Braddev22 Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 what will pigeons be feeding on this time of year there nowere to be seen near me in kent any tips ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 dont like getting their feet wet bud lol, winter oil seed rape , still on acorn s , maize game crop cover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonblasterian Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 While out today and walking about i could only find empty beechmast seed cases.The pigeons or squirrels or whatever have finished them off.That is one less food for them to stay in the woods for.Just the maize left and hoping they will soon be out in force on the rape near me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 Very few in Sussex at the moment too. I was in Sheppey last week and I saw around 40 - 50 on one rape field but nothing else, around here they are in the woods still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpentermark Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 (edited) They'll be on all sorts at min. Wait till it gets proper cold for a few days with some good overnight frost and it'll push them on to the rape. Tips: this time of year is roost shooting 'season'. If you have woods on your permission have a look round and find which part they prefer to roost in, in other words find the pigeon sh.t! Get yourself in the wood close to where you think they will roost and wait.... I usually turn up at 3pm ish and shoot till dark. A face veil is prob a good idea. Happy hunting. Edited February 6, 2014 by carpentermark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 I shoot near Canterbury and I'm starting to see them in small [30-50] flocks. Been [air] shooting them at roost and most have crops full of ivy berries, a couple with grain [pheasant feed?] and a couple with small unidentified leaf fodder. Seeing more the windier it gets, flocking into conifers for the night's roost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 WOOD PIGEON the clue is in the name. Currently still on the menu are beech-mast and acorns, black ivy berries, red hawthorn berries and other mixed woodland fruits which vary from county to county. Don't forget we have some massive ancient woodlands, massive estate mixed woodlands and 1000's & 1000's of acres of sustainable forestry all of which have little or no public access, in which it is not possible to drive by or through to check and evaluate the pigeon activity. In my experience the weather at this time of year is key to pigeons eating brassica & oilseed rape plants, it just is not cold enough to make the birds hungry, a covering of snow will help and/or the birds exhaust there current food source and are forced onto the arable pastures. But this is a top rated agricultural pest species we are talking about and there are zillions of them out there currently not causing any problems, likewise the pathetic bags which are currently being made, in the name of pest control, won't even begin scratch the surface of even beginning to make an impression on the pigeon population. Now as I drive about pigeon spotting I can often see enthusiastic pigeon hunters set up, their position betrayed by some rotary device, doing their utmost best to try and attract pigeons onto farmland with very little or no effect. It makes me wonder just what some of the landowners and farmers must think, if and when they see this phenomena of so called pest controllers attempting to draw pigeons who really prefer other things at the minute than dining on their crops Really in truth we none of us care about the crops we shoot over only the opportunity to shoot this wonderfully unpredictable sporting bird and I wonder if roost shooting at this time when there is a dearth of them on any rape or other arable is actually pest control ? This GENERAL LICENCE system we have does pose questions for us right now - however I like to think that it shouldn't make any difference if pigeons are shot away from farmland now as it must mean less to come on to the land at say immediate pre-harvest time. What do some of you guys think about this ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 dont like getting their feet wet bud lol, winter oil seed rape , still on acorn s , maize game crop cover Forgot to say - 'don't like getting there feet wet' - is just another myth about pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpentermark Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 (edited) WOOD PIGEON the clue is in the name. Currently still on the menu are beech-mast and acorns, black ivy berries, red hawthorn berries and other mixed woodland fruits which vary from county to county. Don't forget we have some massive ancient woodlands, massive estate mixed woodlands and 1000's & 1000's of acres of sustainable forestry all of which have little or no public access, in which it is not possible to drive by or through to check and evaluate the pigeon activity. In my experience the weather at this time of year is key to pigeons eating brassica & oilseed rape plants, it just is not cold enough to make the birds hungry, a covering of snow will help and/or the birds exhaust there current food source and are forced onto the arable pastures. But this is a top rated agricultural pest species we are talking about and there are zillions of them out there currently not causing any problems, likewise the pathetic bags which are currently being made, in the name of pest control, won't even begin scratch the surface of even beginning to make an impression on the pigeon population. Now as I drive about pigeon spotting I can often see enthusiastic pigeon hunters set up, their position betrayed by some rotary device, doing their utmost best to try and attract pigeons onto farmland with very little or no effect. It makes me wonder just what some of the landowners and farmers must think, if and when they see this phenomena of so called pest controllers attempting to draw pigeons who really prefer other things at the minute than dining on their crops Really in truth we none of us care about the crops we shoot over only the opportunity to shoot this wonderfully unpredictable sporting bird and I wonder if roost shooting at this time when there is a dearth of them on any rape or other arable is actually pest control ? This GENERAL LICENCE system we have does pose questions for us right now - however I like to think that it shouldn't make any difference if pigeons are shot away from farmland now as it must mean less to come on to the land at say immediate pre-harvest time. What do some of you guys think about this ?? Not getting involved mate! The guy is after advice and asked two simple questions, this is not the place for this old debate! Edited February 7, 2014 by carpentermark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caeser Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I checked the crops of 3 birds the other day, and all 3 were different. All 3 shot coming into a roost wood. All had very full crops. 