When to return to shoot a stubble field in harvest?

[ShropshireSam]

I have shot a wheat stubble field on Sunday and yesterday (Wednesday). This was the first time I have shot this field and reccied it for 2 days whilst been cut and baled and was excited to see large numbers feeding. Both days I had lots of pigeon traffic on a flightline down one side of the field. On Sunday I set-up about 100 yards from the flightline against a large bale. Bagged 65, but noticed approx half the pigeons continued down the flightline and not drawn into the decoys. So on Wed I checked the field again and approx 300 pigeons feeding spread out over this very large field. Decided to set up on the flightline this time. Some pigeons decoyed but just as many came down the flightline and I bagged another 65.

 

The question is how often should I return to shoot a field in harvest? I see some posts where people return the next day and have just as good if not better size bags. This appears to be a really good flightline so do not want to spoil it.

 

Another question is should I return to the same hide position or move to another position on this flightline....or move of the flightline slightly?

[Hamster]

You should have set up next to the flightline the first time round, but saying that the fact you bagged another good bag might well be because you didn't murder them. I would personally give that at least a week to rest unless the farmer is in the habit of turning the field in or you happen to be short of other places to shoot.

[Maddaftspaniel]

It varies enormously.

 

I shot a field on Monday (wheat) that had been harvested on Saturday and had lots of pigeon traffic over it and on it.

Checked it again Tuesday pm and built a hide................covered in birds.

Went back Wednesday to shoot and not a bird in sight.

Blank today as well.

 

I will keep an eye on it though because there is plenty of spilt heads on it and I know from experience that it is a pigeon field

[ShropshireSam]

You should have set up next to the flightline the first time round, but saying that the fact you bagged another good bag might well be because you didn't murder them. I would personally give that at least a week to rest unless the farmer is in the habit of turning the field in or you happen to be short of other places to shoot.

 

Yes my failure to set-up on the flightline was due to poor reccie skills. I visited twice and watched for 5-10 minutes and saw lots of birds feeding and identified a few flightlines. What I failed to notice that there was one very busy flightline. I therefore set-up based on where birds were feeding and in view of two flightlines. If I had reccied properly I would have identified the ideal location for the first set up....and maybe bagged a ton??? However, by letting half pass by on Sunday I did have another good day of sport yesterday. I have been out for another reccie today. Still approx 70 pigeons feeding on that field. Seen another two good fields so can leave this field for a week or so. I will check farmer as to his plans so at least I can get on once more before it is cultivated. He does direct drill some rape into wheat stubble so maybe a popular field for pigeons for a few weeks yet.

[Cranfield]

I rarely set up in anticipation the birds will come, but if the birds are on the field I will shoot it.

I have had good results shooting the same field on five consecutive "part" days, from exactly the same hide position.

By "part" days I mean that if/when things slow down, I move to another location.

[cocknee]

I would not return to the same field for at least a week though the fact that you weren't in the ideal spot i.e under the flightline and didn't shoot at and frighten a fair number of birds meant you had two cracks of the whip, were you under the flightline and able to shoot at all pigeons coming to the field then I doubt that you would have got the second day but the first would have been a lot more productive.