NickB65 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Well the wife was out all day, the weather looked good and due to the rain the harvest was on hold so time for a spot of shooting. I arrived at the farm at 9am and just sat and watched where the pigeons were going for 40 mins. They were not longer going out to the double pylon but leaving the trees and dropping just over the other side of the fence into the wheat stubble. No large numbers just ones and two but steady. The wind was already blowing a steady 15mph so it looked to be a good day. I set-up with my back to the hedge so the birds would be coming over the hedge and dropping into the pattern. I set-up a comma shape pattern with a bouncer to my far left as there was a flight line far to me left and a chance of luring a few in from there. I then put out another bouncer real low in the ground so it looked like he was on final approach. Then my new half shells on wobbly sticks spread out in front about 30 yards in ones and two's and then to the right a group of full bodies and FUD's. The hide was tall so I could stand if I wanted but the wind was getting up so I had to double pole as the ground was so hard the pole would not go deep. With the Sun to my front and the wind to my right I was ready and within five minutes I bagged my first feral. The flow was steady as I had seen with birds coming in ones and two's most flying over far to my right and then swinging back into the pattern. Some would go over head high and dive low and come into the patter while others would skim over the hedge and then dump into the pattern. At first they were dropping the other side of the decoys so I moved the decoys closer and then they would not come in so I moved them out again but spaced them out more. With them out at 30 yards from me and spaced out more the birds came into the pattern nicely. After the first hour I had bagged ten for twelve with one double. The second hour the numbers slowed and the wind dropped. Around 2pm the wind picked up and the birds were in the air again and this time they were coming from the left flight line and offering some great left to right shots - my weakest shot - which I really got into. At points the skies were empty with not a bird in sight and then it seemed someone had rung the dinner bell as they would arrive from behind, the left and from across the field head on. Had some lovely doubles which really made me smile and made up for the stupid missed shots. I came to the decision that feral pigeons are stupid as one group flew into the pattern and I shot two and then flew around me and back into the pattern and I shot another and they then flew off again to circle me again to loose another comrade before getting the idea and leaving. I few pigeons decided they would start their own little party about 120 yards down field from me which at first I was happy with as it showed the field was safe but when they were getting more action than me out came the .22LR and thwup one pigeon down and the rest in the air. Was well pleased with the shot as it was taken standing with just the hide poles as support. When I picked up the bird it was a perfect chest shot..... They still came in and I even managed to drop a crow which flew high over the top. I did not see him until he was well past the hide so I switched to the bottom barrel half choke and down he came..... today was a good day. At 5pm the farmer in the next farm decided to harvest his wheat and the flight lines dried up. Some still came from the left but high and heading for the new source of food. He had already harvested part of the field and now there were dropping into his field and not mine. I was happy though as I was down to my last box of cartridges and had a good bag..... I had missed some stupidly easy shots but made some cracking shots as well. Had several doubles and even managed one two for one. Total 44 Wood Pigeon + 34 Feral + 1 Crow = 79 with a kill ratio of 3.6:1 which although not great I was happy with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 great report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 nice detailed report on your efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Good day, nice informative write up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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