Pigeons on the move

[anser2]

I received a phone call on Tuesday from one of my farmers to say that he had a drilled field covered in pigeons. A quick look that afternoon showed about 1000 birds on the field and a constant stream of birds in and out of a near by wood. I had been keeping an eye on the farm and as with most other farms I shoot there had been very few birds on it a few days before.

 

I made arrangements to shoot the field the next morning setting up with a mate. 5 hours later our bag was 3 pigeons and a couple of crows. We had seen perhaps 50 pigeons and certainly very few of the 1000 there the day before. I began to get worried as I set up the decoys as the first shoots of corn were just showing and no spilt grain on the surface. I did not look too closely the day before as I did not want to disturb the birds and I was under the impression from the farmer that this was a new drilled field.

 

Talking to the keeper after packing up he told me that the previous afternoon the flock had taken off and flown off high to the east. I suspect that these birds were just resting on the field while on migration.

 

 

A double check this morning found the field empty.

Edited March 27, 2014 by anser2

[kitchrat]

I received a phone call on Tuesday from one of my farmers to say that he had a drilled field covered in pigeons. A quick look that afternoon showed about 1000 birds on the field and a constant stream of birds in and out of a near by wood. I had been keeping an eye on the farm and as with most other farms I shoot there had been very few birds on it a few days before.

 

I made arrangements to shoot the field the next morning setting up with a mate. 5 hours later our bag was 3 pigeons and a couple of crows. We had seen perhaps 50 pigeons and certainly very few of the 1000 there the day before. I began to get worried as I set up the decoys as the first shoots of corn were just showing and no spilt grain on the surface. I did not look too closely the day before as I did not want to disturb the birds and I was under the impression from the farmer that this was a new drilled field.

 

Talking to the keeper after packing up he told me that the previous afternoon the flock had taken off and flown off high to the east. I suspect that these birds were just resting on the field while on migration.

 

 

A double check this morning found the field empty.

Rotten luck. But how do you get the farmers to ring (even if it's duff info) Mine just complain when I wasn't there 2 weeks ago!

[anser2]

Good relationships with my farmers is the answer and importantly is when they want you, turn out if you want to on not. Most weeks I do the rounds of my shooting and the farms ( 5 farms over 7000 acres ). If there is a serious problem the farmers also supply me with cartridges. It pays off not only info and shells , but after a few years you become friends and then invitations to driven game days and duck flights come as well.

 

I had a field of rape that I had been shooting a couple of times a week for the past month After shooting over 100 for which the farmer had already supplied me with shells he drove up to see how I was getting on. When I told him that I was going to have to pack up soon as i was running short of shells he shot off and came back with a couple of slabs and I ended with 170 birds for the day. He was happy and so was I . That was 4 years ago when we still had plenty of pigeons. The estate manager of another farm i shoot on and I have a deal. I supply 100 pigeons for the farm shop and instead of paying me money he gives me 250 shells. As the shell come out of the farm account and all VAT is claimed back it does not cost the farmer that much compared to when I buy my own shells.

 

Its a two way relationship he gets his pigeons controled , I get plenty of shooting , some times it can be a little frustrating when he askes you to take his young son along on a days pigeon shooting and you have to spend mostof the day keeping an eye on the lad , but its still makes for an enjoyable and rewarding day to see a youngster enjoying the sport even if you do not get much shooting.

Edited March 27, 2014 by anser2

[kitchrat]

Good relationships with my farmers is the answer and importantly is when they want you, turn out if you want to on not. Most weeks I do the rounds of my shooting and the farms ( 5 farms over 7000 acres ). If there is a serious problem the farmers also supply me with cartridges. It pays off not only info and shells , but after a few years you become friends and then invitations to driven game days and duck flights come as well.

 

I had a field of rape that I had been shooting a couple of times a week for the past month After shooting over 100 for which the farmer had already supplied me with shells he drove up to see how I was getting on. When I told him that I was going to have to pack up soon as i was running short of shells he shot off and came back with a couple of slabs and I ended with 170 birds for the day. He was happy and so was I . That was 4 years ago when we still had plenty of pigeons. The estate manager of another farm i shoot on and I have a deal. I supply 100 pigeons for the farm shop and instead of paying me money he gives me 250 shells. As the shell come out of the farm account and all VAT is claimed back it does not cost the farmer that much compared to when I buy my own shells.

 

Its a two way relationship he gets his pigeons controled , I get plenty of shooting , some times it can be a little frustrating when he askes you to take his young son along on a days pigeon shooting and you have to spend mostof the day keeping an eye on the lad , but its still makes for an enjoyable and rewarding day to see a youngster enjoying the sport even if you do not get much shooting.

Brilliant set-up!!