Lg1 Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 For the first time in my shooting career of 8 years Iv just stumbled across a few fields of peas in my local area, I was quite surprised as I'v never actually seen one let alone shot over one. It stands to reason that I have no real knolage of them, I read people talking about them saying things like "the peas are getting vined" etc etc so I thought now is the time to learn a bit more! These peas are around a foot or so high and clearly showing the pods but the question is have I missed the boat on these ? There's not large amounts of birds round here yet so nothing was getting at them! Is the best time to shoot them stright after been drilled ? What's it like shooting the crop once harvested ? Any help is good thanks as I'm pretty green to this type of crop.... Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 You can shoot peas at all stages , though for me its been a poor year on them , they did not get any attention until in pod and then the pigeon quickly moved onto wheat. Two main types vining peas which go for freezing and harvest peas which will go for marrowfat peas / dried peas etc . Harvest peas will be combined after being sprayed off , and normally offer better chances of stubble shooting as more peas are left behind , though vining pea stubble can also attract birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 You can only shoot pigeons on peas when there are pigeons on the peas. Just keep visiting the fields and having a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lg1 Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 Thanks lads... Obvs that states the obvious JDog and I'll be keeping a close look, be nice to finally get a go over peas! Read some fantastic stories about them Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 I've shot over peas the last two weekends running but only bags of around the 50 mark each time....they're at their highest right now so a bit of a pain for picking up the birds and that's the first time we've shot any peas since drilling. Personally I find the prime time to be when they've been sprayed and dying off (going brown), usually by that point theyve gonna over as well so a lot lower and easier to shoot so keep your eyes peeled and as Jdog said, if there's no pigeons there's no point....not a magical crop as some people say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 12, 2015 Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 ive never had a big bag on peas....ive had regular bags of 15-30................pigeons and peas are not what they used to be................20-30 years ago it would be when they are sown...........coming into flower......and the morning after harvesting.................not last year but the year before.....i was out early watching the viner finish on the field and move off....10 mins later 4 pick up trucks turned up with 4 pigeon boys and set up around the field.............i dropped by the field at 3 ish...to see the lads walking back and had a chinwag with them...............3 birds between them all day the next day it was COVERED in rooks ..and i mean covered...not a pigeon in sight...............the only time ive seen pigeons on peas bigstyle was 7 years ago on a hot sunny afternoon going nowhere fast anticlockwise on the M25...they were like locusts........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lg1 Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2015 Haha some good accounts of shooting over peas there Ditchman cheers, TBF there wasn't any pigeons on it but I'll definatly keep an eye on it.. It's quite strange seeing peas around these parts as they just don't seem to sow them! Maybe as it's the only peas around for miles it may get some attention.. If not then hey ho, plenty of barly wheat & OSR to keep a pigeon man happy 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 Keep an eye on peas from sowing onwards but key times are when just drilled, when just emerging, flowering and just before (if sprayed off for drying) and just after harvest.....but don't assume any numbers will appear. I had good numbers (100s) during flowering on one field and now they are in the tramlines of neighbouring rape and wheat. Issue of damaging crop from flowering to harvest when retrieving birds so need to limit shooting to over a thin patch or accept will not retrieve all birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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