ShropshireSam Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Well fed up. I have a week off work and thought it ws nicely timed as one local permission has three large fields of peas which were drilled about 3 weeks ago and are now nicely emerged. Last year I had several steady days of about 30 birds on the peas right through the season. This year I have shot one field when newly drilled for 19 birds and not seen enough birds to justify setting up since. I keep checking fields every couple of days and at various times...but no pigeons feeding or on the flight lines. No other crops on my permissions are attracting the pigeons.....so where are they all??? What few I see are still feeding on ivy berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuy Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Had a big pea field also 70acres peas every where!, thought it was a dead cert for a couple of good days came to nothing, will keep an eye on it because it could all change very quickly! I hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Just bide your time. I used to do a lot of shooting on peas. I found the best month for shooting peas was June, closely followed by May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlander Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Keep an eye on them though as the birds could turn up at anytime, although sometimes they only stay for a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Just bide your time. I used to do a lot of shooting on peas. I found the best month for shooting peas was June, closely followed by May. Yes, back in the 70's and 80's you could always guarantee good bags over peas from the day they were drilled until the day the field was ploughed back in, but over recent years I have seen fields of peas completely ignored by the birds, their feeding habits have changed, as their numbers have steadily declined. I also suspect Motty may shoot over a different strain of peas, (those that are harvested and quickly frozen?), which the birds may go for in preference to the Marrowfat peas which are grown in our area and harvested for canning when they are as hard as bullets. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Yes, back in the 70's and 80's you could always guarantee good bags over peas from the day they were drilled until the day the field was ploughed back in, but over recent years I have seen fields of peas completely ignored by the birds, their feeding habits have changed, as their numbers have steadily declined. I also suspect Motty may shoot over a different strain of peas, (those that are harvested and quickly frozen?), which the birds may go for in preference to the Marrowfat peas which are grown in our area and harvested for canning when they are as hard as bullets. Cat. Dead right, they are not the dead cert they used to be. Also, this year, less pigeons to go round. Near me there is 1 block of 450 acres of peas and another of about 70 acres. The 70, which I can't shoot, has 1000's+ pigeons on it, just up the road, my 450 acres are bird-free. The peas there are a little behind, so my day might come??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Yes your dead right Kichrat and the 70 acres is all mine long may it continue as im shooting lots of woodies at the moment as they just love my Farm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Just bide your time. I used to do a lot of shooting on peas. I found the best month for shooting peas was June, closely followed by May. my pea days were...day after they were drilled ...then the best shooting was 10 days before harvesting and up to harvesting....then 2 days after harvesting on the haulm (depending on the weather)....... no peas here this year tho...had some good days last year ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Yes your dead right Kichrat and the 70 acres is all mine long may it continue as im shooting lots of woodies at the moment as they just love my Farm Ho Ho!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 We have at least 300 acres of peas to shoot over was really hoping it would be good but none when drilled and very few now they have sprouted. Fingers crossed it will change at some point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 We have at least 300 acres of peas to shoot over was really hoping it would be good but none when drilled and very few now they have sprouted. Fingers crossed it will change at some point As I posted above, I think you'll find they may be hit most in the next month or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I had to go to Peterborough yesterday and I seen loads of crop fields up there but I really didnt see many pigeons about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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