motty Posted June 13, 2014 Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 I had a couple of options for the venue for today's decoying session. My mate Sam was driving up from Essex, so I had to come up with something half decent. My options were to shoot next to a cattle field that has been attracting pigeons due to the old cabbages and potatoes that are being spread there, or a set aside field. The set aside field is providing a mixture of clover, weeds, self sown wheat and what I think the pigeons are really there for - self sown barley. We arrived and checked both fields and possible plans of attack. We decided to set up on the sugar beet field that is next to the cattle field. Neither situation looked better than the other. I set a few flocked shells on top of the sugar beet and put a magnet out in front. A few birds decoyed nicely, but the main flight line that I was waiting to develop, just didn't materialise. I'm sure within the space of a couple of days, those birds had found some barley to attack. With a few birds in the bag and a chance of shooting a few, I decided to have another look on the set aside. At least 400 birds lifted. I phoned Sam and said that we were going to move. This didn't take long as the fields are only a mile apart. We were in our new position and ready to shoot 1.30pm. We only put out two magnets as decoys. The first pigeon was shot within seconds. Many of the pigeons came and hovered over the magnets, providing simple shots. We shot a few nice flighting birds, too. If everything we saw had decoyed, we could well have had a big bag. I did some filming, which hopefully turned out ok. It would need some serious editing, though, due to a lot of bad language. A few crops were checked to see what the pigeons had been feeding on. Most were full of milky barley which was certainly not from the field we were shooting. We ended just before 5pm with a bag of 87 pigeons, 2 crows and a jackdaw. We drove back past the cow field and saw at least 400 pigeons and 200 crows on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Your excellent report could well guide others when it comes to making choices. Strange isn't it that 'old cabbages and potatoes' were attractants when there was milky barley in the area? I thought that set aside was a thing of the past. Certainly there is none that I have seen down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Good report and a respectable bag. Once again shows you sometimes have keep mobile and change things to get results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 your mate sam must have been pleased,quality afternoons sport. 400 birds lifting must be a terrific site,nice write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 nice write up......well thought out day..........its funny that magnets are not decoy machine of choice where i am...i have tried them several times in good situations, but have only shot 3 birds over them on one outing well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Why Didn't you and your mate split up and go on a field each? Good bag though well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Why Didn't you and your mate split up and go on a field each? Good bag though well done! In some instances we may well split up to maximise the sport, but half the fun comes from sharing a hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m greeny Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 In some instances we may well split up to maximise the sport, but half the fun comes from sharing a hide. Well said motty i love the banter that flows when i share a hide with a good friend but also sometimes splitting up will improve the bag by keeping the birds moving either way its about getting out there in the fresh air and also keeping the farmer happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Good day out Motty When we can, Bluebarrels and I shoot together. Sometimes share a hide which is a good wag, and others within P taking distance But I agree, with others, shooting is a sport often best shared Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 In some instances we may well split up to maximise the sport, but half the fun comes from sharing a hide. I would agree with that , memorable days can be made by the in hide banter as much as the amount shot . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I talk to myself. In that way the conversation and banter is just how I like it and there are no witnesses to my shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I talk to myself. In that way the conversation and banter is just how I like it and there are no witnesses to my shooting. The only company I have in the hide is my dog, and he is a bit deaf so when I am mumping and moaning to myself, he have a smile on his face thinking I am telling him how good he is after half the hide have got a big ole Labrador entangled in it. But having at least one dog with me for the last 40 odd years I would now only get half the pleasure without one , this afternoon I was shooting on a barley field and ended with 23 not a big bag by your standard but my dog picked them all and we both went home knowing we have put the sane amount of effort in getting the bag and that's the way I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 The only company I have in the hide is my dog, and he is a bit deaf so when I am mumping and moaning to myself, he have a smile on his face thinking I am telling him how good he is after half the hide have got a big ole Labrador entangled in it. But having at least one dog with me for the last 40 odd years I would now only get half the pleasure without one , this afternoon I was shooting on a barley field and ended with 23 not a big bag by your standard but my dog picked them all and we both went home knowing we have put the sane amount of effort in getting the bag and that's the way I like it. Like this marsh man! I do go with my dog too, I do take a mate sometimes as well. One memorable time I set up on some rape stubble just me and the dog, I had shot a few birds and she had had a few retrieves. Just as a pigeon set it's wings and was coming on the decoys I must have accidentally steped on her tail any way she ran forward taking the hide with her leaving me standing in the open stuck out like a saw thumb, needless to say I didn't get the pigeon! Didn't know weather to laugh or cry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuy Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Good write up mate, and the right decision to move, its so easy sometimes just sit it out and hope things improve again well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Well done, great result. I agree that you have to move some days to make it happen also the hide banter is a good part of the shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Well shot motty . A nice write up too . I bet you wish you had your cam with you. Regards stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 A good report as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Well shot motty . A nice write up too . I bet you wish you had your cam with you. Regards stevo I did do some filming. I will get round to putting a video up sometime soon, though the shooting wasn't anything special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Back on form then mate , spotted a field on Saturday that will shoot its head of and thought will have to give my mate motty a call and realised ive got a bloody wedding to go to on this Saturday ,put it this way flighted some about a mile from the field and me and my bro had 130 shots and most didn't come our way , might have to have a days holiday . I did do some filming. I will get round to putting a video up sometime soon, though the shooting wasn't anything special.Think I will get my cameras out again this year on the pinks put some more vids up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 I did do some filming. I will get round to putting a video up sometime soon, though the shooting wasn't anything special. don't give me that haha , you know its going to be spot on ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Back on form then mate , spotted a field on Saturday that will shoot its head of and thought will have to give my mate motty a call and realised ive got a bloody wedding to go to on this Saturday ,put it this way flighted some about a mile from the field and me and my bro had 130 shots and most didn't come our way , might have to have a days holiday . Think I will get my cameras out again this year on the pinks put some more vids up If you have a day spare I will always join you. I'm sure I could find a day somewhere in return. I hope you start to film more on the marsh again. I always looked forward to your videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 If you have a day spare I will always join you. I'm sure I could find a day somewhere in return. I hope you start to film more on the marsh again. I always looked forward to your videos. Will go and see the farmer ive got permission but the crop there on is sometimes a no go due to sensitive buyer, maybe get out this week if you can get a day off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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