NickB65 Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 There is a farm in my area that has a pigeon problem but no one is shooting ther so I had a meander over....... The farmer showed me the fields and at first I wonderd why no one wanted to shoot the fields..... then it dawned on me...... The fields where huge.... I mean HUGE. Each field used to be four fields or more and were combined into four massive fields. How do you decoy on a field that is so bug? If I set-up a decoy in one area it woul dbe like line fishing in the pacific ocean... I may get one or two but the rest of the field would still be hit hard..... and we me decoying them in they may get hit even harder...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 There is a farm in my area that has a pigeon problem but no one is shooting ther so I had a meander over....... The farmer showed me the fields and at first I wonderd why no one wanted to shoot the fields..... then it dawned on me...... The fields where huge.... I mean HUGE. Each field used to be four fields or more and were combined into four massive fields. How do you decoy on a field that is so bug? If I set-up a decoy in one area it woul dbe like line fishing in the pacific ocean... I may get one or two but the rest of the field would still be hit hard..... and we me decoying them in they may get hit even harder...... I still bet its nothing compared to some of the land the Americans manage to shoot Duck and geese on over deeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Get some banger ropes and put then out or ask the farmer if he can sort you some out. Or get other people to go with you if you know anyone else who shoots, if they are kept on the move they will come across your decoys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Just watch the flight lines and wait for a windy day when they will be more specific in their approach and probably lower than on a still day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker3 Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 (edited) As before watch the flight lines try bagging off some of the more favored spots on the feilds the day before if your pattern looks good and you can get a bit of hight on your decoys it will draw birds regardless of how big the field is field craft is the key Atb andy Edited February 11, 2013 by cocker3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 (edited) The last time I shot those big areas in cambs we had several guns out in as many places as possible, the farmer put out rope bangers in the areas we couldn't cover and we managed to keep them moving all day, they came onto the decoys every 20 minutes as they moved around the fields, which was ok , a nice steady day with plenty of shots, only problem was the wind was very light and many birds passed overhead but too high to shoot, but on the right day with a few guns out these big fields can be just as productive as smaller ones, as jdog says, study the flight lines and hope for a windy day to bring them down. Edited February 11, 2013 by lakeside1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Watching the flight lines is good, but they can change through the day or after a few shots ,but saying that where i have been shooting they do have the choice of several big woods to sit up in so i guess if they are using different woods through the day they will change,but keeping them moving is the key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 I'm sorry to say you may well be wasting your time. Try all of the above tips by all means, but i'd be surprised if any significant shooting results. The trouble is at this time of year on rape (unless you're extremely lucky) the birds can very quickly shift to other fields in the vicinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickB65 Posted February 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Thanks guys - this was aimed at later in the year when they are easier to decoy - agree watching flight lines may be a positive move but I think I may also have to get a few of the local PW chaps to join in. Will see if he accepts my proposal and if he does then expect some invites. Thanks again for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Thanks guys - this was aimed at later in the year when they are easier to decoy - agree watching flight lines may be a positive move but I think I may also have to get a few of the local PW chaps to join in. Will see if he accepts my proposal and if he does then expect some invites. Thanks again for the advice. Things get far easier on rape in the next month or two. Pigeons will start heading for the short patches that they've hit the hardest, so it's obvious where you need to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 I still bet its nothing compared to some of the land the Americans manage to shoot Duck and geese on over deeks Yes, but they use HUNDREDS (literally) of decoys, with dozens of flappers, floaters, rotarys as well as amplified goose calls (no use for pigeons!) Oh, and you need a JCB to dig in with, deep trenches with pew-type seats and como covers. I tried it last year without all that stuff, just a dozen or so deeks and it was just like pigeons on rape in a big field but on a bigger scale, lying in the stubble covered with sacking. (no JCB about my person!!) The flocks are 1000's strong, the fields are 2 miles x 1/2 mile but the geese are not (quite) as educated as Essex pigeons. 3 of us got 13 geese in 4 days, after driving 1000 miles to get there. Still, a good experience....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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