Decoying over acorns

[VINCED 686]

Hi all.

 

I've got two massive oak trees growing along a brook on one of my perms. I was wondering when the pigeons start to feed on them. Do they wait till they have dropped or do they pick them out of the shells while they are still on the tree.

 

The trees look absolutely full of them and the area is also a roost for a lot of birds. I haven't shoot in the area for ages as the rape failed early in the year and the farmer just burnt it off and turned the soil over

 

would this be a situation where I should use lofted decoys ?

 

Any advice on the subject would be appreciated.

 

 

[pigeon controller]

I've had success decoying at the base of the tree ,not too close . The time to do it when you see the birds feeding on the acorns or sometimes in late after noon when they are coming back to roost and you can tempt them to have atop up.

[ditchman]

i usually start shooting the margines under the oaks round november, then there is less food about and the acorns have had time to soften, just keep an eye out for when the birds start to use the feild edges, it varies from area to area, i like to wait until the edge has been drilled on the early drillings as the acorns dont get buried.

As pigeoncontroller says ...dont set the decoys up too close to the trees........

 

the birds will fatten up on the acorns, getting ready for the cold weather

[VINCED 686]

Thanks guys. I was worried I might have missed it but It looks like I'm ok .

[shootgun]

I have aswell on my permission a patch of woodland formed by imense oak trees, but is only pasture around. I think i'll give it a try soon....

[cocknee]

They will probably start on the acorns around November when most of the stubbles have gone and there are plenty of acorns on the ground, looks like around here at least we can look forward to shooting over acorns until well into the new year it beats shooting over winter rape anyday.

[Michael170874]

Just been for a wonder out this morning .no birds are touching the acorns as yet. .i shot a few passing and they were full of corn and elderberrys this will continue right up till November from my past experience .but this year is a bumper harvest for acorns it usually happens every four years and the last time the birds stayed on acorns right till January .it was dreadfull shooting on rape.

[gmm243]

Shot 17 yesterday.set up between 3 oak trees at 3pm.10 had some acorns in them 6 were pretty full but 1 was stuffed with beech mast.prob 40 or more nuts in it's crop.hundreds of birds here now feeding on and under the oaks,you can see them picking them off the branches.only gathering up now but looks good for next few weeks.