Lofting pigeons

[il cacciatore]

Would really like to get into lofting as it sounds like its quite effective as should be good cause up here there aren't a lot of crops about for decoying over.

 

The only thing is I don't know how to do it. I done a search but nothing came up on how to do it.

 

Anyone care to explain? (or point me to somewhere with the info)

 

Thanks

[Cranfield]

"Lofting" decoys is just the practise of placing decoys in trees, hedgerows and the like, to attract pigeons.

 

You can either invest in lofting poles, which are usually light , slot together aluminium, or make something yourself.

At the top of the pole there is usually a T piece, with a hook at each end, these fit in the ring on the backs of (most) full bodied decoys.

You can also get them with a sticking up stem at each end, these fit into the peg hole on a full bodied decoy.

 

Another way to get your decoy into the tree, is to attach some strong fishing line to the aforementioned ring and tie a weight to the other end.

Throw the weight over a branch and pull your decoy up into the tree.

 

Nothing has to be exact, the decoys don't have to exactly be aligned with a branch, or twig.

You are just creating a shape/silhouette in the tree/hedge, for incoming birds to see.

 

It is a very effective decoying method.

 

On my permissions I have a very large field with a clump of trees at one end.

The birds feed in the middle of the field and unless I can get straw bale hides out there, I can't get near them.

I tried putting lofters in the clump of trees and hoped to pull passing birds to them, before they went to feed.

This has worked beautifully and feeding birds disturbed by the shots, will often come straight for the trees, where they can see some of their "mates" sitting.

[il cacciatore]

Thanks Cranfield, i'll give it a shot.

[colin.y]

well worth a try but does take some practice with poles anyway.

First time i tried i nearly put my back out !!!

or for a good fork in a branch with not to many other branches around ,use this as your guide,ideally it needs to be about half to 3/4 the height of your poles

We made some craddles to hook up in the branches with the poles .This works well with 6/8 craddles and the poles up.

Use trees on the edge of your wood as you think the poles are long but often not long enough to reach to the top of a tree!!