fenboy Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 I am seriousley considering packing in my pigeon shooting . I am finding it ever more difficult to drag myself out looking for pigeon which I know I am unlikely to find in any numbers . Last season was appauling this one is looking like it will be no better and with my farmers seemingly moving away from growing rape , I have little chance of winter sport and no stubble shooting to look forward to. The peas have not had anything on them for weeks so its looking like they will be as poor as last season Couple all that with the fact I now seem to share all the land I shoot with other shooters , I am finding it impossible to come across a decent situation . I have been pigeon shooting for 30 years now but I am thinking that after this harvest I may well call it a day and do something like clay shooting instead along with wildfowling . I think I will see this harvest season out and then make a final decision on what road to take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitetail Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Where abouts are you? This winter I've seen thousands of birds north of bourne, they were feeding on acorns and beech mast . The same when I'm working around the Spalding area there always seems to be pigeons there in good numbers, maybe you need to start travelling further afield just what you need with fuel the price it is. I know what it's like to have to share land , I tend to go in the week but it's difficult at times when the other shooters seem happy with very small bags, and fair play to them, I can't sit there knowing I'm not going to shoot anything , some of the local guys starting up are just happy to be out and if they get a shot or two that's a bonus. Think outside the box , what I've found is as pigeon shooters we tend to get fixated with certain crops and to a lesser extent certain fields , and will drive by fields with birds on , looking without seeing. This year has been bad with black grass and what the local farmers have done is sprayed the winter wheat off and drilled direct , I've had some super bags up to 170 with no compertion at all , everyone is looking for drilled fields or patchy rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 (edited) Don't do it fenboy, you will regret it. Whitetail's post was an excellent one and explained good reasons why you should continue doing something you love. Find a buddy with whom you can share the searching for pigeons bit and then the shooting. Companionship and the banter may well make up for a day of few pigeons. Edited May 8, 2014 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garden gun Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Know how you are feeling Fenboy. Had the same sort of issues with my fly fishing. Long periods with days ouit and no fish - long medically induced break and then back to no fish. Then kapow, back in the groove and a couple of very decent fish...............juices flowing again and keen as the provebial mustard. Retirement is just around the corner and all set for days out fishing, clay busting and actually getting in to pigeons etc (If 'er indoors will let me out to play). Keep at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIDENSEEK Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Sounds like you've had a bad year, it happens.Think of all the good days you've enjoyed in the past, and will again.The pigeon is not declining, despite our best efforts! I fish as well, and am old enough to have gone through the stages of wanting to catch the most fish,then the biggest fish, and now I want to catch the most difficult fish by the tactics I enjoy most.These days I'm not concerned about shooting hundreds, and get most pleasure from seeing other people have a good day.I have no rape on my current permissions,but I rarely have what I would call a bad day.Keep at it, clays aren't the same!All the Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 must admit i have felt like that recently...but all is changed now....i sold my gun that i have used for the last 30 or so years and forced myself to master my auto A303 which i have done and it has changed my outlook and i have got to the stage now that i dont give a toss how many birds there are about ...i am just itching to get out and start work with the auto...it is a big lump to carry about but as a hide gun excellent.... i have got rid of everything i was familiar with and have started again....even the old army nets have gone and have been replaced with lightweight nets ..the wooden hide poles are gone and i have now the proper jobbies......i am reved up again and it feels like old times........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 (edited) Fenboy you need to find a shooting buddy as JDog suggested , DB and myself have shot together for 25 years plus, he went through a period that he was getting bored not finding birds and travelling . The fishing was not going to plan but you find that the other person is still eager to get out . A bad days shooting is better than being at home. Next year could be your best ever , you say you have other shooters on your farms meet up with a few and you might find some common ground ie I love making bits and pieces , DB has some great ideas ( he thinks out of the box) I put them into practice at home which wants me to go out and play. By all means stop shooting , do not sell any gear , go fishing , shopping etc you will miss it. Edited May 8, 2014 by pigeon controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Don't give in! I had to retire a couple of years ago due to ill health. I treat every days shooting like it will be my last! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 With several years experience behind you Fenboy you tend to look back to how things were rather than how things are now, you will still get the odd good day but not as regular as we once did. I pass fields where I know there is nothing on there and you see someone set up with a magnet with spinning decoys on it and a dozen shining decoys which are no douht brand new and there isn't a pigeon to be seen any where and yet he is happy to sit there and hope a pigeon will turn up because he have got a magic magnet out. well even a few years back we never had that problem, first there wasn't that many people who wanted to shoot pigeons and second the ones who did would watch the fields until he would do a bit of good when he did go. I am lucky that I have quite a bit of land that I am the only one that goes on there but if there isn't any pigeons or crops to there liking then you have to look elsewhere where other people might be sharing the fields as well, in that case I go during the week when theres a good chance im the only one there and leave it at weekends for the guys who have only weekends to go. Disspite what some of the members are saying about numbers about, in my neck of the woods we have been