ShropshireSam Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Had a good day yesterday on two rape fields. Had reccied both fields during the week and had them lined up for Saturday as a good forecast (dry, mild and windy). Started in the first field. Like most rape in this area it is still flat to the ground. Arrived at 8 AM. Moved few birds off field (30 ish) and drove to neighboring small wood and moved birds from there. Set up under oak tree with wind strong wind directly behind me. Set up magnet, 2 flappers and 13 shell decoys as 2 clusters either side the magnet and a flapper at front of each cluster. First birds came in and i missed. More than 200 birds lifted out the wood I had supposedly flushed.....I had only shifted the few at the front of the wood. They came over and in my frustration I took a shot and missed again ( I know I should have left them). Not a good start. Had a stop-start morning and thought of packing up a few times only to have more birds arrive. Decided to pack up and move to second choice field after lunch. Picked 34 Second field had birds coming in a continuous stream when i arrived. Rape was well advanced ...about 10 inches high where not grazed by pigeons. Too high to drive down tramlines in the truck so took a lighter load in my wheelbarrow (lightweight folding canvas garden barrow), Again set up under an oak with wind directly behind me. Had one magnet and two angels either side. Rape was high so did not bother putting shells out. Birds came thick and fast and started well with 5 from 5 in the first flurry. Set four of these on fibreglass canes around the angels. Ran out of cartridges by 3 pm and had a to return to truck for another 100. Seemed to be birds constantly in the air with flock between 5 and 50 birds. Had some great sport in the wind with some difficult doubles as the second bird turned in the wind. Was planning to roost shoot but couldn't leave this field. Two people started roost shooting in woods either side of me at around 4 and this kept the birds moving. By 5 PM my magnet battery was losing power and as the magnet slowed down fewer birds pulled off flightline. Packed up about 5:30. Lost count of the birds shot but picked 75, mainly down to the the dog who just seemed to keep finding them. Glad I had taken the barrow...made it back to truck in one trip, gun, magnet and birds in barrow and remiander of kit on my back. Final count 109 from just under 250 shots. Home by 6:30, quick shower and down to pub for shoot dinner. A fine meal and numerous drinks with friends and family and my contribution paid for in pigeon breasts.......can life get better? (of course it can...have another permission drilling peas this week and another is growing beans for first time this year! :yes: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columba Grey Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Had a good day yesterday on two rape fields. Had reccied both fields during the week and had them lined up for Saturday as a good forecast (dry, mild and windy). Started in the first field. Like most rape in this area it is still flat to the ground. Arrived at 8 AM. Moved few birds off field (30 ish) and drove to neighboring small wood and moved birds from there. Set up under oak tree with wind strong wind directly behind me. Set up magnet, 2 flappers and 13 shell decoys as 2 clusters either side the magnet and a flapper at front of each cluster. First birds came in and i missed. More than 200 birds lifted out the wood I had supposedly flushed.....I had only shifted the few at the front of the wood. They came over and in my frustration I took a shot and missed again ( I know I should have left them). Not a good start. Had a stop-start morning and thought of packing up a few times only to have more birds arrive. Decided to pack up and move to second choice field after lunch. Picked 34 Second field had birds coming in a continuous stream when i arrived. Rape was well advanced ...about 10 inches high where not grazed by pigeons. Too high to drive down tramlines in the truck so took a lighter load in my wheelbarrow (lightweight folding canvas garden barrow), Again set up under an oak with wind directly behind me. Had one magnet and two angels either side. Rape was high so did not bother putting shells out. Birds came thick and fast and started well with 5 from 5 in the first flurry. Set four of these on fibreglass canes around the angels. Ran out of cartridges by 3 pm and had a to return to truck for another 100. Seemed to be birds constantly in the air with flock between 5 and 50 birds. Had some great sport in the wind with some difficult doubles as the second bird turned in the wind. Was planning to roost shoot but couldn't leave this field. Two people started roost shooting in woods either side of me at around 4 and this kept the birds moving. By 5 PM my magnet battery was losing power and as the magnet slowed down fewer birds pulled off flightline. Packed up about 5:30. Lost count of the birds shot but picked 75, mainly down to the the dog who just seemed to keep finding them. Glad I had taken the barrow...made it back to truck in one trip, gun, magnet and birds in barrow and remiander of kit on my back. Final count 109 from just under 250 shots. Home by 6:30, quick shower and down to pub for shoot dinner. A fine meal and numerous drinks with friends and family and my contribution paid for in pigeon breasts.......can life get better? (of course it can...have another permission drilling peas this week and another is growing beans for first time this year! :yes: ) Sam this is a great account of what was undoubtedly a fantastic day and it reads similar to how I had anticipated how my day would turn out same conditions two rape field options and a good number of birds using the field. Unfortunately ours didn't go to plan on a 100+ acre field and as the birds didn't use the full extent of the flight line and seemed to lack conviction in feeding on the field. Because we had put in such preparation (we where on the field at 6) we persevered rather than moving though we did have a roost shot at 3.30. All very much expected when shooting pigeons but I cannot help being disappointed. Once again thanks for the great post!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Great write up and a cracking days sport . good luck with the drillings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 A great day. I notice nowadays that you do a lot more observing than you used to which is paying dividends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 A good result and well worth the move. Do you think you would have had no sport if you had stayed at the first location? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Well done, you made the best of the situation! Will you be buying another battery for your magnet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Nice result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 the old fold up wheel barrow is always handy mine fits in the vitara no ploblem with all the gear,saves getting stuck when it looks a bit dodgy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Great result, great write up , well done for moving , I have a folding barrow I use if I'm on my own great bit of kit. Did the angels move in the wind or were they sheltered as I found the angels work well in the wind with a bit of movement. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 A good result and well worth the move. Do you think you would have had no sport if you had stayed at the first location? I think I damaged the first field by shooting at the large flock. Birds seem to gather in this small wood one field away then come into the rape to feed. I should have moved them off rather than take a shot Well done, you made the best of the situation! Will you be buying another battery for your magnet? I have bigger batteries for the magnet but was trying to save weight - same theory as only taking 100 cartridges. Should have grabbed another battery when I returned for more cartridges but i think the day was about done anyway Great result, great write up , well done for moving , I have a folding barrow I use if I'm on my own great bit of kit. Did the angels move in the wind or were they sheltered as I found the angels work well in the wind with a bit of movement. Thanks for posting. Everything moved in the wind! I had the hide as a narrow V directly behind the tree so it didn't blow away. The angels were on canes about 1.5 ft long with wing spreaders and moved nicely. The other birds I put out were on various lengths of cane 1-2 ft but didn't bother with the wing spreaders...opened the wings out a bit and they bobbed about in the wind. I would have put wing spreaders on normally but so much pigeon traffic I didn't want to waste time. Thanks for all the other comments. This is my third season and most of my knowledge on pigeons shooting has come from this forum......so thanks to all those who continue to share their knowledge. :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columba Grey Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Just ordered a folding wheelbarrow may held reduce the risk of a coronary!!!! Thanks for the incidental advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Well done , perseverance usually pays off sooner or later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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