Mini Magnum Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) I've been decoying some pigeons over rape with not much success, I have attached a map of fields, which are all in rape, as soon as you let a shot off, there into another field. So the key I suppose is to try and get under a flight line, thing being with them being in a large flock, they just all move and there pretty erratic... if they don't move to another field they just sit in the tree line forever and a day after a shot. Any suggestions ? Would I be better going first light before they start to flock and hitting them then on a decent flightline? Or maybe use some rope bangers on the other fields? As an example I let a shot off in field 3 or 4 they go to fields 1 or 2 never to return... Edited March 27, 2016 by Mini Magnum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Takes time, but you could try flagging the other fields or like you say, rope bangers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted March 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Yeh flags or rope bangers sounds good, still the problem of them being in a flock, one shot gone for hours or sat in a tree. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Yeh flags or rope bangers sounds good, still the problem of them being in a flock, one shot gone for hours or sat in a tree. :( You are right there bud, i hate flocks, much prefer them in 5s and 10s. Good luck on your next outing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Unfortunately, I think you are probably wasting your time with bangers or flags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted March 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Unfortunately, I think you are probably wasting your time with bangers or flags. Ok any suggestions ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 How often have you been shooting the fields, what's made you choose to set up where you have been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted March 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Once in a blue moon I have shot it, they have hammered the fields and the farmers been on to me. Basically I tried to setup were they were feeding and flying from the treeline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Ok any suggestions ? take a mate with you to cover another field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Once in a blue moon I have shot it, they have hammered the fields and the farmers been on to me. Basically I tried to setup were they were feeding and flying from the treeline. Unfortunately some fields just won't offer a good bag despite lots of birds sitting in trees etc....if you walk them off and no flightline returns and they're just in one huge flock it's unlikely you'll ever make a decent bag. May be worth watching at various times of the morning/early afternoon to see if there are any strong flightlines to and from a particular part of one field or another.....choosing the right day when the wind is in the right direction may help your cause too. As said, another shooter covering another firld may help or just push the birds off altogether! Can be frustrating at times when you see good numbers but just can't seem to make a decent bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Magnum Posted March 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Unfortunately some fields just won't offer a good bag despite lots of birds sitting in trees etc....if you walk them off and no flightline returns and they're just in one huge flock it's unlikely you'll ever make a decent bag. May be worth watching at various times of the morning/early afternoon to see if there are any strong flightlines to and from a particular part of one field or another.....choosing the right day when the wind is in the right direction may help your cause too. As said, another shooter covering another firld may help or just push the birds off altogether! Can be frustrating at times when you see good numbers but just can't seem to make a decent bag. Tried another shooter in field 1, whilst I was in field 3, they just disappear from the fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocknee Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 In my opinion the only way to make a bag on winter rape is to cover as many fields as possible with guns who are willing to stay put to keep the birds moving. You can bet that as soon as one gun packs up because of lack of shooting that is where the pigeons will head, although this time of year it becomes more difficult to make a bag on rape as the birds can move on to clover spring drillings buds etc when dsiturbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 In my opinion the only way to make a bag on winter rape is to cover as many fields as possible with guns who are willing to stay put to keep the birds moving. You can bet that as soon as one gun packs up because of lack of shooting that is where the pigeons will head, although this time of year it becomes more difficult to make a bag on rape as the birds can move on to clover spring drillings buds etc when dsiturbed. I don't agree with that being the 'only' way to make a bag on winter rape though there are obviously occasions when it can help! We nearly always shoot from one hide and don't generally have a problem making bags on the rape, it does take a little more reconnaissance/better hide positioning than just covering every field with someone though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Tried another shooter in field 1, whilst I was in field 3, they just disappear from the fields. If the pigeons are just disappearing from the area altogether when you set up then there's little else you can do in all honesty, apart from maybe trying a different start time. 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.