down on numbers for a few years now and I cant see a big improvement in the near future, when I go I set my expectations a lot lower than I used to .I am not after big bags but the days sitting there for nothing are long gone. So Fenboy give it a rest for a month or six weeks and then see if the appertite is back and go on from there.............You will be back , people from the Fens don't give in that easy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I know exactly where you're coming from. For geographical reasons we don't have too many pigeon anyway and in the past three years the numbers have been well down. One local farm where I don't shoot has taken to growing rape and the lucky guy who shoots there has filled his boots. For safety and consideration for our neighbours, we've not shot the increasing numbers of rooks that have been hitting the drillings, so I've been running a couple of gas guns to get the job done in the couple of weeks that the crop is vulnerable. However, I knew that this year other fields were to be drilled that had no restrictions for shooting so I lashed out on a new gun - they really need thinning out. Unfortunately, because of the winter soaking we had the farmer couldn't get the ploughing done until a couple of weeks back by which time the land had warmed up and growing conditions were ideal. Immediately he'd ploughed the contractors were in drilling but the rooks had flown off to the next village. You could almost see the grain growing and it was all over in a few short days and not a rook to be seen anywhere. No option now, but to wait until the harvest unless something gets laid. So, there's the only possible solution as you've mentioned, Fenboy, and as ever, it's called patience. I have to concede though that like you mine's wearing thin - it now hurts like hell (age) to put the decoys out and even more so to pick them up. But in between, there's nothing to beat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I am seriousley considering packing in my pigeon shooting . I am finding it ever more difficult to drag myself out looking for pigeon which I know I am unlikely to find in any numbers . Last season was appauling this one is looking like it will be no better and with my farmers seemingly moving away from growing rape , I have little chance of winter sport and no stubble shooting to look forward to. The peas have not had anything on them for weeks so its looking like they will be as poor as last season Couple all that with the fact I now seem to share all the land I shoot with other shooters , I am finding it impossible to come across a decent situation . I have been pigeon shooting for 30 years now but I am thinking that after this harvest I may well call it a day and do something like clay shooting instead along with wildfowling . I think I will see this harvest season out and then make a final decision on what road to take. I quite know how you feel!! I have access to large areas of peas, sprouting to various heights and only a small bunch of pigeons seem to care. I spent 6 hours shooting 29 on Monday, now they have all gone. Previous week I had 25 in 5 hours on drilled linseed, again, horribly slow. However, I was glad to have those 2 chances, after being laid up by my hip repair. Now there is a gas gun on the linseed and no pigeons on the peas. The peas might offer the odd pie (8 birds = a pie for 2 days for me and Mrs Kitchmouse) but nothing much until harvest. Then the cultivator will follow right behind the combine, the pheasants will be in the pens and it will be frustration again. Birds are in very short supply here on average but there do seem to be some busy pockets in Norfolk, somewhere. But how to find them, and get permission? I shall go and hunt geese and ducks in the fall in Canada - same game, same problems, bigger scale, before coming back to do some beating and protect some OSR. But never give up!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted May 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Thanks for the replies . I do have friends who I shoot with but it can be difficult to get together with us working different shifts and having busy jobs etc. I would happily ask other PW members out for a day but I am not one who is happy to offer someone a day out when I know it will be a waste of time. I have been shooting long enough to know its not always going to be big bags but as marshman says when you have shooters who are happy to sit out all day for nothing the chances are a decent scenario will never arise even more so when those shooters are able to go seven days a week. Yes I may look back on how things used to be and thats perhaps why I am losing heart with the ways things now are. I have tried to gain more land I call in at a farm or two most weeks but no luck as yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitetail Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Maybe just take a step back and have a break from pigeon shooting will do you some good , there have been times when I couldn't get out as often as I would like through work or just having my fishing head on . The enthusiasm will return no doubt , there's nothing worse than keep riding around looking at fields with no pigeons on ,I've been there . It's too late now but if it was me ,earlier in the year I would have watched the woods where your local birds roost and just followed the flight lines out , they are feeding somewhere even if it's not your shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I know how you feel mate, just change your discipline ie, go do some crow bashing, go do some bunny bashing, go do some foxing , go do some sea fishing, go do some course fishing ,go do some clays, go punch holes in paper etc etc I only shoot pigeon at harvest mate or when I get a phone call ,I can't be bothered chasing them from pillar to post any more. But I love my crow bashing and foxing/ fishing etc etc, Don't sell your gear mate, it's always there when you need if you keep it ,even if it only gets used a handful of times a year, Chin up old bean ! If we shot hundreds of pests every time we went out it would become boring( but I do understand where your coming from) Atb Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I will have a chat with you about this on Sunday, Fenboy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 I will have a chat with you about this on Sunday, Fenboy. Give him a good talking to motty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Don't give up on it completely, you need to do something to keep your eye in, those clay pigeons don't fly like ducks! Perhaps wander a little further in search of permission? Being able to get out weekdays is a big help, one farmer i spoke with wanted people on week days ( that was for crows though ) I'll join you for a spot of clay shooting one sunday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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