motty Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Last Thursday. I recently got permission to shoot a few more rape fields. I decided to go to one of them on Thursday. When I arrived I put off a few pigeons. It was clear that the field had been severely damaged by pigeons. I hadn't done any previous recon on the field, so I got what I deserved when, after 3 hours and as many pigeons, I decided to pack up. I looked elsewhere for a more likely spot. That spot was soon found. I came across a field with well over 1000 birds feeding and many more arriving by the minute. The only problem was I didn't have permission to shoot it. So, I found out from another farmer, who owned it and where he lived. He wasn't in when I eventually turned up at his house, but I left my number and went back to the field. Soon, he came along and gave the thumbs up. I quickly took some dead birds and a flapper and set up. I put a small hide on the edge of an old orchard. The time was around 2.30pm by the time I was set up. The birds came in well, generally, and my shooting was up to standard, mostly. I enjoyed some exciting sport over the next 2 1/2 hours. I was put under a bit of pressure towards the end of the session, as someone else turned up who has permission to shoot there. He sat next to the hide as the pigeons still came in. Fortunately my shooting didn't let me down. I packed up at around 5pm, with 80 pigeons and a crow. Yesterday. I had to try and find some pigeons to shoot, as my mate Sam had been promised a day. He drove up from Chelmsford, so I didn't want him to have a wasted journey. I checked a few fields on a few farms and things were looking bleak. I simply had to find something worthwhile. Eventually we pulled up on a likely field with 100 or so pigeons on it. There was a decent flight line coming in and we took a chance on it. A phone call to the farmer confirmed that the field had been drilled with barley on Tuesday. There was also a smaller field next to it that had been drilled. We set up between the two so the wind would be on our backs. We put the hide in the ditch. The magnet was put out on the field behind us and fuds were deployed. We were amongst the action straight away. All the dead birds were placed out on both fields. A lot of pigeons were in the area and we enjoyed some good spells of shooting with some cracking left and rights falling. Later in the afternoon, the pigeons were ignoring us more. My hopes for my first ton of the year looked unlikely. A few more birds shot left us with just a few to reach the century. We set ourselves a time limit when we needed just one more. We were getting ready to pack up when a bird came over from behind. Sam turned and shot an absolute screamer at 55 yards. It was surprising as an ounce of No.7 (all we used all day) was used, and we all know that's an unsuitable pigeon load..... We were both delighted to shoot 100. Today After a trip to the game dealer I checked on some more freshly drilled land on a different farm. A good number of birds were showing and more joining. I invited a mate. I went home to get my gear and we set up. Pigeons were piling in before we got set, but despite plenty more coming they didn't want to commit properly. We changed the pattern a bit, but to no avail. The pigeons seemed to want to be elsewhere. The flight line was one of the strongest I've seen for a long time. I knew where they'd be headed and I have permission to shoot there. We set up once more and the birds moved again. We had a steady few come in, but the mass of pigeons that had accumulated on another field was too much of a draw. I estimated the flock was at least 3000 strong. We decided to pack up with 44 and a rook in the bag, safe in the knowledge that the pigeons would be there for another day. Pictures to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Sound like a cracking few days , well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) Thursday's Bag. . Bottom pic - Sam with yesterday's bag. Edited April 6, 2014 by motty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Looks like a good few days. I was watching a field during the week ( tuesday/wednesday ), not sure whats on one part of the field but the other half has nothing on it, from around 1:30pm onwards untill i left at around 5 the pigeons just kept coming in, little bunches up to maybe 7/8s. Ended up with well over 1000 on the field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Good you enjoyed your afternoon in Fenland Motty, well done, if you had the whole day i think the bag could have been threefold. There was certainly some birds on there when i passed you. I would have stopped had i have known it was you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Blimey Motty ....... thought you'd be taller !!! ;-) on a serious note , great photos and nice shooting and great write up , looks a good day had by all . im liking the camo net , what sort is it ? regards stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Blimey Motty ....... thought you'd be taller !!! ;-) on a serious note , great photos and nice shooting and great write up , looks a good day had by all . im liking the camo net , what sort is it ? regards stevo Just stealth nets in the pictures with some old scrim at the back. Good you enjoyed your afternoon in Fenland Motty, well done, if you had the whole day i think the bag could have been threefold. There was certainly some birds on there when i passed you. I would have stopped had i have known it was you. It looked like you were having a good look on the field. Did Stu shoot it yesterday? I saw someone on there that had some birds down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 A happy three days out. The pigeons are back in your area of that there is no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Good stuff motty, nice write up and pleasing to hear your mate's journey was worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Great result for your efforts, you have a good number of birds back in your area and soon will be at your game dealers, well done keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Just stealth nets in the pictures with some old scrim at the back. It looked like you were having a good look on the field. Did Stu shoot it yesterday? I saw someone on there that had some birds down. 58 and 6 crows, but that was off 3 different permissions, he doesnt give up lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 58 and 6 crows, but that was off 3 different permissions, he doesnt give up lol. Good on him, he seems a nice bloke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 couple of quality bags there Motty...2014 figures are improving nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 some very good days there bud your getting into them now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 well at least if you are getting good sport again, it means at least some parts of the country are getting back to normal...nice one, nice day nice company...aint going to get better than that. on a foot note, i have got my old shooting land back after 4 years without...they decided to sell the pigeon shooting but it didnt work out.....they got less than me and my mate, so in 2 weeks when the contract has ended we are back in buisness......and there are shed loads of birds, the clients have made no impact on them. we have to travel 10 miles but we can share the desiel costs....so watch this space.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 well at least if you are getting good sport again, it means at least some parts of the country are getting back to normal...nice one, nice day nice company...aint going to get better than that. on a foot note, i have got my old shooting land back after 4 years without...they decided to sell the pigeon shooting but it didnt work out.....they got less than me and my mate, so in 2 weeks when the contract has ended we are back in buisness......and there are shed loads of birds, the clients have made no impact on them. we have to travel 10 miles but we can share the desiel costs....so watch this space.... good for you ditchman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Great report and great sport M!1 What are house prices like up your way?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Excellent three days shooting Motty and the same with the write up both first class, you boys are certainly keen up your way and with the time and effort you put in to your sport you deserve the rewards so good luck to you and I hope you get many more good days to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stugarford Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Well done Motty .Its nice to start seeing a few birds about again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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