lou13 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Hi! I have been shooting for a long time now and have shot pigeons coming into roost, however I am totally new to decoying. I am hoping to get out this weekend in one of my fields, so can anyone give me any tips and advice from anything such as equipment, setting up and the actual shooting? (I have plenty of decoys!) All help appreciated!! Thanks, lou13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Best piece of advice I can give is to wait until July The weather will be warmer and the birds will be much easier to decoy when the crops are cut. I sat in a freezing cold hide for 2 pigeons this afternoon Roost shooting is where the action is at this time of year, generally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou13 Posted February 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Best piece of advice I can give is to wait until July The weather will be warmer and the birds will be much easier to decoy when the crops are cut. I sat in a freezing cold hide for 2 pigeons this afternoon Roost shooting is where the action is at this time of year, generally Haha! Good idea! Well i've got nothing else to do so will give it a go in the morning and if i'm not too successful I'll shoot them coming into roost in the evening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 It's reckoned to be better to get there at first light and get a few before they flock up into one large group. I've found that seems to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Done any recon on said field? If not, don't shoot it, spend time on recon. Being in the right place at the right time is key to a successful day decoying...and you wont know where or when if you havnet done the recon Get under the flightline into the field they want to be in Random groups (5-10 decoys) a few yards apart in a random horsehoe shape Put the decoys a couple of feet apart A floater a few yards down wind of 1 edge of the pattern and another 15ish yards from the entrance to the horseshoe..put it central My usual pattern this time of year and it seems to work well BUT it won't do **** if you are in the wrong place..maybe the odd passer byglide over for a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddJob Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Done any recon on said field? spend time on recon. Being in the right place at the right time is key to a successful day decoying...and you wont know where or when if you havnet done the recon What sort of recon would you do on a new site and how would you go about doing it? The reason I ask is because I have a whole new farm that I am going to be getting permissions on. I am going to speak with the land owner as I am sure they will know a lot about where they go. However, I also want to know how to develop my field craft and knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Spend time driving or walking around the land looking for pigeons flying, you will get to know flightline by just watching for periods of time. Alot of people dont seem to bother then wonder why they aren't getting many even if they have seen hundreds on a certain field. Check woods on an evening to see if pigeons arw using any specific ones as roasts, of you find a good roost wood, go back at first light and watch which way they leave, try to follow the flightlines. It takes time and patience but is worth it. They will change flightline depending on where they are feeding but you will get to know this over time And in time you will get to know which fields they prefer and which crops. I have a field on my permission that is crammed full of pigeons no matter what crop but other fields they dont seem to bother with even when its got peas in. Spend sometime with the binoculars before you get the gun out. You will learn alot about pigeons, by watching their behaviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 What sort of recon would you do on a new site and how would you go about doing it? The reason I ask is because I have a whole new farm that I am going to be getting permissions on. I am going to speak with the land owner as I am sure they will know a lot about where they go. However, I also want to know how to develop my field craft and knowledge. Main things to watch are obviously what fields are they feeding on , where are they entering the field , where are they exiting the field , are they following a tree or hedge line , are they crossing over fields you can shoot to feed on someone else,s you can't , if so you may be able to get under them. Are they feeding early or late (normally early this time of year) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Best piece of advice I can give is to wait until July The weather will be warmer and the birds will be much easier to decoy when the crops are cut. I sat in a freezing cold hide for 2 pigeons this afternoon Roost shooting is where the action is at this time of year, generally know how you feel,been out twice for one bird its very slow in the country cos the clever **** are all outside our local kehbab shop filling their faces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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