Squirrel73 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hi all! I've been considering trying out some lofting and wondered what the opinion is from anyone who has experience in it. As always there's no magic solution other than being in the right place when the birds are keen on that field. Is it worth trying,to give me an edge over these winter pigeons on the osr? Any comments or advise is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Lofting can be productive, but it can also be more work than its worth imho especially when it comes to retrieving the decoys on a windy day Just remember when lofting to be sensible and stay away from overhead cables BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLondon Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Retrieving can be made a lot easier with a funnel at the end of your poles Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 It is much better when there are two of you to put them up and bring them down. They are another useful tool in the pigeon shooters tool box. Damned hard to manage in high winds though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I don't have a lot of woodland with high trees where I regularly shoot , but I will place pigeons in hedges, on fence posts and on large bales (hardly lofting) as I believe anything that looks natural and can be seen from a distance might work. When I put decoys into lower trees (up to 25ft), I tie enough fishing line through the ring on the back of the decoy to get to the branch and back. A 4-6oz fishing lead on the other end and throw that over the branch, pull the pigeon up so it is just below the branch and tie the line off. I also have some thick hawthorn and bramble bushes (some about 10ft) around some fields and I tie line to the decoy and throw them onto the bush, a bit of tugging about usually makes the decoy sit right. This approach is a lot easier than carrying lofting poles any distance and works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I have found that lofting on tall hawthorn hedges can be effective on the edge of OSR . I use modified extending paint roller telescopic rods which reach approx 30ft . This has a short time period when they are feeding on the berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrel73 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 Lots of good advice there for me to go on,thank you all for that. I think I'm going to give it a try,there are lots of mature hardwood trees on my perms and I have the very thing to get those lofters up high. My job involves cutting trees near high voltage lines and we use insulated fibreglass rods. They are 1.2mts long and I have 9 of them. Good job I can drive to within 100yds of most of my hides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Word of caution if you use interlocking poles. Make sure they are solidly locked together!! Last year my pal was retrieving decoys and one stuck in the branches so he jogged the poles in an up and down movement to knock the decoy out of the tree. Five poles high. The top pole was not properly locked into the second pole. It released and came down vertically from some 20 ft hitting my mate in the top lip. The wound required micro stitching at the local hospital. Very lucky it wasn't his eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Word of caution if you use interlocking poles. Make sure they are solidly locked together!! Last year my pal was retrieving decoys and one stuck in the branches so he jogged the poles in an up and down movement to knock the decoy out of the tree. Five poles high. The top pole was not properly locked into the second pole. It released and came down vertically from some 20 ft hitting my mate in the top lip. The wound required micro stitching at the local hospital. Very lucky it wasn't his eye. A good tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 I found a cheap 5 metre fishing pole in a tackle shop or under a tenner, so going to play with that, should get up to about 15-18 ft with me at the bottom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 cash converters is another good place in the fishing section for a mooch got my pole from there £5 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted January 13, 2016 Report Share Posted January 13, 2016 After reading post 8 ,I've modified my lofting poles by drilling a 4mm hole and inserting a split pin between poles,this should prevent them coming apart and any mishaps,just need to get out and loft a few deeks now,BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitetail Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 I use lofting poles quite a bit and what's worked well for me instead of using plastic decoys l use a dead bird in one of the cradles , I hold it in place with wire or elastic bands it sounds very Heath Robinson but works very well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 I have 3 full bodied flock coated decoys on hooked hangers, I use an old 8 metre carp pole with a small funnel in the end to get them up into the branches, works well, if I am air rifle shooting the trees it certainly makes a difference and gives incoming birds confidence to land, If ive got the shotgun then I just use one to imitate a lookout so incoming birds will go straight into the pattern, nothing is 100% sure but I like to try all options that increase my chances of a bigger bag, good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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