pigeon controller Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Following an eventful Christmas in which I happened to contract "Man Flu" which was so severe at one point my Son and Daughter were looking up the " Policies" for the inheritance. Today was the first day out for ages and we started out in heavy rain which was not a good start. The first farm we looked at had a good number of birds down on the rape but they were Game shooting so we moved on. The same at the second and third. What we did notice was the large number of crows on the rape fields with the pigeon . During the holiday we had noticed that on the horses paddock we had lots of earth worms on the surface as if they were drowning with the water soddend ground , so the same may be on the rape and the crows are taking advantage.The rain had eased and we took stock of the situation we needed to find a farm with birds that was not shooting game but if we could use the game shoots to disturb birds to our advantage . We drove out to another area and found birds down on the rape in a good number circa two hundred birds but none joining they were just on the rape and in trees all round it . We had two game shoots both sides so we set up and hoped they would return once we shot. It was now 11.30 , we had ten birds on cradles and the magnet . The first bird in flared at the set up and flew away the second came in sweet as a nut , the first shot lifted all the birds off in one go and they circled and some attempted to come into the decoys DB had two and I picked off a bonus bird. This had the effect of scattering the flock in all directions, at this point we could hear the beaters coming through the wood behind us and this sent us some high passing birds not decoyers which was fun. The next problem was marking the fallen birds so we could pick them up, as the birds come in we take it in turns to shoot the none shooter then marks the fallen birds. When we pick up one walks out to instructions to the required location and picks up. Its amazing how far you can be out at times. We had times during the day that we would not see a bird for thirty minutes then the game shoots would send us a few . We decided to pack up at 15.30 and as always the heavens opened so we did not take a photo but I took one when the birds were laid out in the garage. We ended the day with eightyfour birds which was a good result considering the weather and the game shooting in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 An excellent result given the conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 An excellent result given the conditions. Thanks , it never seemed to stop raining at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNS Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 True dedication! I got as far as looking out of the window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Glad your feeling better mate. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Glad your feeling better mate. U. Thanks , the best medicine is to shoot a few???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 Great bag PC, roll on the end of pheasant season, you can then return to 100+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Well done PC. That's a nice bag for four hours. Incident!y, I am interested how you determine to shoot a field. I have also been about looking, but with no joy. I find similar fields to yourself, with anywhere between 100 to 300 birds either down feeding or sitting around in trees. For the last few weeks it seems their behaviour has changed, no movement in or out. Unlike you if they are pushed off they don't come back. So, I usually don't set up. Now, there are a couple of different factors. 1 they are on green vegetables or spuds. Not rape 2 There are no game shoots around the areas to keep them moving 3 I just get the sense you have a larger number of birds in your area? Any thoughts would be helpful. What is special about a field that allows you to take a bag of it? Oh, and men get flu worse then women!!!! It's science http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/mens-health/10536083/Man-flu-the-truth-that-women-dont-want-to-hear.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 That's dedication for you. Well done on a good result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Well done on both the pigeons and surviving what is the life threatning condition of man flu . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Well done PC. That's a nice bag for four hours. Incident!y, I am interested how you determine to shoot a field. I have also been about looking, but with no joy. I find similar fields to yourself, with anywhere between 100 to 300 birds either down feeding or sitting around in trees. For the last few weeks it seems their behaviour has changed, no movement in or out. Unlike you if they are pushed off they don't come back. So, I usually don't set up. Now, there are a couple of different factors. 1 they are on green vegetables or spuds. Not rape 2 There are no game shoots around the areas to keep them moving 3 I just get the sense you have a larger number of birds in your area? Any thoughts would be helpful. What is special about a field that allows you to take a bag of it? Oh, and men get flu worse then women!!!! It's science http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/mens-health/10536083/Man-flu-the-truth-that-women-dont-want-to-hear.html Before the mass growing of rape we would shoot the cabbage and sprout fields down the Severn and Avon valleys so each weekend you were hitting the same flocks so you had to read the reaction to your set up and change accordingly . The one flock we have hit now for at least three weeks and they are spooky but they use the same area to feed , when we approached the field we had two hundred down and nothing joining so we knew we had to split the flock. In my opinion pigeons see safety in numbers so if you fragment them they look for a group to join so your pattern has to be inviting so you do that by changing it during the shooting day by adding Angels , taking the magnet down or even going for a complete static display . I think this has the effect of making the flock different each time they come over , in other words you have to work at it to get a bag and you will have quiet periods and we constantly pick up and make the pattern natural not all in line like soldiers on parade. If like we have seen the birds in the same area for weeks they can be decoyed but you have to work at it constantly not just set up and wait. When I travel the country I see flocks of birds all over I do not think we have more birds in the Midlands than others ,if that was the case we would have pictures/reports from all the Midland based shooters each week. The best pigeon magnate has moved from the Cotswolds to the Wolds of Lincolnshire so that should have made all the Lincolnshire shooters have a bonanza??? Dr D keep at it and you will have your day if the birds are in your area keep ringing the changes , that all we do and it works for us. Edited January 3, 2016 by pigeon controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Very useful. Thanks for the insight. I am out every spare minute. I know it will come good at some point. I have been doing quite well this year. Up until now. But I might just try splitting a flock next week as you suggest to see what happens. I usually look for movement in the air more than birds on the ground. Your method seems slightly different. So, thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks , it never seemed to stop raining at all. Idont know why you have the 'L' plates stuck on the wall of your pigeon larder. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Idont know why you have the 'L' plates stuck on the wall of your pigeon larder. Blackpowder I'm just a magpie at heart, I've got L plates , taxi signs etc that I used to find while walking the dog round the local area. With regard to Pigeon Shooting I still think I'm a learner as you have to change with the times to use the latest gadget and I'm always tinkering in the shed with my latest project. Ten out of ten for observation I tried to cover the most of it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I don't know whether your spelling of 'magnate' was deliberate or not but I am neither an attractor of pigeons at the moment nor a 'rich industrialist/businessman'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 I don't know whether your spelling of 'magnate' was deliberate or not but I am neither an attractor of pigeons at the moment nor a 'rich industrialist/businessman'. Did you get the butler or the under secretary to reply, as with all this rain you must be in your tax haven?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 They look comfy and asleep bless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Great result again PC, glad you got over man flu in time for the shooting. As usual I had the one shot wonder and got wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 They look comfy and asleep bless Yes, all collected and gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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