Essential Decoying kit

[James_w12345]

I am soon to start decoying pigeons and crows, what is the essential kit that is a MUST buy?

 

(not including gun and cartridges).

 

So far I have a dpm jacket and gloves.

 

For a hide, I used to just use branches/foliage as they seem more natural, what stuff do i need and what stuff can i get away with (and what stuff is a waste of money).

 

Thanks in advance!

[fenboy]

12 - 20 decoys , despite having foliage sooner or later you will need some net for when the foliage is not in the place the birds are.

So 2 x 4 meter nets and 4 hide poles , bags for lit and dead birds

[aga man]

As fenboy says the camo netting is essential, it can be sourced cheaply if you look around. As for decoys a £25 set of fuds can get you started but remember there's no better decoy than a dead real bird either crow or pigeon, i would therefore recommend some good quality cradles and some means of freezing dead birds.

If you can afford it or even better make your own, a pigeon magnet is a great addition to a decoy set up definatley for pigeons, not essential by any means but certainly improves the bag on most days.

 

A good pair of binoculars is also essential, good decoyers spend as much time watching as they do shooting. being in the right spot is more important than having heaps of expensive kit.

[James_w12345]

12 - 20 decoys , despite having foliage sooner or later you will need some net for when the foliage is not in the place the birds are.

So 2 x 4 meter nets and 4 hide poles , bags for lit and dead birds

12-20 decoys sounds expensive from what i have seen, does anyone have any good places to get them cheap? ive seen them for like £5 each in local shops, perhaps ebay? any ideas? (likewise the netting and poles)

[fenboy]

I would recommend flocked shells

£2.72 each

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-X-FLOCKED-PIGEON-DECOY-SHELL-SHOOTING-decoying-PACK-/200572882051?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item2eb3134c83

 

One net of this size should do for starters.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16-X-5-CAMO-NET-SHOOTING-STEALTH-PIGEON-BIRD-HIDE-CAMOUFLAGE-NETTING-WOODLAND-/261513638444?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item3ce36d722c

 

And a set of poles.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-HIDE-POLES-PIGEON-SHOOTING-HUNTING-MAGNET-DECOY-NEW-/291183499261?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item43cbe397fd

[James_w12345]

Great,

 

Thanks Fenboy!

[Uncle Albert]

If you manage to get hold of some shells second hand, you can tart them up by getting some trial puts of bathroom/kitchen emulsion and mix your own shades. I do that every year. You can get the flock on the bay and use a waterproof glue. Paint them with the glue and sprinkle on the flock. Make sure it is dry before painting them.

[Reeceknight]

Iv got EVERYTHING lol and iv been decoying for about a year. all I do when I put it all out is scare off incoming birds (becuase I'm clearly doing something wrong) bouncers, magnets, flappers, cradles. and iv gone back to using 10 or so full bodies, net, 4 hide poles, gun and cartridges, anything else just over complicates things for newbies I'm going to try master one thing at a time. And since doing that I'm finally getting good bags

[merseapaul]

Hi mate, the net and poles are a must, a face veil is worth having but don't get caught up in the gadget market!. A dozen shell decoys (dont have to be flocked either if keeping cost down) and maybe a bouncer (3 optimum) are all you need then replace shells with dead birds on cradles (expensive way) or kebab skewers (cheap way, about 99p a pack of 100). The jury is out on magnets,flappers and the like and some people swear by them others say they scare birds away. I been down this road and don't bother with magnet anymore as to much hassle and weight to carry and have seen birds scared off. Do your reconnaissance and get in right place and keep it simple- I have never seen birds scared off with statics although will turn away because something they don't like about pattern sometimes.