marsh man Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Last Saturday when I went after pigeons apart from the wind being bitterly cold if anything it was too strong , in comparison with today, although no where near as cold there was very little ( if any ) wind to clear the misty conditions . In the ideal world I like a 15 mph wind blowing any direction apart from the East , which is not only cold it tends to blow sea mist and fog in off the sea. As we all know wind is a important part of pigeon shooting , so my question is what is your ideal wind speed ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Just a decent breeze is what I prefer , a strong wind does not very often result in big bags as it becomes very hard to hit pairs or to have a decent follow up shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 My largest bag came on a totally wind free day in August, I do not like cold windy days for shooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I like a good strong wind as it channels the birds and blows away the sound of the shot. However I do not like the wind to be so strong that it blows my hide down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wilksy Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Does a strong wind affect there approach? It's just the only two that came in to my set up at weekend came low and fast, below the line of my net! It was probably a 15 mph easterly brrrrrr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I don't like too much wind at all, for my decoying. Just a slight breeze is enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I like a strong wing as it channels the birds down the valleys or makes them commit to decoys from a distance. Any wind is good I do not like still days as the birds just flutter around . I love a strong wind when the birds come over high and just fold their wings and come in like dive bombers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I like a strong wing as it channels the birds down the valleys or makes them commit to decoys from a distance. Any wind is good I do not like still days as the birds just flutter around . I love a strong wind when the birds come over high and just fold their wings and come in like dive bombers Totally agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Yet another one of those pigeon book myths that a strong wind is what you need for a good days shooting. My best days have invariably come with either just a mild breeze or a mid strength wind at best. Strong winds don't necessarily keep the birds low as we're often told and can prove quite tricky in not only pulling birds in within range but also keeping the hide secured. What we forget is that many a shot is taken at birds that don't quite commit to decoys, strong winds make this much harder to accomplish. The only situation where I welcome a good bit of wind is where the sound of shots get carried away from the main holding woods or general pigeon traffic routes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Yet another one of those pigeon book myths that a strong wind is what you need for a good days shooting. My best days have invariably come with either just a mild breeze or a mid strength wind at best. Strong winds don't necessarily keep the birds low as we're often told and can prove quite tricky in not only pulling birds in within range but also keeping the hide secured. What we forget is that many a shot is taken at birds that don't quite commit to decoys, strong winds make this much harder to accomplish. The only situation where I welcome a good bit of wind is where the sound of shots get carried away from the main holding woods or general pigeon traffic routes. There are pros and cons I think. Pros - When coming in, I find high wind means they have less chance to look for danger as they have to think about flying a bit more. Shots do less damage to nearby birds and windy days seem to encourage flying. "Siily Socks" decoys behave well. Cons - when coming into the pattern birds have to deal with wind-shear etc and swerve about, making it easy to miss "a sitter" Hides get blown about, it can become cold. Sometimes a nice hedge, which can provide shelter for the shooter and also feeding birds, can, I think, set up such turbulence in the airflow during final approach that birds give it a miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Thanks for the replies , its seems there isn't one speed to suit everybody and like the above post stated there are advantages and disadvantages with any speed. I spend a lot of time on marshland during the summer months and with only a margin of reeds around the fields there is very little cover so I prefer a wind speed no stronger than 15 mph , much more than that the hide get blown about a bit and takes the enjoyment out of it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 you don,t always need a strong wind to make a decent bag, still hot summer days produce bags very often, but at other times of the year I prefer at least 10mph wind but no stronger than 20mph sometimes you just need a decent wind to get them on the move and keep them moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I like a good strong wind as it channels the birds and blows away the sound of the shot. However I do not like the wind to be so strong that it blows my hide down. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 My largest bag came on a totally wind free day in August, I do not like cold windy days for shooting! I don't like too much wind at all, for my decoying. Just a slight breeze is enough for me. I can remember a day on a newly sown bean field that was supposed to be a golden day only to sit out the day frozen to the marrow and fighting all day to keep the hide from ending up down in the hedge down in the bottom of the field. I dont think that I had more than half a dozen chances before I called a halt to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) I like a decent breeze 15-25 mph , the birds tend to be lower and pay more attention to decoys and they seem to move more. On the down side they can be harder to hit as one jink and they are yards across the sky. Still days can be great if you are where they have a strong feed , but the pigons do not seem to flight as much. Not keen of gales unless roost shooting. But one thing in a gale is some times pigeons will rest on a ploughed field in a sheltered hollow and then they are suckers to decoy. Edited March 19, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masher Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I like to have between 15-20mph ideally. If you gave me an option on no wind or strong winds I would take a strong wind every time because 1: pigeons DO decoy better. 2: shots are muffled there for not putting birds off there flight lines. 3: pigeons will alway flight/move about more. I've shot good bags on windless days but I'm always a lot more confident going out with a good wind. Yes kill rates will be lower but the challenge is surly what we all love...isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I like to have between 15-20mph ideally. If you gave me an option on no wind or strong winds I would take a strong wind every time because 1: pigeons DO decoy better. 2: shots are muffled there for not putting birds off there flight lines. 3: pigeons will alway flight/move about more. I've shot good bags on windless days but I'm always a lot more confident going out with a good wind. Yes kill rates will be lower but the challenge is surly what we all love...isn't it I've never been convinced about point no.3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 I've never been convinced about point no.1 - birds either decoy really well or they don't, there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 I like a good strong wind as it channels the birds and blows away the sound of the shot. However I do not like the wind to be so strong that it blows my hide down. I like a strong wing as it channels the birds down the valleys or makes them commit to decoys from a distance. Any wind is good I do not like still days as the birds just flutter around . I love a strong wind when the birds come over high and just fold their wings and come in like dive bombers Two of our most consistent pigeon shooters both prefer a strong wind , but that's not to say you cant shoot pigeons in little or no wind just that when we were at work and time was more limited you went whatever the weather and if it was flat calm you had to make the most of the day , and yes I have had decent bags in all sort of weather conditions but now I have more time on my hands I can wait or pick the days I go and there are days where the wind direction will determin where I go , for instance if the field have only one hedge and the wind is blowing head on to it I will leave it alone till its either behind me or at least sideways. Which now bring me to the next question . ...... Do you prefer the wind ( or breeze ) behind you or from R to L or from L to R , or are you one of the few who like it head on ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Side on if I can help it, from behind is second choice and in your face least desirable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Side on if I can help it, from behind is second choice and in your face least desirable. Got that Hamster. Now what about the wind? I'll get my coat..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) Got that Hamster. Now what about the wind? I'll get my coat..... Cheeky. Doesn't every one like it from behind? Edited March 19, 2015 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Cheeky. Doesn't every one like it from behind? Speak for yourself . As the Greek Zorba once said: God has a very big heart, but there is one sin He will not forgive. If a woman calls a man to her bed and he will not go.” Got that Hamster. Now what about the wind? I'll get my coat..... Sleep walked into that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) Always like a wind at my back if possible , a head on pigeon is a simpler shot, side winds can be ok , though that sometimes causes the pigeons to skirt the decoys at the fringe of range, but never keen on a stiff wind into my face . The birds have a habbit of nipping over a hedge from behind and catching you out. Edited March 19, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Had my best bags and best sport with a good wind but above 15 mph makes second shots harder as they are soon out of range. Prefer wind behind me but have more sport with a side-on wind....one of my most satisfying shots are a side-on pigeon dive bombing the decoys. Don't like strong gusts...these are what blow the hide about and make pigeons very hard to hit as they keep getting blown of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.