Sunday on the Rape Stubble

[NickB65]

Well Blue I ventured out on Sunday and tried our luck on the rape field as this was the only field to have been harvested. Around us were a plethora of stubble fields of wheat and rape so the birds had a choice of many. The field is not huge with a road running down one side, a huge barley field one side and another wheat field just as big and to the side there were three other large fields yet to be processed of wheat, rape and sugar beat.......

 

I set-up with the wind to my rear against a large blackthorn hedge which being as tall as me it provided an excellent back drop. I set-up close to the edge of the field so to my far left I had the road some 200 yards away, in front of me was the barley stubble field, to my read a wheat stubble field and to the right there were a plethora of fields of wheat, rape, barley and sugar beat. Now I have not shot this field before due to a power cable being run through it for one of the new solar fields on the estate but I shoot some of the field to my right so I knew there was a flight path over the field. I set-up my rather spacious hide - well Blue and I do like our space - with four different nets of different shades blending the hide perfectly to the hedge. I placed the full bodied decoys 20 yards in front about four of them and them to the right a group of FUD's and half shells on wobble sticks in a tear drop shape going away from me. Here the cable had been laid so there was a strip of clover where I put some of the half shells. I also placed two Magpie apart from the Pigeons and to my very right about 30 yards away one on the grounds and one in the hedge. To my left I placed a few more FUD's and half shells with a couple of crows at the furthest point which left me with a clear "killing zone" about 40 yards wide. Here I placed three or four FUD's as an area devoid of any decoys to me looks suspicious.

 

We were set-up by 11:00 and we waited. The sky was devoid of birds but I was confident. By 11:30 Blue and I were chilling when the first came in from behind and to the right. It swooped in just above the hedge and swung nicely into the killing zone about 25 yards in front of me. One shot and he dropped and Blue went to fetch him. I put the dead bird on my flapper which I put right in front of me about 25 yards out. With the flapper they came in a steady flow for about an hour in their ones and two. Most came in from the left or from the fields in front so I could see them approach. Some low and hugging the ground while others came in high with that swooping flight where they swoop down and then up scanning the land. A few stupidly easy shots I missed but I made up for these with some rather fun left and right doubles. The first double made me smile, the second and I had a huge grin, the third and I was getting cocky and the next I missed both..... The clay shooting was paying dividends as before a left to right was very much 50/50 while now it is more like 90/10 - if I concentrated.

 

By 13:00 they stopped and for the next hours or two the sky was empty. Changed the pattern as those that were around ignored my invitation and I changed the battery on the flapper which was getting a little slow - my bad as I had not charged it for as long as I wanted. I moved the flapper more to the right to try and make it more visible. Then the feral pigeons came. Not in huge numbers but constant. Another lull but I knew come 4pm the evening feed would start. I moved the flapper so it was now to my left still the same distance away and then they came. Slow and steady in ones and two's but it was fun. First it was the Rooks that must have been attracted by my rather large crows as I saw them approach from afar and in front. Two flew slowly and straight for me. They veered a little to the right and then when they came into range I aimed for the leading bird. One barrel of Gamebore number 6 with 32g of oomph and it faltered in the sky as if thumped and then he started to rise and go to the left... another shot and he faltered again and turned to come straight at me..... a third short from the semi and he came down and landed the other side of the hedge. That was one tough Rook. I went to pick up the Rook without Blue and the Rook was sat there glaring at me far from dead. It is good to know the hide is working when a Rook flies in so close..... Then the woodies in two's and three's from every direction.

 

We stopped 6pm when we had to go due to domestic reasons and they were still coming in. For the day we had 38 woodies - 18 feral - six rook and five crow.

 

BEST SHOT had to be the second right and left double - I was well chuffed

 

BEST BIT OF KIT - The flapper is worth it weight in gold.... well pigeon anyway.... If they are in the air then they will be drawn to it - just make sure you have enough battery power for the day.