Different decoys

[THE GRIFF]

I have just got into pigeon decoying last summer and have noticed when shooting over winter rape the pigeons are in huge flocks, one shot and there off to nearby fields. As I have watched other pigeons flying over me out of range to join the larger flock 2 fields away I was thinking about getting some more decoys to make my pattern bigger. A bigger pattern may encourage them to decoy better.

I currently have 14 flocked shells, 10 unflocked shells, a couple of full body flocked pigeons, a flapper and a couple of bouncers that I put dead birds on as well as 6 cradles for dead birds, although I don't tend to use the unflocked shells when it's sunny or if there's a chance of rain.

I have also just bought 10 neoprene shells from a1 decoys that are brand new to the market(not even on there website yet). They are very similar to the fuds but only a shell shape, they are very light but bulky as they don't stack or fold up. They look good but quite dark in colour but the fuds also look dark to me so they should work because the fuds do.

So upto now I have a mixture of about 26 decoys(mot including the unflocked shells) plus a flapper, 2 bouncers and a some cradles for dead birds.

I was thinking of getting another 10 of the neoprene shells from a1 decoys due to them being so light in weight to give me a total of 36 decoys for the winter decoying and for summer decoying I can just use the 20 neoprene ones and leave the heavier shells at home when a good walk is needed to get to the fields.

 

So my questions are:

Do you think using nearly 40 decoys when these large flocks are about is a good idea or a waste of time and money?

 

What are peoples opinions or experiences regarding using a mixture of different decoys in the same pattern for example flocked and unflocked shells, fuds and dead birds all at the same time. To me they all look different shapes and different colours, could this be off putting to pigeons because when I see a flock of feeding pigeons they all look the same shape and colour to me?

[Bluebarrels]

I find your better off with the feeding decoys (head down) most of the shell type decoys come with heads up and it looks un-natural to me so must do to pigeons if im using shell type decoys(heads up) I try and position them so they look as if there feeding(heads down) if you know what im getting at!!,don't really find mixing decoys puts the birds off,but its a case of trial and error what works one day might not work the next BB

[motty]

It doesn't really matter if decoys are head up or head down. A mixture of decoys is fine, too. With more decoys, you stand more chance of your pattern being seen, but if you're not in the place the pigeons really want to be, then it won't help that much.

[Bluebarrels]

like I said its all about trial and error I prefer majority of decoys head down BB

[THE GRIFF]

like I said its all about trial and error I prefer majority of decoys head down BB

I also try to have most decoys head down but my question was more about the differance in colour and shape mixing fuds that have a skinny head and are dark in colour with lighter coloured shells which are a lot wider.

[fenboy]

Personally I think what you need in such a situation is as much movement in you pattern as possible , so i would save the money the extra decoys will cost you and put it towards a pigeon magnet or at the least another flapper or two .

Mixing your current decoys will be fine, it is always difficult to pull the birds when they are in large flocks so dont despair too much !

[THE GRIFF]

Personally I think what you need in such a situation is as much movement in you pattern as possible , so i would save the money the extra decoys will cost you and put it towards a pigeon magnet or at the least another flapper or two .

Mixing your current decoys will be fine, it is always difficult to pull the birds when they are in large flocks so dont despair too much !

I already have a magnet, a flapper and a couple of bouncers as well as a couple of those dippas.

Last time I was out I took the the flapper and the bouncers out of the pattern and the pigeons seemed to fly closer to me, the flapper seemed to scare them away completely, I havn't tried the rotary but to be honest I only tend to use it when I can get the car upto where I am shooting.

[fenboy]

I would think its more likely that the bouncers are scaring the birds than the flapper, always found a flapper brilliant for getting the birds where you want them in the pattern .

[hawkeye]

Come on Daniel you know what is needed are a couple of my floaters for when the wind blows...

[DR JAMES]

I`ve got x2 of HAWKEYE Pigeon Floaters. I bought them off MOSA on here who bought them off him. I use them all the time and they certainly look real when sitting in the hide even to the point i have stood up out the hide thinking that it was a pigeon coming into my patteren.

 

If i use my flocked decoys thats all i put out, if i use my plastic decoys thats all i put out and so on but all ways use my Pigeon Floaters one on the left and one on the right at the back of my horse shoe patteren. Sometimes i use my rotary just depends on the day and if i can get under the flight lines which is very important. Keep trying different things and whatch what the pigeons do then learn from it M8 is my best advise and what works one day does not mean it will work the next time GOOD LUCK