old'un Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Don't usually bother anymore on winter rape specially during Jan Feb, but over the years I have had some fairly big bags on spring rape, do you see much of it in your area? and how well do you do on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 A superb crop to decoy over around May time, the birds go for the sparse bits around the headlands just like Winter rape, but the big difference is that they don't turn up in flocks of 500 plus birds, more in a steady stream all day long, which can make for some good shooting. Not much grown around these parts though, most farmers have switched to peas. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Had some great days on it in the past but sadly never see it in my area any more, not financially viable apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I had three consecutive days of over 200 on spring rape a few years ago shooting at the end of May into June. There is a field of failed winter rape near this village and I am hoping that he will re sow it as spring rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 not any of my farmers have grown spring rape.so never shot over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 dont see it no more on my perms had quite a few decent bags over the years on it good crop for shooting pigeons 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-auto Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 A good many years ago, a farmer on one of my permissions put spring rape in on a large field backing onto a pig slurry, but it never took. Came up about three inches and that was it with great bare patches. Shot it the first week and downed 140+. Shot it the second week with a mate and bagged 130+. On this occasion I had my flatcoat with me, now long since departed. I sent the dog for a bird dropped behind, which she dutifully retrieved and then disappeared. I assumed that she had gone for another bird. My mate who always dressed the part with expensive, well pressed Dak slacks, sweater and shirt, all of a sudden kangarooed over the front of the net. I wondered what the hell he was doing but then saw the flatcoat coming into the hide from behind totally coated in slurry. Laugh! Oh yes I laughed, until the dog shook itself. Not quite so funny then. Anyway, shot the field the third week and dropped 120+. Turned up the fourth week to find it ploughed in. Gutted! Rarely see spring rape nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingmachine Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 A good many years ago, a farmer on one of my permissions put spring rape in on a large field backing onto a pig slurry, but it never took. Came up about three inches and that was it with great bare patches. Shot it the first week and downed 140+. Shot it the second week with a mate and bagged 130+. On this occasion I had my flatcoat with me, now long since departed. I sent the dog for a bird dropped behind, which she dutifully retrieved and then disappeared. I assumed that she had gone for another bird. My mate who always dressed the part with expensive, well pressed Dak slacks, sweater and shirt, all of a sudden kangarooed over the front of the net. I wondered what the hell he was doing but then saw the flatcoat coming into the hide from behind totally coated in slurry. Laugh! Oh yes I laughed, until the dog shook itself. Not quite so funny then. Anyway, shot the field the third week and dropped 120+. Turned up the fourth week to find it ploughed in. Gutted! Rarely see spring rape nowadays. some good memories there I bet, I'd e happy with 5 on this osr the way its going same every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 had one farmer grow it once but the pigeon's caused to much of a problem I shot it as much as I could but I still had to earn a crust he kept ringing up saying where are you I just kept saying I will get there as soon as I can he said never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Bit of info on this site about spring rape and rape in general, its more for farmers but I found it interesting.https://www.dsv-uk.co.uk/service/Pressrelease/SOSR.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Another reason why Spring Rape is not that popular is that it's a very fickle crop to grow, if we have a dry Spring / early Summer it can be very stunted and will be hammered even harder by the Woodies, whereas if we have a wet Spring / early Summer then it can grow very well and be too long for the birds to get on very quickly after sowing. A bit of a roulette crop..? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 peas are a superb substitute for spring rape though, if they get left as the harvesting team goes past for what ever reason you get another go at them, a 70 acre field near me got ripe too quick a few years back and the harvesters passed by, I shot some big bags on there, even after they had been ploughed in there were peas everywhere, pigeons came from miles Mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pull2007 Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 same as jdog lot of failed crops here with the wet hope they resow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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