Jump to content

First outing on the drillings!


Wilts#Dave
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi again everyone!

Having only recently joined the forum and doing my first write up soon after, I was chuffed at the prospect of being able to do report number 2, obviously needing to find a few birds again which has still been proving difficult!

Anyway, with a fair bit of drilling already having been and gone with no sign of pigeon activity Dad had been keeping an eye on a block of rape that seemed to be drawing a few birds...although last weekend he mentioned there was a fair few pitched on the cultivated ground next to it (with no visible seed apparent assumed it hadn't ye been drilled). However the 2 fields turned out to have been drilled with beans, which was obviously why the birds had been drawn away from the neighbouring rape. This was last Sunday so we were hopeful there might still be enough activity this weekend to make it worthwhile setting up.....a reconnaissance (again by Dad) visit on Friday and with pigeons still in the area we decided to give it a shot the next day

29/03/2014

With a nice strong wind blowing conditions were good, and on arrival at midday with 50-100 birds lifting from the 2 fields it was time to reach for the binoculars and work out the favoured field and subsequent setup position (the hardest part in my opinion).

The furthest and smaller field won out, and with the wind in our backs hoped the birds would cross that field anyway even if they were on the way to the field behind.

Travelling light due to the walk we took just the magnet with 2 dead birds for our initial setup with the trusty 10 cradles to set up a pattern if things went to plan and we actually shot any!

After knocking down 2 early visitors the initial flurry of returning birds weren't about to decoy so a few hurried shots brought no more birds down.....however as we hoped, as we eventually managed to build up a pattern and get all the cradles out the birds behaved much more amicably and the bag grew slowly but surely, with more birds arriving as the afternoon wore on. After calling time and emptying the gun I spotted a lone pigeon floating straight into the decoys so a quick fumble and just one shell loaded was enough to give me one last bird (thank god I hit it)!

Hardly a red letter day but we were well chuffed when close of play at 4.30 there was exactly 40 in the bag with one dropping out of reach in the far hedge and 3 rooks/one jackdaw paying the price too! Empty cartridge count was 83.

Some cracking long crossers, birds flaring away on the wind and two doubles it wasn't just suicidal 20 yard pigeons dropping in like stones which always leaves me going away quietly satisfied that it's been a real sporting day :)

Once again I have to give the biggest praise to Dad who never fails to come up trumps in finding the opportunities in the first place, I'm very lucky in that respect as whilst I sometimes spot initial birds/fields, due to my work restraints just don't have the time to do proper reconnaissance.

That just leaves me wondering, as always, where the next bag will come from?!

Thanks for reading, and as always comments welcome!

65729D72-BF4E-4089-A78F-6AB6EA88C322.jpg

 

2453F210-6C7D-4888-A3F6-FFB6A2D58455.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the positive replies once again guys....I've been shooting with Dad for nearly 20 years now so we're a pretty good team when it comes to pigeon shooting!!

Waiting for the peas to be drilled now and keep everything crossed we get a bit more sport over those :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good effort. Remember that bean field for next October.

 

Yes definitely be keeping an eye on the field when the beans are cut, especially as there are very few fields of beans in the area, hoping the rape surrounding it will produce some sport when it's harvested too!

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...