Leaving the hide

[OJW]

How often do you guys leave the hide, last time I was out I was contemplating the following questions, (i'm fairly new to solo pigeon shooting, so only recently having to make these decisions myself). I don't have a dog to retrieve for me.

 

1. Do you go out and retrieve a bird/ add to your decoys as soon as you've shot it and nothing else is in sight, or just stay put?

2. If the bird has fallen and is on its back, do you get up and alter it? If its fallen on its front do you just leave it where it is?

3. What is more disruptive to attracting pigeons, a couple of dead ones on their backs, or you getting up and down running about the decoys each time you've shot one?

4. Do the pigeons on the whirler (magnet) have to be perfect? I find that sometimes the wings break up at right angles at the tips and find myself faffing about with the whirler loads. If its not such an obvious problem like wings at right angles, is correction necessary? I have only used a magnet once, so I will no doubt get more proficient with it. Previously just used decoys and bouncers.

 

Thanks, hope these are not to novice. I know I will learn as I go, but always good to start in the right direction.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Stay put, a bird on its back should not be a problem.

 

I go out to finish a wounded bird now and then but try to stay in the hide.

[pigeon controller]

I go out to pick up a wounded bird if the dog has not marked it otherwise I pick up when I've got ten on the ground and put them on spikes as decoys . I think when birds see you in the pattern they return later and just see the decoys and not remember you. If you have a bird in your killing area in the decoys it might be worth watching the reaction if they shy off move it.

[Dbw1shrops]

I only go out to tidy up the fallen birds or if I want some birds for the magnet or flapper and I try my best to put good condition birds on the magnet ie no broken wings and they don't look too shot up ! Same for the flapper ! But I always check there's no air traffic coming my way before I go out ! But as we all know with these birds as soon as your out there without your SG they will appear from nowhere lol

 

Atb Dave

[Penelope]

Pick a wounded bird as soon as, but wait until there are half a dozen or so down before picking and setting up as decoys, albeit as Dbw1, says there is no pigeon traffic about.

[chrispti]

I have a tidy up when the incoming birds start to flare off....

[lakeside1000]

I never leave a bird on its back in the pattern or on the approach area, as for any on the ground face down just leave them until you need to tidy up, if birds are shying away I usually go out when its quiet and move a few decoys around, changing the pattern will sometimes bring birds in better, if your getting plenty of kills, change your plastic decoys for real birds, they always work much better, and put the best you've got on the magnet , floaters and bouncers, flappers need the wings broken anyway but they should still look presentable, try not to have any large concentrations of pulled feathers in the pattern, a few is no problem , if your camo is good you will have birds trying to land around you as you tidy up, I always have the gun with me when out of the hide, its surprising how many 'extras' you can get , on a good day almost nothing will put them off making a fly past, but on difficult days it dosn't matter what you have out in front of you they still may not come to have a look, that's pigeons shooting. elation frustration but whether you get a few or not, its still

[kitchrat]

How often do you guys leave the hide, last time I was out I was contemplating the following questions, (i'm fairly new to solo pigeon shooting, so only recently having to make these decisions myself). I don't have a dog to retrieve for me.

 

1. Do you go out and retrieve a bird/ add to your decoys as soon as you've shot it and nothing else is in sight, or just stay put?

2. If the bird has fallen and is on its back, do you get up and alter it? If its fallen on its front do you just leave it where it is?

3. What is more disruptive to attracting pigeons, a couple of dead ones on their backs, or you getting up and down running about the decoys each time you've shot one?

4. Do the pigeons on the whirler (magnet) have to be perfect? I find that sometimes the wings break up at right angles at the tips and find myself faffing about with the whirler loads. If its not such an obvious problem like wings at right angles, is correction necessary? I have only used a magnet once, so I will no doubt get more proficient with it. Previously just used decoys and bouncers.

 

Thanks, hope these are not to novice. I know I will learn as I go, but always good to start in the right direction.

There are differences of opinion here! Get out as little as possible but I always clear up a wounded bird and put the upside-down birds right fairly often. Some people say it doesn't matter but I find it does. Flaring away is a good sign that something needs to be done. It also helps to keep the landing (killing) zone free of bodies.

What usually happens is that you wait 25 minutes in silence, then go out to clean up and 10 birds come right into the pattern I expect they sit in the trees and wait eh Motty??!! Ho Ho (JOKE)

[ditchman]

dont forget you are out there protecting a crop.....if it is young sugar beet, beans or peas...treading on them aint going to do them a lot of good......if you have a pricked bird down put the dog on it.....then if you have a few down ....you go out and pick them...thats good for the dog to sit and stay....

[aga man]

Pick a wounded bird as soon as, but wait until there are half a dozen or so down before picking and setting up as decoys, albeit as Dbw1, says there is no pigeon traffic about.

same here. this is what i do.

 

can't say i notice pigeons flaring from dead birds in the pattern wether they are on there backs or not.

