Penelope Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Had a call last last from one of the guns on my syndicate, asking if I was working today. 'Yep, 'fraid so, why?' was my reply. He then went on to inform me that the farm we shoot over had finished drilling peas and beans, and that the area was covered in pigeons, thousands of them. He had been watching since Friday, when they had completed the drilling and seen the birds build up from then, but unable to get at them due to family commitments. He was unable to get away from work, so thought he'd ring round those that shoot the pigeons to give them the heads up. It's so frustrating sitting here at work, know that there are heaps of woodies to have a crack at. Part of me wishes I didn't know. It'll be Good Friday, before I'll be able to get up there (if I can postpone the job of laying some paving slabs), but the weather forecast is for a wash out over Easter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 You should have gone shooting. You can work anytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 (edited) If only. Too much on today, Fire alarm contractors on site for install works and a meeting with an AC controller company regarding some issues with the control panels they have fitted. I may beg the boss to see if I can get a day off though, in fact I'm going to ring her now. You should have gone shooting. You can work anytime. Edited March 21, 2016 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris1961 Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Thats a sickner waited for the woodies when they come having to work what a ****** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Got Wednesday off . Thats a sickner waited for the woodies when they come having to work what a ****** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Got Wednesday off . They will be gone by Wednesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Trust you to put a downer on it . They will be gone by Wednesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I am sure they will be there in their thousands on Wednesday . Look forward to seeing a nice photo of a double century + Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Good luck on wednesday, try to get some sleep! I personally would prefer not to know they were there if I couldn't get to shoot them. If I do see a field with potentail for a big day it eats away at me! Look forward to the report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Good luck on wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dad Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 good luck penelopy. i took 2 days off 3 weeks ago for drilled beans i shot 6 in 3 days they all went on next doors rape. dont expect too much then you wont be dissapointed if it dont happen. so much drilling got done this weekend they could go anywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 (edited) Very true, although we have quite an acreage on peas and beans, plus a fair bit of rape if they move on that. From the conversation I had last night there does appear to be a lot about. The gun in question is a seasoned pigeon shooter who knows his onion and wouldn't be a exited as he sounded if there weren't an exceptional number of pigeons about. I can only hope. Taking the old man out with me; he's been quite ill this lat year so it would be good for him to have a bang. good luck penelopy. i took 2 days off 3 weeks ago for drilled beans i shot 6 in 3 days they all went on next doors rape. dont expect too much then you wont be dissapointed if it dont happen. so much drilling got done this weekend they could go anywhere Edited March 21, 2016 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 They will be gone by Wednesday I agree, and besides, everyone knows that pigeons do not do Wednesdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I know from old that Bedfordshire ones don't do Saturdays. I agree, and besides, everyone knows that pigeons do not do Wednesdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 one of my perms drill peas then covers them with a membrane till they have chitted just have to wait a block at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawntredder Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Wish farmers I know still done peas but it's wheat and barley for the most and some rape went round on Sunday gone and all fields bar a few were already drilled and are all on there way rape 6 inches and the rest around 3" or more be a long spring n summer for me....had me best bags on drilled beans tho and peas!!...concentrate more on Bunny's with a bit hide shooting over the rape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Yup its a well known fact that Tuesday nights roosting topic is where to go for the rest of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dad Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Very true, although we have quite an acreage on peas and beans, plus a fair bit of rape if they move on that. From the conversation I had last night there does appear to be a lot about. The gun in question is a seasoned pigeon shooter who knows his onion and wouldn't be a exited as he sounded if there weren't an exceptional number of pigeons about. I can only hope. Taking the old man out with me; he's been quite ill this lat year so it would be good for him to have a bang. you deserve a good day for taking the old man out thats what sons should do, how old is he.we had 100 acres of peas last year along the side of a 200 acre wood it took them 4 weeks to find them and there was peas lying everywhere, they were chitting by then, we had stopped bothering to look at them, then one day we looked and it erupted with pigeons and we got one good day off it they could have been on it for 3 or 4 days before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 He is 73. He has not been out since the week between Christmas and New Year when we had a unexceptional morning on some rape that had a lot on it when we turned up. He missed most of our pheasant shoots too, unfortunately. you deserve a good day for taking the old man out thats what sons should do, how old is he.we had 100 acres of peas last year along the side of a 200 acre wood it took them 4 weeks to find them and there was peas lying everywhere, they were chitting by then, we had stopped bothering to look at them, then one day we looked and it erupted with pigeons and we got one good day off it they could have been on it for 3 or 4 days before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 I've had a look and there were none on those fields this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 New binos? I've had a look and there were none on those fields this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dad Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 He is 73. He has not been out since the week between Christmas and New Year when we had a unexceptional morning on some rape that had a lot on it when we turned up. He missed most of our pheasant shoots too, unfortunately. i am 70 and still working fool that i am my mate just phoned me hes 56 and retired and looks after me and said he is looking at a bean field on one of our perms withn 4000 pigeons on it and he is going to wait till thursday when i will be there. hope they havent left it by then. hope the old man continues to improve and enjoy any time you can spend with him. my old mate went on till 90, i took him fishing in iireland for a week when he was 88. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2016 Well, the naysayer's were right, a big bag was not forthcoming, despite there being a lot of pigeons about. 350 acres of drilled peas and bean and pigeons in large gangs that constantly moved between all of the fields and no defined flight line to any one field, made it difficult. An hour's driving round looking and three moves, the third to a field where I thought I'd finally got them nailed (200-300 on the floor and traffic around it). We set up again, there, only for the pigeons to move to another larger field, but in numbers, from where they started hedge hoping to another two. Close on a thousand birds I guess. We ended up with a baker's dozen. None the less, it was a nice day out with my dad, and good to be able to get him out for a shoot or two. Going back tomorrow, when there should be a couple more guns from the syndicate out, which should keep them on the move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted March 24, 2016 Report Share Posted March 24, 2016 We were always led to believe in our sheltered neck of the woods that Essex birds were always obliging any day of the week , during the day or at night but how you can pull them in at night ?, well that I couldn't tell yer , perhaps I should have got out a bit more Hope the fresh air and getting out again made your dad feel a lot better and now the weather have started to warm up a bit he can get out a bit more and enjoy the Essex countryside . Good luck for Friday , both the shooting and the weather . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2016 A better day yesterday, me, my dad and a friend Pete were out from 1pm until 4:30. We covered 3 fields between us. Every drilled field on the farm had birds on them, but we picked the three that had the most traffic. 10 HH and 18 dead birds, including those on the flapper and whirly made up my pattern, which accounted for 31. Pete had 46 and dad had 4 (pity as he was between Pete and I, and should have been best placed. He did only have 8 decoys out and no mechanical trickery, where as Pete and I had bigger spreads and gadgets). As others have mentioned, lots of high birds flying hither and dither, with, it appeared, no destination in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.