JDog Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 First things first, I had to work this morning. How could I concentrate when thoughts of '1,000 pigeons' were swirling round my brain? However the thousand birds were not there, possibly 150, but still worth setting up for. The hide was hacked into some pretty dense cover which I guessed would give me three hours sun protection, and so it proved. Horse flies were a problem and house flies became a problem when I got blood on my hands. Another problem was that the birds did not like the rotary which I persevered with for an hour but I eventually took it down in favour of two floaters. The benefit was obvious and pigeons on the flight line I set up for decoyed nicely. More pigeons used another line into an adjacent field with cows and calves in and I could do nothing about that. The clover had been eaten down very badly. The picture shows my hide and two decoys on metal stakes at their full stretch just showing above the rye grass. The clover formed the base of the sward. Only the heads and necks of my real bird decoys were visible to incoming birds. I had three and a half hours decoying and during that time there were two periods of 30 minutes when I never saw a bird in the air. However I did fire 120 shots which was very satisfactory and I picked every single bird I had on the clicker. Some pigeons coming towards me high and wide I had to leave as they would have fallen into brambles and would have been left unpicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Well done nice work The thousands mentioned must have left before you arrived Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 those horse flys are a nightmare..hope you didn't get bitten to many times. nice afternoons sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Nice report JDog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 very good session Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckman91 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Nice shooting. Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Nice photo, nice few shots, but get some pigeon cradles, those pigeons would stand out a lot better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Seem a long while since Ive shot a low crop like clover , looks like im going to have to wait another couple of weeks before I am shooting at ground level again, still you had a nice lot of shooting after only 150 got off when you got there. I go along with the previous post I would have put the decoys on cradles so they stood out a bit more, but there you go with your knowledge of pigeon shooting was the clover shorter than it looked , or did you leave them at home ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Two sound pieces of advice in posts 7 and 8. The fact is the grass crop was longer than I had anticipated. The clover was short and the rye grass was long and I considered that I would not need my cradles. This was yet another novice mistake on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 120 shots in 3 hours sounds like decent sport to me. I have a love hate relationship with cradles , they are handy but a complete pain in the backside to carry about . And how many birds did your 120 shots account for , my guess is 56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 120 shots in 3 hours sounds like decent sport to me. I have a love hate relationship with cradles , they are handy but a complete pain in the backside to carry about . And how many birds did your 120 shots account for , my guess is 56 I agree they are a pain to carry about Fenboy , but I would say there more important than a magnet AT TIMES , last year I went on a pea field that was about 6ins high and when I got there I had left my cradles at home so I gave it a go without them, and after several passed without turning there heads I knew I was waisting my time so I left my gear there went back home which was a 20 mile round trip , and as soon as I raised the decoys up they came straight in to the pattern .so if your having a job to see em so are the pigeons. As far as your guess for JDogs score for 120 shot I would put it a fare bit higher at least 80+.....Is there a prize for the nearest Fenboy ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 I agree they are a pain to carry about Fenboy , but I would say there more important than a magnet AT TIMES , last year I went on a pea field that was about 6ins high and when I got there I had left my cradles at home so I gave it a go without them, and after several passed without turning there heads I knew I was waisting my time so I left my gear there went back home which was a 20 mile round trip , and as soon as I raised the decoys up they came straight in to the pattern .so if your having a job to see em so are the pigeons. As far as your guess for JDogs score for 120 shot I would put it a fare bit higher at least 80+.....Is there a prize for the nearest Fenboy ? I think JDog was offering a all inclusive weekend at his cotswolds mansion . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 I agree they are a pain to carry about Fenboy , but I would say there more important than a magnet AT TIMES , last year I went on a pea field that was about 6ins high and when I got there I had left my cradles at home so I gave it a go without them, and after several passed without turning there heads I knew I was waisting my time so I left my gear there went back home which was a 20 mile round trip , and as soon as I raised the decoys up they came straight in to the pattern .so if your having a job to see em so are the pigeons. As far as your guess for JDogs score for 120 shot I would put it a fare bit higher at least 80+.....Is there a prize for the nearest Fenboy ? 96 is my estimate..from 120 shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) Great day out Jdog Another bit of info re horse flies and the others. Get yourself down to Boots and buy some Autan insect repellent in the yellow bottle, red top........Bloody marvellous Edited July 4, 2014 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 My guess is 78! No disrespect to any 1, I have great respect for most people on this forum and they have been of great help to me but why does every1 seem to feel the need to use a magnet all the time! I think they've seen it so much now they know the score! Yes they do work at times but I've found them more of a pain in the back side than a help. More and more people seem to be saying they had to take the magnet in as birds were shying off. I normally travel light keeping things old school and I don't think a magnet would have affected my the final score at all apart from maybe twice. I do own a magnet but it rarely sees day light! Floaters I find are a far more effective bit of kit especially if there's a bit of wind! Rich1985. