Split shift pigeon shooting with Storm Barbara

[ShropshireSam]

I have been waiting for a windy morning to break up the flocks before having a go on some rape. Well with storm Barbara due I thought I could get out yesterday. I was out before light having already reccied the options. Choice was a large rape field with plenty of pigeon interest over the last week. Had a tall sitty tree off about 10 yards off a corner and over a beck and two small sitty trees just down a hedge perpendicular to the beck. Set up in the corner with 3 lofted decoys in the nearest small sitty tree, about 20 yards from the hide. Put a flapper 20 yards out in the field and 10 half shell decoys scattered around in the bear patches. Across one field to the right is a large wood where the pigeons congregate on a morning before dropping across to the rape. My hope was that as the pigeons arrived at the wood they would see the lofted decoys and come over. I was set up by 8 AM and had a couple fo pigeons approach just as I finished setting up. Had slow traffic for the next 15 minutes and then it got busy with various size flocks from pairs to about 100 birds. Lofters really seemed to work as pigeons came over the far wood and instead of landing turned towards the decoys. As they arrived some would commit to one of the sitty trees or the decoys on the ground. Had a busy 40 minutes and then traffic slowed to a trickle. I stayed for another 2 hours but very slow traffic. Wind was only 15 mph to start, but gradually got stronger. Finished with 30 picked from 56 shoots.

 

Checked the forecast and Barbara was due to peak in the early afternoon. Home for some lunch and family time then back out to a roosting wood I can shoot anytime..... not many pigeons as it was overshot a few years ago .... but worth a go in the wind. Storm Babara had passed the Midlands without too much rain but winds were ca. 40 mph. In place by 4 pm and not much pigeon traffic but had a good 30 min session with pigeons whizzing past and jinxing about. Finished with 3 picked for 14 shots.

 

Not big bags but great sport.

[JDog]

All excellent stuff.

[7daysinaweek]

Well done Sam, you certainly put the work in and deserve every bird you get!

 

atb

7diaw

[mossy835]

good shooting, i went out on rape fields today, not a pigeon in sight.

[pigeon controller]

Great result, well thought out and executed.

[oowee]

Proper planning for a good day well done.

[Wooder]

well done, they are all on the ivy round here, not showing any interest in the rape yet

[lakeside1000]

I like your thinking, I have used lofters to great success in the past but out here on the marshes around the Norfolk Broads there are not so many places to get lofters up in sight,

There is plenty of Ivy around at the moment and the berries are just coming ripe, the pigeons do seem to be a bit pre-occupied with it so I think the rape will not get busy for at least a couple of weeks,

As for roost shooting my eyesight is not so good in half light anymore so I prefer to save my cartridges for the daytime over decoys.

Still at least you show A little planning and spending some time watching for the busy patches always pay's off. well done.