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pigeon shooting in the snow


colin lad
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Decoying in anything but the lightest of coverings is a waste of time, pigeon simply don't seem to be able to see the decoys :yes: . This also means they don't see you too well so you can shoot a flight line all day simply by standing well out from the hedge so you don't show up against it, and just pop away. It seems almost surreal at times but I've had great bags this way, trying to clear a patch of snow big enough to decoy on is very easy so long as you have a snow plough and the farmer is your dad.

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The main issue you have Colin is they aren't moving about much, this morning I've seen an awful lot about sitting in rape fields, don't want to get off even when the gas guns went off they were just getting up and landing again. You may find its very quiet once you've put them off the bit you are on

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Had some really good days with up to around 5 inches of snow with birds pouring into fields of sprouts, seemed to be the only food source around above the snow.

 

I have to agree to sprouts and similar as an exception as I've had birds decoy in well with plastic decoys secured on top of the stalks.

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It is virtually pointless trying to decoy onto rape covered in snow unless a large enough area can be cleared by using branches. Even then unless the pigeons really want to feed there it might be a quiet time.

 

The upside of having snow cover is that the birds will have voracious appetites on the first day after the snow has melted. That will be the day to get out decoying.

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Best days I have ever had were shooting over cabbages and sprouts in the winter of 1962/3. After a few weeks the snow has sunk enough for the tops of the plants to show through the snow and the birds were so hungry they were coming in in their hundreds, didn't need a hide or decoys. My boss at the time supplied the shells and we stood in the fields for days trying to save the crop. I've never been so cold but the shooting was unbelievable.

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get a cut down branch with loads of branches coming off it and use it as a rake rake a natural looking patch in the crop rape is good!!! bout 40 yards across and set up as normal i look forward to shooting in the snow better than stubbles in summer if you get it right, ill be out tomorrow if snow lies overnight, make sure you rake it up if you do in half light and be set up for after first light good luck

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