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Great report.......and top picture..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 My guess is 78! No disrespect to any 1, I have great respect for most people on this forum and they have been of great help to me but why does every1 seem to feel the need to use a magnet all the time! I think they've seen it so much now they know the score! Yes they do work at times but I've found them more of a pain in the back side than a help. More and more people seem to be saying they had to take the magnet in as birds were shying off. I normally travel light keeping things old school and I don't think a magnet would have affected my the final score at all apart from maybe twice. I do own a magnet but it rarely sees day light! Floaters I find are a far more effective bit of kit especially if there's a bit of wind! Rich1985. I know what you're trying to say, but if that was really the case, then can you explain why people keep shooting such big bags while using them. I'm not saying one is needed for every situation, but I tend to think that some days I wouldn't be shooting anywhere near as many without one. I also think that as soon as the pigeons don't play ball, the magnet is always the first thing to be blamed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 My guess is 78! No disrespect to any 1, I have great respect for most people on this forum and they have been of great help to me but why does every1 seem to feel the need to use a magnet all the time! I think they've seen it so much now they know the score! Yes they do work at times but I've found them more of a pain in the back side than a help. More and more people seem to be saying they had to take the magnet in as birds were shying off. I normally travel light keeping things old school and I don't think a magnet would have affected my the final score at all apart from maybe twice. I do own a magnet but it rarely sees day light! Floaters I find are a far more effective bit of kit especially if there's a bit of wind! Rich1985. we have used one twice in the space of 5 days on the same field and had no bother with it being out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 I think JDog was offering a all inclusive weekend at his cotswolds mansion . Fenboy once you told me the prize im beginning to get excited,I haven't left Norfolk since last year when I crossed the border to go to the rose fair at Wisbeach . I think JDogs photo gave a clue to what sort of shots he was taken, the hedge was thick so he wouldn't had took too many overhead shots without a dog, his hide was level with the hedge so he wouldn't have taken shots sideways with the possibility of losing them in the hedge, the pigeons have been going on the clover undisturbed by all accounts so they would have decoyed with confirdence and one of his posts I think he said he got 20+ straight so 2 out of 3 would have been average and if he was on form....... well he will have to tell us who is the nearest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Fenboy once you told me the prize im beginning to get excited,I haven't left Norfolk since last year when I crossed the border to go to the rose fair at Wisbeach . I think JDogs photo gave a clue to what sort of shots he was taken, the hedge was thick so he wouldn't had took too many overhead shots without a dog, his hide was level with the hedge so he wouldn't have taken shots sideways with the possibility of losing them in the hedge, the pigeons have been going on the clover undisturbed by all accounts so they would have decoyed with confirdence and one of his posts I think he said he got 20+ straight so 2 out of 3 would have been average and if he was on form....... well he will have to tell us who is the nearest. Well deduced , but I think he had a off day , being put off by constant attention from horse flies and the mental trauma of forgetting his cradles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 'Twenty straight!' Where did you get that from Marshman? If only. I note that steveyg, in guessing 96, is angling for another invitation to shoot with me and that Fenboy in guessing 56 has underestimated how easy some of the birds were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 'Twenty straight!' Where did you get that from Marshman? If only. I note that steveyg, in guessing 96, is angling for another invitation to shoot with me and that Fenboy in guessing 56 has underestimated how easy some of the birds were. Dam and I just promised the wife a weekend in the cotswolds for her birthday , talking of which don't forget Mrs JDogs birthday Wednesday or you may not accrue enough brownie points for shooting next week. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 'Twenty straight!' Where did you get that from Marshman? If only. I note that steveyg, in guessing 96, is angling for another invitation to shoot with me and that Fenboy in guessing 56 has underestimated how easy some of the birds were. Sorry Mr JDog......I was looking at your post on the 15th of June (A Very Odd Afternoons Decoying) and how I read it I thought you got 25 on the trot saying your form hadn't improved it was because they were easy.....now you tell me this wasnt the case after I have been getting my bags packed and making sure my passport is up to date and looking on the map to see where the Cotswolds are, never mind I thought it was too good to be true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Fenboy once you told me the prize im beginning to get excited,I haven't left Norfolk since last year when I crossed the border to go to the rose fair at Wisbeach . I think JDogs photo gave a clue to what sort of shots he was taken, the hedge was thick so he wouldn't had took too many overhead shots without a dog, his hide was level with the hedge so he wouldn't have taken shots sideways with the possibility of losing them in the hedge, the pigeons have been going on the clover undisturbed by all accounts so they would have decoyed with confirdence and one of his posts I think he said he got 20+ straight so 2 out of 3 would have been average and if he was on form....... well he will have to tell us who is the nearest. hercule poirot couldn,t of done better but it still dosn,t find the killer...err I mean how many he got 'Twenty straight!' Where did you get that from Marshman? If only. I note that steveyg, in guessing 96, is angling for another invitation to shoot with me and that Fenboy in guessing 56 has underestimated how easy some of the birds were. so are you gonna tell us or shall we keep on guessing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 Well done , great result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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