barley waste of time

[unapalomablanca]

Went out to my freshly cut barley yesterday, which yielded piles of birds last year, and so I assumed, a good day was on. Very strange, very few birds, most acting like nervy winter birds, jinking away from decoys and nothing like the constant stream of suicidal specimens of last year. 4 hours of boredom, with 3 pigeons and total disillusionment. p.s. What annoyed me, is that its the first cut field for quite a distance, so I thought it was a given.

[Bleeh]

I guess you have learned the lesson of always judging each day as it comes, and never assume anything.

I did similar over the weekend, I set up in my "old favorite" spot on a wheat field, if I'd of watched the birds for a full half hour I'd of set up and probably doubled the bag. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

- What did you think after two hours though? that something would change after another two, or?

[al4x]

it can't be the first cut field in miles in Herts, I had a decent day on Barley 3 weeks ago ago and that was only because that was one of the first to get cut. There is bucket loads of rape cut now and winter barley is pretty much all in with people starting on wheat so they do have a lot to go at.

[filzee]

I have had two days so far since the crops are getting cut. First morning on some barley stubble after a couple of hours packed up and shot over some bird cover inbetween two cut barley fields (got 50). Next outing left the barley alone and found some rape stubble, quality day (75).

 

I have never really had many on barley stubble and prefer rape or wheat stubble.

[motty]

There are always exceptions, but i think you're always more likely to get a good bag from rape stubble than barley stubble if they are available at the same time.

[ditchman]

rape stubble was a waste of time this year around here.......but what has happened, is, when the stubble was disc'ed after a few days i have started to see small groups of birds in the middle of the fields, 20-30 birds in fairley tight knit groups........

[filzee]

My best day last year was on a cultivated field. They just went mental for it then. No idea why.

[kitchrat]

Went out to my freshly cut barley yesterday, which yielded piles of birds last year, and so I assumed, a good day was on. Very strange, very few birds, most acting like nervy winter birds, jinking away from decoys and nothing like the constant stream of suicidal specimens of last year. 4 hours of boredom, with 3 pigeons and total disillusionment. p.s. What annoyed me, is that its the first cut field for quite a distance, so I thought it was a given.

That's what I'm finding round here too, with the odd exception.

[Fatcatsplat]

Drove miles at the weekend looking for birds over 2,000 acres of fields containing cut wheat, barley and rape in Kent - Ended up with 10 birds in the freezer!!

 

 

Pants!

[mossy835]

i have loads of wheat fields cut, but nothing coming in on them,