kitchrat Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 I have never shot over swathed rape because I can't see that it's in the farmer's interest - surely dead birds crashing into the rows of crop when it has got crispy-dry will knock out more seed than they can ever eat?? They only feed on it when it is crispy and you can't aim to drop them between the rows like you can with laid barley. I suspect my Farmers would do their nuts!! What do you Guys think? Incidentally, watching the Tour de France go through my hunting grounds in Essex today I could see almost no laid crops and the harvest didn't look unusually advanced, as you have led me to believe (I'm on holiday!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 I've never shot on swathed rape, but I would imagine shooting the pigeons would cause less damage than letting them be. In my part of Norfolk, I would say the crops are around three weeks ahead of last year. I should have some barley stubble to shoot on in a couple of days and rape stubble by the weekend if the weather stays dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 The problem is that if you don't shoot the swath when it's available, the combine can be followed almost immediately by the plough and you can end up with no shooting at all. Shooting swathed rape can be problematic but if the alternative is no shooting at all it's a no-brainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 Swathed rape can be excellent at times, so don't miss a good opportunity. You won't do much damage as it's only swathed to ripen it in the sun quicker, they don't swathe ripened rape either. Get at em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 One of my farmers used to swath the rape (no longer unfortunately) I asked him if it was ok to shoot and he was quite happy to let me , he said I would do less damage than 100s of pigeon dropping on top of the swaths , it was more about the amount of seed they would dislodge rather than what they would eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 As above we used to have swathed rape and had some good bags off it, but only when the pigeons were hammering it and eating the farmers profits. Most if not all farmers will let you shoot in this situation and damage caused by shooting will be minimal in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 I have a few times had some enjoyable days , and yes I picked up on this occasion lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tis1979 Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 Great shooting, shot over some sat afternoon 120 odd even more on there today but no time too shoot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezi bez Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 I've never shot on swathed rape, but I would imagine shooting the pigeons would cause less damage than letting them be. In my part of Norfolk, I would say the crops are around three weeks ahead of last year. I should have some barley stubble to shoot on in a couple of days and rape stubble by the weekend if the weather stays dry. I have some swathed rape at the moment and had 2 session s on it this weekend 77 friday 72 sunday not bad been getting smaller and smaller bags on peas so im glad for a change, and as they say "a change is as good as a rest" although I dont feel like ive had a rest! Happy hunting . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) As long as you don't walk on the rows yourself you should be totally fine, just take care that's all. If the rows of swath are far enough apart to drop most of your birds in that's even better! Just use your common sence, which I am very sure you will. I should be on stubble this time next week with luck! Edited July 7, 2014 by rich1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 Can't complain about swathed rape,had my best day for ages Saturday ! As regards knocking the seeds out I picked up from the rape myself and only let my lab pick up from the headland and the set aside behind me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 My farmer done it yesterday and texted me to come. So, this evening, 2 of us going. First time on this kind of shooting. I don't need my decoys, do I? Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 My farmer done it yesterday and texted me to come. So, this evening, 2 of us going. First time on this kind of shooting. I don't need my decoys, do I? Regards Why wouldn't you need decoys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Ok, so I need them... I didn't want to walk on the field to damage crops. Novice here. Any advice welcomed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Ok, so I need them... I didn't want to walk on the field to damage crops. Novice here. Any advice welcomed! Just don't trample the rows of cut rape, you'll not get much shooting if you don't take any decoys and you're not prepared to walk on the field..... I drove up to Cambridge yesterday from South Herts, hardly anything had been cut, although they should get stuck in this week if the weather is as good as forecast. Nobody around these parts swathes their rape nowadays, it's all sprayed off and they go straight through it with the combine. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Without decoys why would incoming birds come anywhere near your hide position? They could just choose to land anywhere in the field. Use a rotary if you have one, if not put decoys on top of the swaths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Thx guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 I would use my normal kit + every decoy I have, load up the pattern with a few decoys laid on the swarf and shoot it as it won't be around for too long.... TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 I have never had a farmer object to shooting over swathed rape, you obviously need to exercise common sense and avoid walking over the crop but bags are often good which keeps the farmer happy. Come to think of it it's one of my favourite situations because building a hide is usually easy and you just place the deeks on top of the rows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Swathed rape can be dangerous for dogs to work in. The stubble stalks are often around eye height! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 We still swath on our farm, it can be unbelievably good shooting. Re you decoys, find a single area you can get through the swath and use that to pick up, move decoys etc, its very fragile, so don't go stomping over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezi bez Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 If you have to cross a swath (1 row) lift the swath to one side and make a small track through , being careful not to smash the seed pods. That way you havent walked across one and smashed most of the pods to make a track. Also it can still b combined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossberg-operator Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) Been, had 11 birds. Landing next toy decoys. Thx for advice. Happy. Was very carefull with the crop. Edited July 14, 2014 by londonercsecse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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