scottk Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) I have aquired a substantial amount of arrible land to shoot on but it's interlaced by m62, following advice on hide set up from various posts I believe a need 300 yards before I hit a road or houses etc, when looking at the land, the spots I would need to set a hide up on have in a lot of scenarios the motorway at the back of the hide. Is this ok? I believe you need to be 50 feet from a highway to shoot, and in most cases there's either high or low banking behind me and I can definately get 50 ft, but is this safe? The motorway is seriously busy, but I am thinking noise still might be an issue, the last think I want to do is give someone a scare, causing a problem on the motorway? If i dont set up here, basically the farmer isnt going to get the crop protection as i cant get the 250 yards in a lot of spots. Due to odd shaped fields and houses closbye, which again i dont want to cause a noise issue for residents. What's people's views? Edited November 27, 2012 by scottk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filzee Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 its a hard one without actually being there to see it. also the last thing you want is winged birds crashing into cars on the motor way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 With a bank behind and you shooting away I doubt someone in an insulated box that is a car would hear anything, motorways are so noisy anyway. It's 50ft from the centre of a public carriageway by the way, though heaven knows if that would be the centre of the whole motorway or just the nearest lane of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 I don't think car drivers hearing you should be your worry in this case. I would be far more concerned over a pricked bird getting to the M way. I think you would be far better setting up as far away from the M way as you can. If you was to set up with your back to the M way a pricked bird may end up on the M way. I shot a bird only the other day and it was a dead bird flying if you get my meaning, I knew I had hit it hard, I watched it fly away only to bleed out and die in the air a good 100 yrds away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixhills 69 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Hide near a motorway could cause a multi pigeon pile up if your a good shot Being serious last year i was 100yrds from my land owners house shooting a flatened wheat with a mild wind crossing left to right i shot a high bird next thing i heard was a loud shout i had just peppered my land owner luckily he was not to angry but i was supprised how far shot travels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 The CPSA recommend a shot fall out zone of 275 metres, to allow for following wind. This is based on a 28gm load of size 6 shot and smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottk Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Cheers guys, so noise not the problem, pricked birds definately an issue, ill give it a miss and look for other options. Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottk Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 It's 50ft from the centre of a public carriageway by the way, though heaven knows if that would be the centre of the whole motorway or just the nearest lane of it. Yep sorry that's what I meant ft not yards, I was informed if you take it from the edge then no arguments, rather than centre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottk Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) With a bank behind and you shooting away I doubt someone in an insulated box that is a car would hear anything, motorways are so noisy anyway. It's 50ft from the centre of a public carriageway by the way, though heaven knows if that would be the centre of the whole motorway or just the nearest lane of it. I picked this up of another post if it helps anyone: "A French ballistics expert, General Journee, years ago worked out a formula to the effect that the maximum range in yards equals 2200 times the shot diameter in inches. When the gun is held at a horizontal position or only slightly elevated, this formula gives the maximum range of shot sizes as shown below. No. 2 - 330 yards No. 4 - 286 yards No. 6 - 242 yards No. 7 1/2- 209 yards No. 8 - 198 yards " Don't know if its right but seems logical. Edited November 27, 2012 by scottk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 As has been said, noise is not an issue. I shoot quite a few fields with my back to a motorway bank, thats between 15 and 60 ft high (sloping away from the field, some wooded , some just grass). As the birds I am shooting are landing in to decoys 20+ yards in front of me, they fall dead on the field, or fly away unscathed. Shot crossing birds fall in to the field and it would only be straight overhead birds that could fall on the road. I can't remember any of those being an issue. It would be a good idea to take an experienced shot with you to get an on site opinion, before giving up on the location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottk Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) As has been said, noise is not an issue. I shoot quite a few fields with my back to a motorway bank, thats between 15 and 60 ft high (sloping away from the field, some wooded , some just grass). As the birds I am shooting are landing in to decoys 20+ yards in front of me, they fall dead on the field, or fly away unscathed. Shot crossing birds fall in to the field and it would only be straight overhead birds that could fall on the road. I can't remember any of those being an issue. It would be a good idea to take an experienced shot with you to get an on site opinion, before giving up on the location. Very good advice thanks mate, will do, it does seem a shame to waste it, experience key here no doubt After watching the field for a while I have noticed the pigeons come in to the field parallel to the motor way, so they would be coming in from my left to right with motorway and banking to my back. Edited November 27, 2012 by scottk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) As has been said, noise is not an issue. I shoot quite a few fields with my back to a motorway bank, thats between 15 and 60 ft high (sloping away from the field, some wooded , some just grass). As the birds I am shooting are landing in to decoys 20+ yards in front of me, they fall dead on the field, or fly away unscathed. Shot crossing birds fall in to the field and it would only be straight overhead birds that could fall on the road. I can't remember any of those being an issue. It would be a good idea to take an experienced shot with you to get an on site opinion, before giving up on the location. so you shoot all your birds stone dead or miss and they fly away unscathed, you are a much better shot than me if you never wound a bird Edited November 27, 2012 by Actionpigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 so you shoot all your birds stone dead or miss and they fly away unscathed, you are a much better shot than me if you never wound a bird Read what I wrote. I don't shoot at the birds passing over me (and ignoring the decoys) towards the motorway. Any birds I miss will be in front of me , or crossing the field from right to left, or left to right. A bird wounded , but capable of flying away strongly has a choice of four ways to fly, its not likely to be straight at me (or the motorway) . I have shot these fields for many years and have never to my knowledge dropped a bird on the motorway, nor have there been any unexplained accidents in the area when I have been shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) so you shoot all your birds stone dead or miss and they fly away unscathed, you are a much better shot than me if you never