Shooting sitters.

[Cranfield]

I was out early this morning for a look round and ended up in a small woodland near a rape field.

There were no birds on the rape field, but birds were coming into the trees against the very strong winds.

I started at the edge of the wood (no hide), but even though I was partly hidden the birds were spooking, so I moved in a bit deeper.

Incoming birds were twisting and sliding down the wind and were into the trees almost before you could see them.

I shot 37 and about 30 of those were sitters, something I am sure a few sainted shooters will complain about.

 

On checking the crops of a couple of birds I found mainly old wheat grain and some ivy berries, but no rape.

 

The strong winds seem to have broken up the big flocks that have been around and the smaller groups (hopefully) will become more decoyable.

 

[kippylawkid]

No complaints from me. It's always nice to shoot screamers on the wind but sometimes sitters need to be taken.

Farmers want you to kill pigeons.

[oowee]

So impressed you were out today. I had a tree down in the garden towed it back with the Landy the wind was amazing and then it started to rain Its still raining.

Sounds like you had a good day out. I would shoot the sitters too

[Scully]

I shoot them on the ground when decoying, so have no qualms about shooting sitters.

We spook a few when in the woods but we aren't seeing any in numbers around here; nothing much to feed on at the moment outside farm buildings.

[fenboy]

Some people have no morals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Including me , I would have shot them too

[kent]

There is nothing wrong with shooting pests as sitters

Something that perplexes me is why shotgunning we think we must only take the harder shots and with rifles only the sure thing and missing or wounding a harder shot or a moving target is the unsporting element

What makes us think this way?

[rjimmer]

There is nothing wrong with shooting pests as sitters

Something that perplexes me is why shotgunning we think we must only take the harder shots and with rifles only the sure thing and missing or wounding a harder shot or a moving target is the unsporting element

What makes us think this way?

+1

Farmers want you to kill pigeons.

+1. With the cost of non-toxic cartridges most of the wildfowl that I shoot are sitters.

[Dr D]

If they are in range I shoot. If there are in the decoys, I consider it a job well done.

[ShropshireSam]

Happy to shoot sitters if they land before I am on them. Had a situation last year when roost shooting in high winds. I found the birds did not spot me moving (as everything in the wood was moving) so if I saw birds land out of range I could walk within range and get a shot in. What I did manage was to shoot three "doubles" where one was a sitter and then a second shot of a bird leaving...that was good sport and helped fill the bag.

[mossy835]

your there to shoot pigeons,flying or sitting.

[Harnser]

I too shoot sitters and take my rimfire on some fields to shoot sitters on the ground out side the pattern . Pigeon shooting is pest control .

 

Harnser

[cooooper1]

if the farmers seen me leaving a bird in the air on the ground sat in the trees or even on top of my jeep I`d be gone and someone who would shoot them would be my replacement so I`ll shoot birds anywhere

[Columba Grey]

This is just my opinion and I suspect it's not going to be popular but shooting sitters is not something I consider sporting. I understand and empathise with some of the rationale particularly the farmers expectations but I go out to shoot because I enjoy the challenge.

[oowee]

This is just my opinion and I suspect it's not going to be popular but shooting sitters is not something I consider sporting. I understand and empathise with some of the rationale particularly the farmers expectations but I go out to shoot because I enjoy the challenge.

I can see your point of view. I like the sporting element but I am also there to do a job. I go back to Kent's post which raises an interesting point of the difference with rifle and shotgun. I wont shoot sitting pheasant as that would not be sporting (for me) but maybe if I was out with the rifle?

[rjimmer]

your there to shoot pigeons,flying or sitting.

+1

[Blackpowder]

Always take the chance of a sitter and always surprised when the blighters fly away despite dust flying all around them from the shot on a seed field.

 

Blackpowder

[belly47]

I can see your point of view. I like the sporting element but I am also there to do a job. I go back to Kent's post which raises an interesting point of the difference with rifle and shotgun. I wont shoot sitting pheasant as that would not be sporting (for me) but maybe if I was out with the rifle?

also depends on if you are looking for a sporting challenge or shooting for the pot.

 

I shoot pigeons for pest control and what I shoot goes in the pot too. so a standing pheasant for me would be shot with either rifle or shotgun

 

each to their own I guess

Edited December 31, 2015 by belly47

[bullet1747]

It's the only ones I can hit

[Andra]

I used to leave sitters until I read Will Garfits book and his words on sitters, basically pest control is the order of the day. Now I shoot them, of course a more sporting shot is more enjoyable but dead pigeons are what the farmers usually want. I eat my woodies so also see it as another easy bird for the table

[Dr D]

This is just my opinion and I suspect it's not going to be popular but shooting sitters is not something I consider sporting. I understand and empathise with some of the rationale particularly the farmers expectations but I go out to shoot because I enjoy the challenge.

I agree. But I see the challenge slightly different. The task for me is to get the birds to come to the decoys? If I manage to get them into the pattern and on the ground then I have succeeded. Getting them as close as possible. The killing bit is just the end of the process. I do that for the farmer. I decoy for myself.

[kent]

I can see your point of view. I like the sporting element but I am also there to do a job. I go back to Kent's post which raises an interesting point of the

 

difference with rifle and shotgun. I wont shoot sitting pheasant as that would not be sporting (for me) but maybe if I was out with the rifle?

I know a few grouse keepers that shoot cock pheasant with rifle I even got told to do it

Just don't sit well does it

Another thought/ question am I wrong to shoot running quarry with the rifle?

[Columba Grey]

I agree. But I see the challenge slightly different. The task for me is to get the birds to come to the decoys? If I manage to get them into the pattern and on the ground then I have succeeded. Getting them as close as possible. The killing bit is just the end of the process. I do that for the farmer. I decoy for myself.

 

Again agreement. I love outwitting the woddies with the pattern. But honestly 30+ sitters would break my heart. I couldn't do it. Certainly the occasional bird that gets in but if they ain't in the air I generally won't shoot. Mind you a few sitters my help my kill average!

Edited January 1, 2016 by Columba Grey

[Shotguneddy]

I agree. But I see the challenge slightly different. The task for me is to get the birds to come to the decoys? If I manage to get them into the pattern and on the ground then I have succeeded. Getting them as close as possible. The killing bit is just the end of the process. I do that for the farmer. I decoy for myself.

 

 

 

Well put