Jump to content

This is more like it.


motty
 Share

Recommended Posts

I didn't expect too much in the way of pigeons after my drive around yesterday afternoon. I was searching for a suitable spot to shoot this afternoon. I looked around a lot of rape and several freshly drilled fields. I didn't find much, but considering it was near 16.30 pm, perhaps I was too late for a proper look.

So I looked over some of the ground with little optimism at 11am this morning. I spotted a load of pigeons landing somewhere between two rape fields. When I got closer, it was clear the pigeons were favouring some drillings. I phoned the farmer who was busy drilling some beans a couple of fields over. He confirmed the field had been drilled with barley a few days ago. I could not find a single grain anywhere on the surface, but the pigeons told me it was where they wanted to be.

I hastily set up. I put the hide in the dry ditch, to try to protect myself from the gusty wind. The magnet was used (as usual) and I put out 5 dead birds and a half dozen fuds to get the ball rolling.

From the start, the pigeons came in very well. I used a mixture of cartridges again and they did the job perfectly. I added almost all of the dead birds to the set up, as they were shot.

It was very satisfying watching the pigeons diving down towards my decoys from 80 yards.

I killed several doubles and I was pretty pleased with my performance. I paced one stone dead pigeon out to 64 yards, killed with an ounce of no.7.

Another decoyer was having some sport on the next field over. I couldn't see how he was getting on, though.

The action died off somewhat by 3.30 pm, and with rain coming I decided to pack up.

I killed 66 pigeons (by some distance my best bag of the year) with 92 shots.

I spoke to the other chap. He killed 48, so well done to him.


.

post-2090-0-41339100-1395520239_thumb.jpg

post-2090-0-27086200-1395520476_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi motty, was out to yesterday ,had two farmers ring me of problem fields ,one field was a big bag for certain but was so tricky to shoot with houses and a road could only see grief coming my way so decided to leave it . the other one was a rape field that had been hammered but I watched it for an hour and nothing came at all so went for a ride around and found a field of drilled pumpkins with a few on so set up in a dyke and had 35 for about 60 shots picked up but was a thick wood one side which I didn't have permission in so lost one or two . on another bit of bad luck when I saw some birds coming in went to get down put my foot on my gun bag slipped over and smashed my face on the rib of my gun ,now sporting a black lip and cut either side of my lip very lucky I didn't lose a tooth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi motty, was out to yesterday ,had two farmers ring me of problem fields ,one field was a big bag for certain but was so tricky to shoot with houses and a road could only see grief coming my way so decided to leave it . the other one was a rape field that had been hammered but I watched it for an hour and nothing came at all so went for a ride around and found a field of drilled pumpkins with a few on so set up in a dyke and had 35 for about 60 shots picked up but was a thick wood one side which I didn't have permission in so lost one or two . on another bit of bad luck when I saw some birds coming in went to get down put my foot on my gun bag slipped over and smashed my face on the rib of my gun ,now sporting a black lip and cut either side of my lip very lucky I didn't lose a tooth.

Ouch! Hope you heal up soon. Pumpkins - that's something I haven't shot over before.

 

Good one Motty. I must say it does look bleak in your part of the world.

Yeah, not many rolling hills in that particular part of the world. Back in Norfolk it's a bit more picturesque.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have your decoys very close in. Some are no more than 5m from the hide. I am not that brave but I will try it when I am next out.

 

probably a case of putting them where the pigeon expect to see them , what little seed is spilled now days is usually around the headlands.

With it being very windy this last few days the dyke edges also offer a little protection to the birds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have your decoys very close in. Some are no more than 5m from the hide. I am not that brave but I will try it when I am next out.

I always have my decoys fairly close. That way, if the pigeons start to veer off, they are normally still in range. I don't believe you can have the decoys too close, but you can have them too far out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...