88 on hybrid rye stubble

[ShropshireSam]

A first for me. I was out reccying winter barley fields at lunchtime when I spotted a flightline straightover a barley field into the next field. Had a look and it was a hybrid rye that had been cut that morning as wholecrop for an AD plant. Watched for 10 minutes and then had a drive round to lift the birds off. About 100 on the field and a steady flightline in......change of plan, thought the barley can wait as the stubble will have slurry on within a week. Back the next day (Friday) with a mate I owe a days pigeon shoooting. About 150 on the field and a good flightline in. We were set up by 2 pm and had steady traffic all afternoon between a couple of rain showers. We both shot badly to begin with and a lot of birds did not decoy ....many went into neighbouring oak trees or flared away as they approached the pattern. Had a standard U pattern with a flapper front centre, a flapper to left and magnet front right, which was directly in front of an oak. I switched the magnet to the front left and that helped. Finished with 88 picked. My mate had his first double on pigeons so was well chuffed. (Went on the best barley field on Saturday and finished with 97....next post).

 

Hybid rye stubble in July is a first for me decoying but I'll be keeping my eye on them in the future. I have another permision who should be cutting some soon for forage. Just goes to show you need to be out regularly and on the look out all the time to find the pigeons.

[motty]

Well done. I can't say I have ever seen many pigeons on rye stubble, though I have shot a few over drilled rye.

[shootingmachine]

Another good day well done

[la bala]

Nice bag, well done.