1 was full of rape . 1 was full of wheat seeds. 1 was full of sweetcorn or maize. The latter 2 must have been from pheasant feeders I imagine. (There is a pheasant shoot on the neighbouring land.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 The weather may be wet but it is relatively mild and the grass is still growing slowly which includes the clover and in the local park they are feeding on that . It's so mild that on one of my rape fields it has more chickweed than rape at present. Just as a throw away comment what would we have done if the rain had come as snow I guesstimate it would be at least a metre deep??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 PC, did you write post no.7 and have you changed your name to Country Boy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 dont like getting their feet wet bud lol, winter oil seed rape , still on acorn s , maize game crop cover Where does this strange belief come from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonblasterian Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Just breasted the ones i shot yesterday. In the pigeons crops nine had maize,three corn and only one had rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbw1shrops Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 (edited) I've heard they don't like getting there feet muddy but don't know how true this is Dont know about getting wet though as I've often seen them standing in puddles getting a drink ! Plus I've seen them having a drink or a wash in pools before ! Dave Edited February 7, 2014 by Dbw1shrops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Where does this strange belief come from? it was supposed to be a joke because of the rain you southern s are getting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Forgot to say - 'don't like getting there feet wet' - is just another myth about pigeons its supposed to be light hearted joke cos of all the rain down their Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 WOOD PIGEON the clue is in the name. Currently still on the menu are beech-mast and acorns, black ivy berries, red hawthorn berries and other mixed woodland fruits which vary from county to county. Don't forget we have some massive ancient woodlands, massive estate mixed woodlands and 1000's & 1000's of acres of sustainable forestry all of which have little or no public access, in which it is not possible to drive by or through to check and evaluate the pigeon activity. In my experience the weather at this time of year is key to pigeons eating brassica & oilseed rape plants, it just is not cold enough to make the birds hungry, a covering of snow will help and/or the birds exhaust there current food source and are forced onto the arable pastures. But this is a top rated agricultural pest species we are talking about and there are zillions of them out there currently not causing any problems, likewise the pathetic bags which are currently being made, in the name of pest control, won't even begin scratch the surface of even beginning to make an impression on the pigeon population. Now as I drive about pigeon spotting I can often see enthusiastic pigeon hunters set up, their position betrayed by some rotary device, doing their utmost best to try and attract pigeons onto farmland with very little or no effect. It makes me wonder just what some of the landowners and farmers must think, if and when they see this phenomena of so called pest controllers attempting to draw pigeons who really prefer other things at the minute than dining on their crops Really in truth we none of us care about the crops we shoot over only the opportunity to shoot this wonderfully unpredictable sporting bird and I wonder if roost shooting at this time when there is a dearth of them on any rape or other arable is actually pest control ? This GENERAL LICENCE system we have does pose questions for us right now - however I like to think that it shouldn't make any difference if pigeons are shot away from farmland now as it must mean less to come on to the land at say immediate pre-harvest time. What do some of you guys think about this ?? Landowners dont think owt as long as some ones their and either shooting em or keeping them of the crops as a scare crow the roost woods we use are next to the rape fields or near still crop protection and when you split em open who going to argue they come from a field some where Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Landowners dont think owt as long as some ones their and either shooting em or keeping them of the crops as a scare crow the roost woods we use are next to the rape fields or near still crop protection and when you split em open who going to argue they come from a field some where I hope you're right mate :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 I see loads of pigeon up on some very muddy stubble, they've been there a week or two now and onto the plow beside it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinribz Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 I set up today birds didnt wana no gave it an hour 4 shots at passing birds moved to a neirbouring permission and spoke to a guy who had just packed up he had been shooting it since the severnties he said hes seen nothing like it birds just dont wana decoy he had 5 in the bag now both these permissions have bird scarers going all the time on my way home i stopped to see 300-400 birds on a rape field rite next door to my village happily eating away these no bird scarers on there and no one shoots it as its part of a shoot that woz in between dover and canterbury Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Shot 25 today, crops full mainly of ivy berries, with some rape, maize, bird table seed, wheat and quite a few had been eating ash seeds. So fairly well spread out over a mix of food, possibly explaining the problems decoying them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinribz Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Also last week no bird scarers going anywhere apart from these perms now you can here them going everywhere so im guessing the birds are defo starting to hit the rape in se kent that old boy i spoke to said its very warm the rape is growing well he said usually its low and cold he said if we dont get a cold snap they will continue to look for food anywhere instead of just on the rape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 quote... Really in truth we none of us care about the crops we shoot over some of us do me for one colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddev22 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 thanks everyone for the tips and advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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