wound a bird quote "As the birds I am shooting are landing in to decoys 20+ yards in front of me, they fall dead on the field, or fly away unscathed" as I said, you are a much better shot than me if you never wound a bird quote "A bird wounded , but capable of flying away strongly has a choice of four ways to fly, its not likely to be straight at me (or the motorway)" so you have never had a wounded bird fall behind your hide, well I must be the only one that has had wounded birds behind me when decoying. In fact I had to duck the other week when a friend of mine hit a bird and it flew between us only to drop behind the hide. I have shot pigeon just about every day for the past 40 years + unless I am flying hawks. I consider myself a prity good shot, and I still would say I wound at least 10% of what I shot including birds coming into my pattern. I would not set up 50 Ft or ever 50 Yd with my back to a M way because no matter how good a shot you are there is always a chance a wounded bird could fall on the M Way, but this is a choice you need to make your self. Is you having a bit of sport shooting pigeons more important than the safety of that guy driving down the M way with his kids in the car. I know what my choice would be, set up as far away as possible from the M way. Edited November 28, 2012 by Actionpigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 quote "As the birds I am shooting are landing in to decoys 20+ yards in front of me, they fall dead on the field, or fly away unscathed" as I said, you are a much better shot than me if you never wound a bird quote "A bird wounded , but capable of flying away strongly has a choice of four ways to fly, its not likely to be straight at me (or the motorway)" so you have never had a wounded bird fall behind your hide, well I must be the only one that has had wounded birds behind me when decoying. In fact I had to duck the other week when a friend of mine hit a bird and it flew between us only to drop behind the hide. I have shot pigeon just about every day for the past 40 years + unless I am flying hawks. I consider myself a prity good shot, and I still would say I wound at least 10% of what I shot including birds coming into my pattern. I would not set up 50 Ft or ever 50 Yd with my back to a M way because no matter how good a shot you are there is always a chance a wounded bird could fall on the M Way, but this is a choice you need to make your self. Is you having a bit of sport shooting pigeons more important than the safety of that guy driving down the M way with his kids in the car. I know what my choice would be, set up as far away as possible from the M way. We seem to have had about the same length and depth of experience , so are entitled to our opinions, even though they may differ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 It all depends how you shoot and whether the motorway is below you or above you, trees along it etc. I'd avoid shooting anywhere you are in clear sight of the motorway but as Cranfield says with sensible shooting its perfectly possible. If you are going to take the view pricked birds may continue flying and fall on a road as Action Pigeons is suggesting then really there aren't many places in the country you could shoot with absolute certainty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 quote "As the birds I am shooting are landing in to decoys 20+ yards in front of me, they fall dead on the field, or fly away unscathed" as I said, you are a much better shot than me if you never wound a bird quote "A bird wounded , but capable of flying away strongly has a choice of four ways to fly, its not likely to be straight at me (or the motorway)" so you have never had a wounded bird fall behind your hide, well I must be the only one that has had wounded birds behind me when decoying. In fact I had to duck the other week when a friend of mine hit a bird and it flew between us only to drop behind the hide. I have shot pigeon just about every day for the past 40 years + unless I am flying hawks. I consider myself a prity good shot, and I still would say I wound at least 10% of what I shot including birds coming into my pattern. I would not set up 50 Ft or ever 50 Yd with my back to a M way because no matter how good a shot you are there is always a chance a wounded bird could fall on the M Way, but this is a choice you need to make your self. Is you having a bit of sport shoo ting pigeons more important than the safety of that guy driving down the M way with his kids in the car. I know what my choice would be, set up as far away as possible from the M way. It's obviously not an ideal scenario to be shooting so close to the motorway, but i'd do it. It would be best to be careful in doing this, but i don't think it unsafe.In the event that a pigeon enters the motorway after being shot, it isn't the end of the world - after all,pigeons get killed flying across roads all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) One or two on here should remember the number one rule when shooting. The safety of others and your self should come first whenever shooting. As al4x says there are not many places in the UK where you can shoot where a bird will not fall on a rd, but we are not talking about a B rd or even an A rd we are talking about a M way. yes birds get killed on the roads all the time, but they are usually glancing blows, a bird falling out of the sky onto a windscreen is a bit different. comment like "In the event that a pigeon enters the motorway after being shot, it isn't the end of the world" well it could be if some one was to panic. so if you think about it, if you shoot a bird coming towards you and the bird is wounded and out of control the momentum of the bird will take it past you and onto the M way the wounded birds that are just pricked and are still in control are not a problem. As I said its about choice, and given the choice I would not set up with the wind coming from behind with my back to a M way. Edited November 28, 2012 by Actionpigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 it would just need one dithering, nervous driver to overreact to a bird landing to end up in a mess beyond your wildest dreams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alros01 Posted December 3, 2012 Report Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hi I've a DVD buy game keepers diaries and I could not believe what he did on it.he removed the top piece of wood on the fence and built a hide against a small tree so actually he was shooting with a quest shooter on the motor way embankment.you could see shots of the motor way behind them and they were shooting pigeons going over the top of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottk Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) ok guys got a pic of 1 block of the land see what peoples views are for hide placement if at all possible.. The motorway banking is very high at the top left corner all down to the top middle then it goes flat. There a road running through the middle, light use, 2nd access for houses off picture to the right. Left bottom left you can see a golf course. All the farm building are just empty storage, no residents in any of the properties. I was thinking best place would be on edge of woods on the right, shooting right to left accross to the two individual trees in the middle of the land. flight lines are birds come over the trees on the right paralell with the motorway and the small road into the 3 fields at the top of the picture. or near the two trees centre shooting right to left. My view would be the long thin field at the botom is unshootable due to road on 1 side golf course on other. PS. Ill be using 7.5s and shooting close. Edited December 4, 2012 by scottk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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