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hard earned pigeons


aga man
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set out to shoot a rape field today as we had planned earlier in the week, as the weather had forecast north wind. the field in question is around 70 acres split into two by a private road. birds had built steadily over the past week. and as we arrived at 8 am around 500+ lifted and filled the sky in swirling mass, it was some sight. as we started to set up the rain persisted in a driving wind and it was cold and muddy. as we put the decoys out the birds where steadily sreaming back from nearby woods and seemed desperate to get back on the field. we got into the hide after some minor hiccups { broken flask and whirly not working} and was faced with a problem. too many birds coming into the decoys. we realised firing at big flocks of birds is a no no but this is how they wanted to come. we stood up and shot 3. this sent the birds back to the wood. soon enough they returned again in huge numbers again we managed 3. this happened a few times throughout the morning until the birds started to ignore the decoys and land at the top end of the field. being down wind not even a scaring shot would shift them. i decided to take a few floaters and stand in the hadge up there. the sight of pigeons streaming in a 1/4 mile trail from the woods was amazing. i shot some more birds, but eventually they moved a mile or so away to somone elses rape. strong>ression.gif the birds seem to have become used to feeding in mass even with two whirleys and several deads on floater the decoying was hard work. we finished early afternoon with around 35 shot and about 30 picked. we were wet, cold covered in mud and tired. we felt like we earned every bird shot. it was however better than been at work and the farmer saw us making an effort. we will return with plan b. thanks to PW member Tan for his company. certainly a morning to remember. :good:

post-57269-0-97353500-1354903456_thumb.jpg

Edited by aga man
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thanks for the comments chaps. and thanks for that daz. sometimes feels like you have'nt done enough when that many birds are on the field, but you know how it is on rape at this time time of year there like a swarm of bees. the farmer was chuffed though he said"come back whenever you want". forgot to say some of the birds today where young with no neck markings :ermm:

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Well done a good result, it's very difficult to shoot as the books say , when they come in to the decoys in tens you can only shoot two or three. Therefore if you shot thirty you had possibly three hundred birds come into the decoys. When you shoot rape first light you tend to get the birds come in confidently then they move off after being spooked so you did well to get the bag.

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where was you shooting fella, that rape looks to be growing better than whats on mine

the rape is around the hull area. the field was cultivated straight after barley in september by ploughing,drilling etc. a lot of the others round here have direct drilled into stubbles and that aint doing very well. the crop should do very well if we can keep rabbits and pigeons off it. :good:
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Good perseverance. The North wind in that part of the world can be a killer.

 

If the farmer saw that you had made the effort in the winter you will be rewarded by some shooting after harvest when you can drive to your hide position and shoot in shirt sleeves.

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That's a decent bag on rape. This time of year is t easy to decoy so you did well.

Always good idea to set up downwind from roosting woods as the shots dont disturb the flight Iine to your field so much if that's where they want to feed.

Nice write up and picture.

 

I've got to get out myself, haven't been able to go for a few weeks now.

 

Cos

Edited by Cosd
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