A bit of information required.

[JDog]

Some decoyers swear that pigeons get onto freshly sprouted rape after it has been drilled, directly or otherwise. I have never known this. If that is the case why do pigeons never appear to go for the fresh sproutings of self seeded rape after harvest?

[malkiserow]

Because there are more options which are tasty and not bitter for them.... cereals, beech mast, acorns ?

[pigeon controller]

I've shot the on both fresh drilled and chitting stubbles but the only common factor is both days have been very hot and I think the birds were trying to obtain some moisture. Clover would not give this as I believe that clover creates heat when it's digested this is why horses are not good with large amounts. It would be interesting in the replies as you can never say never as I have never shot pigeons on oats , last summer was the first time.

[ditchman]

i have been shooting pigeons on inch and a half high rape..(getting paid by the farmer to do it)....and some of my best shooting this year so-far has been on chitting rape........until they went and spoilt it by ploughing it in..............i have been keeping an eye on the mustard...it is 8" high now and the birds right from the word go havnt touched it................

 

 

 

......the pigeons on the rape have dissapeard a few days ago ...giving me time to do stuff in the shed..................

 

 

...........hope this information helps....cannot supply photographic proof at the moment ....sorry..

[fenboy]

Never done any good on chitting rape , or newly emerging rape myself .

I did share a very good day last year with motty and his friend sam on a barley stubble that newly emerging rape , but I am sure they were there for tha left over grain rather than the rape itself.

Like most things pigeon shooting related their will be exceptions to the rules so as usual its just a case of keeping an eye on all your ground and making the best of any opportunity that may arise.

Edited September 15, 2015 by fenboy

[marsh man]

We can normally say goodbye to pigeon shooting on rape stubble once it start breaking out in leaf , the same apply to bean stubble and newly drilled rape.

 

The only exception is on direct drilled into the stubble , but like fenboy suggested , it is most likely they are after the left over grain rather than the new green leaf.

 

We used to start on rape as early as mid November , then as the years rolled by it got later and later , where now its not unusual not to start till late January or even later than that .

[Cranfield]

I have never done well on chitting rape, or the first shoots of the new drilled rape.

I always assumed its because the birds are spoiled for choice at that time, or the new growth is bitter and is less so when its a few inches higher.

We are always seeing where pigeon behavior varies around the country, so almost nothing can be discounted.

[garden gun]

They are going bonkers on the wheat stubbles roud here at the min. Never see them much through the rest of the year. Unfortunately the fields I can see on the way to/from work are right by main roads, no hedges so if they were to be shot the tree huggers would have a field day and in any case the fields are part of a very large kept estate.

[Whitetail]

I've shot some decent bags of pigeon on rape that's direct drilled this time of year , I think they are feeding on the stubble more than the rape that's coming through . If you open the crops up its often more grains than rape leafs

[dad]

Some decoyers swear that pigeons get onto freshly sprouted rape after it has been drilled, directly or otherwise. I have never known this. If that is the case why do pigeons never appear to go for the fresh sproutings of self seeded rape after harvest?

i have never seen them on chitted spilled rape but i shot them this year for the first time on drilled new shoots with wheat and barley stubble close by and 2 bean stubbles just over the hedge with beans everywhere