Wilts#Dave Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) Having had a busy week with work I've finally got 5 minutes to write a few words about last weekends action. Another busy week of recce for Dad meant another weekend of pigeon shooting to look forward to all being well, though as usual things are never quite that straightforward! A favourite field of ours had been combined early in the week, and finally with all the straw baled (but not picked up) the pigeons had found it as we’d hoped…..not in huge numbers but the usual flightlines seemed active enough and Dad was confident we’d get some shooting if no one else got there first. On the Friday however, the hedge cutters were in on the surrounding fields and bales being hauled meant the pigeons were hardly undisturbed but still plenty seemed to be in the air so it was going to be down to whether or not the tractor work was finished by Saturday. A quick early morning check on the field saw 2 tractors hedge cutting this time…..bloody typical, but knowing the farmer well I had a word to find out whether it was a goer or not and luckily the combine was to be fired up after lunch so we loaded up the kit and headed down for a 1 o clock (ish) start to find them finishing off the neighbouring field. Day 1 (Saturday) Anyway, a good hide set back in the hedge was made and the magnet loaded up with 2 defrosted dead birds, no decoys this time as I was confident we’d get a few without them. A lone bird swooped in within minutes and paid the price, followed swiftly by 4 more as pigeons lifted from the surrounding trees/fields and came back over. These put out on the cradles to form the start of the pattern helped a few more into the bag but overall a slow first hour and the flight seemed to be nothing like we’d expected and what was seemed to have little interest in decoying. Oh well, make the best of it and sit it out, which thankfully paid off as the flight really started at around 3 o clock and steadily more birds were decoying or at least coming close enough for a sporting chance, some awesome long birds were consistently being taken towards the latter end of the day which always helps boost the bag. It didn’t feel manic at any time but a constant trickle of birds up until 5.30 left me tentatively counting up…..another grin across my face when I realised we’d hit 100 plus again, only just but that’s enough for me, 102 being the score. That field always seems to come up trumps when it’s in the right crop, we’ve all got fields we look forward to and that’s one of them!! Day 2 (Sunday) That brings me on to day 2 and our backup plan for Saturday if the tractors were in the field. This time another farm and a field of peas, ready for harvest that haven’t drawn a bird since being drilled. Late in the week though during another one of dads drives out and about he finally spotted some activity there which looked promising, and by Saturday morning very promising so we had to get there on Sunday to have a go before the combine came in! Another lunch time start, there were birds in the air when we arrived. Not a huge amount but enough to waste no time in getting set up, again in a spot we’ve shot good bags from previously. Note the same old story cropping up here….pigeons will favour certain fields and certain parts of that field year in year out, and once you’ve found one keep it to yourself and make a mental note as it may turn out to be ‘one of those spots’ that just seem to produce bags!!! Another start with just the magnet and 2 of yesterdays dead birds, a good initial 15 minutes pulled in half a dozen or so and enough to get a decoy pattern going. A very strong wind in my back was good in one sense, but making for some very testing shooting as the birds jinked and flip/turned on the wind as they came in...doubles weren’t easy to come by and puffs of feathers particularly impressive wafting away in the wind when one was hit square!! I didn’t feel like I was having anything like the shooting of yesterday but the action was steady and not too many birds got away…..another cracking afternoons sport, and a great weekend finishing up on 77. This years harvest has just gone right for us so far, and whilst there’s no fear of getting in the Guinness book of records it’s the most consistently decent bags we’ve had for a good few years…. And I’m loving it, the weekends can’t come soon enough!! Once again thanks for reading and any input welcome J Edited August 21, 2014 by Wilts#Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_79 Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 great couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Great reports. I do not believe that any 'input' will be necessary as you seem to know what you are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 You are right about favourite spots. They pay off year in year out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Great result and great read, Re favourite spots is a productive method each year they just keep producing you just have to keep quiet about the results and location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Another good read. It's always nice to get a good run going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 great report well done ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Great write up and pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 luv it...........nice pics as well ......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 great weekends shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Good read Dave, your dad certainly gets you in the right spot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuy Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Fantastic report , keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stugarford Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Sounds Like you had a good weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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