[The Essex Hunter]

If they are coming then don't stop them by getting out of the hide.....I think if birds start dropping into a bird that has dropped long then that needs picking up as they quite often hang around and then fly off!!

 

 

TEH

[Cosd]

The only hard and fast rule I have is to get out and dispatch any wounded birds straight away or put another shot on them if you prefer to stay put.

 

The rest is your choice. I don't have a a fixed policy, if it's quiet I may gol out and add to the pattern or bring back to the hide, on a busy day I would stay put unless I see birds flaring off making the least amount of trips over the crop as possible.

[b325]

The only hard and fast rule I have is to get out and dispatch any wounded birds straight away or put another shot on them if you prefer to stay put.

 

The rest is your choice. I don't have a a fixed policy, if it's quiet I may gol out and add to the pattern or bring back to the hide, on a busy day I would stay put unless I see birds flaring off making the least amount of trips over the crop as possible.

[Wilts#Dave]

As already said there is differing opinions on this one.....personally I find more often than not dead birds on their backs can make some birds flare off as they come towards the pattern so will pick those as soon as there is a lull in the action.

But as also said some days they'll come in no matter how many dead birds are strewn everywhere, belly up or not so very much depends on the day and how they're decoying to decide what's best.

I'll always go out and replace the decoys with the first dozen pigeons I shoot though, as I find the dead birds make a big difference to how confidently the pigeons decoy.

[HIDENSEEK]

As already said there is differing opinions on this one.....personally I find more often than not dead birds on their backs can make some birds flare off as they come towards the pattern so will pick those as soon as there is a lull in the action.

But as also said some days they'll come in no matter how many dead birds are strewn everywhere, belly up or not so very much depends on the day and how they're decoying to decide what's best.

I'll always go out and replace the decoys with the first dozen pigeons I shoot though, as I find the dead birds make a big difference to how confidently the pigeons decoy.

+1

[OJW]

Cheers guys, all the opinions have been useful.

[JDog]

I dare not tell of my experiences lest Motty rubbishes them in his usual forthright manner.

[fenboy]

With regards the Magnet , I aways prefer to select a couple of birds with unbroken wings as broken ones tend to flap around unnaturally .

 

I tend to leave any dead birds where they fall unless birds start veering off or landing where I do not want them too , I will go out for a wounded one if I have not got the dog with me , I am far too tight to put another shot in it !

 

The only exception for me is when shooting over taller crops , I will then tend to pick up as soon as possible as if you are getting several it becomes difficult to remember where you marked them all.

[JDog]

With regards the Magnet , I aways prefer to select a couple of birds with unbroken wings as broken ones tend to flap around unnaturally .

 

I tend to leave any dead birds where they fall unless birds start veering off or landing where I do not want them too , I will go out for a wounded one if I have not got the dog with me , I am far too tight to put another shot in it !

 

The only exception for me is when shooting over taller crops , I will then tend to pick up as soon as possible as if you are getting several it becomes difficult to remember where you marked them all.

 

 

Are you quoting from recent experiences fenboy?

[fenboy]

I wish !

At my current rate , I would only need to leave the hide to pick up about every six months.

[marsh man]

More or less every thing you should do have all ready been said, if your got pigeons coming in to your decoys then you are doing something right any how, without a dog you will need to pick up the walking wounded straight away, and unless you are very lucky you will get quite times to leave your hide and when you do tidy things up and do what needs to be done there and then. As you get more experience you will soon know when you need to leave your hide but in the mean time enjoy the good times and learn from your mistakes, we all make them ourselves at times so your not alone ..................all the best.

[Cosd]

I dare not tell of my experiences lest Motty rubbishes them in his usual forthright manner.

Can't we just accept that sometimes our opinions will differ?

 

Not quite sure whether you're trying to be funny or just taking a snidey pop!!

Edited April 4, 2014 by Cosd

[JDog]

Humour Cosd, humour. Motty will get it.

[yickdaz]

The only hard and fast rule I have is to get out and dispatch any wounded birds straight away or put another shot on them if you prefer to stay put.

 

The rest is your choice. I don't have a a fixed policy, if it's quiet I may gol out and add to the pattern or bring back to the hide, on a busy day I would stay put unless I see birds flaring off making the least amount of trips over the crop as possible.

 

that's how I go about it also cosd

I dare not tell of my experiences lest Motty rubbishes them in his usual forthright manner.

what! motty posting in a forthright manner noooo my friend never

Edited April 4, 2014 by yickdaz

[lakeside1000]

My problem is I cant remember after a few minutes where the bird went down, if I have half a dozen down in heavy plough or half grown crops I have no chance of finding them, I could spend ages walking around with that confused look on my face, people take pity on me and come to ask if they can help find whatever it is iv'e lost, when I tell them its dead pigeons they usually make a face and clear off, if they come up with an incendiary cartridge that sets the bird on fire I could just look for the columns of smoke coming up from the smouldering feathers , crash and burn !!!!!!!! must get the wife to let me have a dog. but she just says she has enough with the one she's already got, ME ! ,