motty Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 After having shot a few pheasants on Saturday, I thought (as I was in the area) to have a look for some pigeons. About a fortnight ago I remembered the farmer telling me he was getting ready to cut his last bean field. By now I had an idea he may have already drilled it with wheat. On inspection through the binoculars (at 3pmish) I saw around 500 pigeons on the field, well scattered. A quick call to the farmer revealed that the field had indeed been drilled with wheat a week ago. I thought that it could only mean one thing - there was still loads of beans that the pigeons could get at. I invited my mate Dave, a recent newcomer to the sport, to spend a Sunday with me shooting. We got set up by around 9am. I was sure we were going to the right field, despite seeing a few hundred birds lift from a nearby rape field. The hide was put around a big tree - a perfect place to be, as I know from shooting there in the past that pigeons like to go and have a sit in there. I normally don't bother, but I put a few small branches cut from the tree in front of the hide netting. I almost always use a magnet, but today I didn't bother to use one. Firstly, I didn't think it necessary to use it, and second, it would have added extra weight to the kit for the good walk across the field. I used just 12 dead birds on sticks - roughly set in 2 clumps either side of the hide - along with Dave's home made 'angels'. The shooting was steady early on, with not too much getting away. I was letting Dave take the more simple decoying birds and I was taking anything that presented more of a challenge. It got frustrating at about mid-day. A good amount of birds kept landing in the trees on the opposite side of the field. The action had slowed to a standstill. At 1pm and with 40 pigeons down (all added head down in the pattern) I decided that I would put a stop to the pigeons going to the trees opposite. I walked over there and sat in the ditch. No sooner had I got there, that the birds decided to decoy again! Dave took a double from the first bunch, swiftly followed by another. He has certainly improved his shooting over the last few months and was very pleased to be knocking down a better percentage. He shot 8 (and myself 3) before I decided I needed to get back to the hide - the action was back on. From that point on the shooting was steady- and sometimes hectic- until we packed up. With over 80 dead birds in the pattern, many pigeons just couldn't resist. We had them dive-bombing from great heights - great to see! Aside from shooting around 30 doubles myself, I also took some cracking high birds, some I never really expected to fall. We were both using Rio 28gm 7.5 and White Gold 7.5. They did the job admirably. The pack up at around 4.30pm was a pain, and carrying the birds back was no fun. It was a great day, though, and my most satisfying bag of the year. We shot 155 pigeons, 1 crow and 1 jackdaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 (edited) Spot on Wane...nice bag. If they want to come in then let them...all this running in and out of the hide with a slide rule!! TEH Edited October 7, 2013 by The Essex Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Looks a superb hide well done matey Good write up too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodford1 Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Well done mate sounded a really good day. Maybe I will have one of them soon!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Mega bag Did you have any problems with flies having the birds out all day? I noticed quite a few still around in this warm weather and had to really check my birds carefully even though they were put in a carp net quite promptly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 A good day and a nice write up motty , I think the only way I am going to get a 3 figure bag this year is if I go to the game dealers and buy them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Mega bag Did you have any problems with flies having the birds out all day? I noticed quite a few still around in this warm weather and had to really check my birds carefully even though they were put in a carp net quite promptly. There wasn't as many flies about yesterday as I've seen recently. It was warm, but there was a good wind which helped deter them a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 A good do Motty and as you say 'about time too'. In that flat Norfolk landscape can you see them coming for miles and miles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 brilliant write up motty and good photo's. well shot. any video footage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caeser Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 Excellent bag. A good bit of experienced recceing I reckon was the key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 good to see you back into them with a very good bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 A good do Motty and as you say 'about time too'. In that flat Norfolk landscape can you see them coming for miles and miles? Not sure it was in Norfolk, but not far off, anyway. Yeah, you can see them coming from way off. brilliant write up motty and good photo's. well shot. any video footage? Unfortunately not. I wish I had, though. I felt like I was shooting like Digweed at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Brilliant result, well deserved. It was good that you remembered the beans and that they are still a food source even when they have been reseeded. Great write up and pictures . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon6ppc Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 good day there mate,nice shooting and that hides blends in nice as well,cheers simon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Nice one motty, the hide is a belter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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