Dyl003 Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 I'm looking to shoot pigeons on the rape tomorrow for the first time alone. My question is, if I head out in the morning to the farm which has three fields of rape and after a bit of reconnaissance I don't see pigeons feeding on the rape, is it a waste of time setting up? I have decoys, but I don't yet have a flapper or rotary so obviously there will not be much movement to get the birds attention! Whats the general rule with this, setup where they are feeding and if no sign then forget it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 (edited) Its worth giving it a go. You will not get anything if you do not go. If there are no pigeons feeding on the rape look out for a flightline over the field and if possably set up under it. I have sometimes shot quite a few birds if there is a bare cultivated field next to a rape field by setting up some decoys on it under a flightline as well as decoys on the rape . Your biggest problem decoying on rape without a flapper or rotary is getting the pigeons to see your decoys in the crop. Make then as visable as possable by raising them well above the crop or placing the decoys on a bare patch ( if there is one ). A couple of lofted full body decoys will be a great help if there are trees or high hedges around the field. Edited February 14, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popa bear Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Personally bud if the pigeons aint feeding its a waste of time setting up .At the mo they have so much to feed on and with the weather so mild I just have a good walk round and wait for the odd passing birds you will stand more chance of getting a few shots off good luck anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbit warren Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 just give it ago. its all expirence get your dec,s high so there seen and get on a flight line if possible bigest problem with shooting over rape is unless other people are out shooting as well one bang and they all go elsewhere get a flapper asap and a magnet as well but sometimes they dont like magnets a flapper works 90% of time but again high and fast 300rpm ones do the job really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldcraft Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 No birds feeding on it. Pointless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 have a ride round get the bino's out and just watch for any movement, then decide if it's worth setting up. there's always another day ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinribz Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 If you do go and you manage to shoot a bird keep it in the hide when you see birds close enough to see your decoys launch the dead bird out towards your decoys it can work a treat. I had a magnet and 2 flappers out the other week big groups came in i shot as they scattered i through out a dead bird and they came and decoyed strate back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 It may well be a waste of time going if there are no pigeons around, but how else will you learn what to do if you don't go and give it a try? I learned how to do things years ago by going out and taking in everything that i saw. I stayed out up to 12 hours a day (with only a handful of birds in the bag some days) and tried my best to learn the habits of the pigeons and also how to get them to decoy how i wanted. Just by going out with binoculars you can learn things. Keep going and looking etc and you'll start to work things out. If you do happen to set up somewhere, don't be surprised if you don't have many shots, but best of luck, Dyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Enjoy hope ya get a bag full ,don't be wee weed if ya don't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 I will listen out for you, I maybe near by with yidoharry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbit warren Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 It may well be a waste of time going if there are no pigeons around, but how else will you learn what to do if you don't go and give it a try? I learned how to do things years ago by going out and taking in everything that i saw. I stayed out up to 12 hours a day (with only a handful of birds in the bag some days) and tried my best to learn the habits of the pigeons and also how to get them to decoy how i wanted. Just by going out with binoculars you can learn things. Keep going and looking etc and you'll start to work things out. If you do happen to set up somewhere, don't be surprised if you don't have many shots, but best of luck, Dyl. thats what i said earlyer GO have a look around and set up in the best area you wont get it right first time but keep going and things will fall into place im a hypocrite i wont even think of going now for a couple of shots but when i first started we were out all day for half dozen birds saying that i was learning all the time been roost shooting for a couple of hours this evening and got 5 and a magpie i dont mind that because you havent got all the gear to lugg about just me my old semi auto and a pocket of cartridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 go and be seen as trying by your farmer (if it's not your own land)as all others that have said don't get your head down if nothing turns up. take the bino's and look for pigeon traffic some days it just seems slow and barren over large areas of land. Pay attention to whats happening in the farming world, this will alter bird feeding habits. but above all enjoy atvb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael170874 Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 If your there mate set up even if there aint no birds on your fields ,reason the farmer sees you doing your job .I've done the same in the past got there nothing about left to go check another farm an hour or so later farmer rang me to ask why i had gone as there were thousands on that same field .that's why pigeon shooting is so stressfull at times the birds are so un predictable .one day there there the next they are not.i hear people say oh i won't bother until i see two hundred birds feeding .so you might not bother going till mid feb,well then the farmer might say don't bother coming back .as i have seen with a friend of mine .The farmer gave you permission to protect his crops he might not have time to keep going around his land checking for birds but to him if he doesn't see you for months then he will be thinking you can't be bothered.result loss of perm seen it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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