he said there all gone,just eating corn on top of the field.will pop out in the monning and have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 I use to have my fair share of birds, 150+ twice a week and dare say I still could if I took the time to find and watch again but now I now get more enjoyment taking friends out so they can have good shooting. I have made a lot of good friends doing this. I don't shoot much in winter as the old bones don't like it but I do go out on the roosts in February and if I get a call from land owner to thin birds out but even then I will take others out with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 I use to have my fair share of birds, 150+ twice a week and dare say I still could if I took the time to find and watch again but now I now get more enjoyment taking friends out so they can have good shooting. I have made a lot of good friends doing this. I don't shoot much in winter as the old bones don't like it but I do go out on the roosts in February and if I get a call from land owner to thin birds out but even then I will take others out with me. We're hoping you do Thanks mate, learned a great deal on decoying from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn pigeon shooter Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 The best day I've ever had was this year 64 in three hours over layed wheat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 Interesting replies. Majority ( so far ) seems to be hitting simmilar numbers. I shoot in East England ( March ). Very flat and few woods. Just been out for 3 hrs and had 2 birds. Very few were flying and only the two dropped down on my decoys. On opening them it is clear that they are feeding on the OSR . On route to and back from the field I could see hundreds of birds in the trees along side the road. I guess the weather plays a major part in their feeding/ flying patterns. As much as I love quality shots , QTY matters to me and my farmer mainly as I am trying to pest control the farm. Just being told that he is getting 50 more acres of land near woods in Jan 13 so hopes are high. Ah, you live in March. I've shot some 100+ bags less than 10 miles from there. Don't be fooled into thinking a lack of woods means a lack of pigeons. You are in a decent pigeon area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 Usually get around the 100 mark, 200 odd on good days. Have not done much this year due to a number of reasons, New baby being the biggest reason.... I much prefer a few hours under a flight line or roost shooting decent birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 i don,t live in a densely populated area for pigeons but theres enough in the area to go after also we shoot over land in a 20 mile radius so more often than not we will find birds on one of the farms we look at to make a decent bag and the norm is between 20 and 40 thats enough to call it a good day, in my opinion we do get 50,60,70,80,90,100 bags thrown in occationally if your counting numbers. but i will settle for 20 30 pigeons in a day after the effort and fuel have been spent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 I have a lot of days out and enjoy every one unless I get wet so numbers do not matter much to me but I do shoot quite a few each year. Last year I had a decent bag of easily decoyed birds on rape and none of the shots were memorable. I then went to roost shoot a nearby wood and shot 8 of the best birds I have ever shot coming down a strong wind over the tree tops, some crashing in 90m behind me. I can quite clearly remember all of those 8 birds even today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Sarakun Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 So , as I read articles about pigeon shooting from the top guns in the country I cant help it but think that I am either in the wrong part of the country for pigeon shooting or have some fundamental issues with my approach. Do you have days like the ones the articles are made of 100 -200 birds days? I don't ! I shoot over 700 acres of mixed fields and my best day ever was 34 birds for 6 hrs. Average I hit 8-12 pigeons for 3-4 hours. What's your average? Well Insp Grimm, that sounds pretty good to me. If you see birds flying about where you shoot, whilst you are out shooting them, then do a 10 hour day and with those numbers you quoted, you may get 30 or more in the bag. We have plenty of birds and shoot a vast area, though the numbers may surprise you. There are 8 Pigeon shooters though only 4 shoot every week. None, to my knowledge, have shot in a day, over 200 on their own. My personal best is 156, my buddies 92, another lad, is on 186. Our best ever weekend, between 4 of us, was on cut beans when we shot nearly 500 in the 2 days. We shoot dawn till dusk all year round. Do the time and you will get the birds if they are in your area. That is how it seems to work here mostly. Now, saying that, we have the flocks now and yesterday I had 1 shot and it was a miss. Ozzy ........... didn't even get a shot. Ryan shot 9. Next week, we may wipe the floor, that is how it seems to work down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Big Bags are great if thats what you want. I get called out in all weathers and times of the year and the challenge to me is the get the best bag as you can using fieldcraft, Knowledge etc. I was called out on the seed the otherday and it never stopped raining and the birds would not land due the amount of mud they would get on there feet, the farmer insisted that I left the Disco at the farm as it was too wet to drive on the fieldbut I stuck it out to keep the shooting for a bag of thirteen birds. When I go fishing on the local canal for a couple of hours R and R the dog walkers all go past saying " nothing in here mate" but its nice to pull out your keepnet and see there faces Life is full of challenges Pigeon Shooting being one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Nowt to do with the topic but you might want to change your aviator pic I had the same and was asked to change by the mods due to it looking like cruelty ammo for the antis, to answer your question not many but I can sit there all day and enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insp Grimm Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Nowt to do with the topic but you might want to change your aviator pic I had the same and was asked to change by the mods due to it looking like cruelty ammo for the antis, to answer your question not many but I can sit there all day and enjoy Avatar changed, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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