shalfordninja33 Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 I've been roost shooting the last two Saturdays and it's been the quietest I've known it for some years. There's barely any sign of pigeons using the woods on our syndicate. I've had a brace both weeks so it's nice to have something for dinner but I was hoping to put some in the freezer. The birds I've shot have been solitary and just seem to be passing through. I've seen one flock of a dozen birds and that's been it. Is anyone seeing good numbers of birds in Essex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 I've been roost shooting the last two Saturdays and it's been the quietest I've known it for some years. There's barely any sign of pigeons using the woods on our syndicate. I've had a brace both weeks so it's nice to have something for dinner but I was hoping to put some in the freezer. The birds I've shot have been solitary and just seem to be passing through. I've seen one flock of a dozen birds and that's been it. Is anyone seeing good numbers of birds in Essex? Yes, I've seen lots of birds but they are not playing the game and seem to be roosting anywhere they wish. When beating, the old "roosting woods" were as clean as could be ie no **** to be seen. There are some good flocks about but there is little or no rape up your way. (Shalford I assume?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted February 12, 2017 Report Share Posted February 12, 2017 Last Wednesday there were- quite literally thousands congregating along the A414 near Norton Heath & hundreds and hundreds of crows, pigeons were so densely packed into every tree, never seen anything like that before, was glad to have a passenger to witness it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Yes, thousands around my shoot, but all either high up or sitting in the trees. 3 Fields of wild bird cover have held them in the area since before Christmas, but it's been very hard on the couple of trips I have had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Furrock ain't shooting too bad at the moment - Saw absolutely tons on the grassy fields at the back of East Tilbury this morning from the train Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 (edited) Been watching a field of rape which i do not have permission on but borders one of my farms. The farmer told me a couple of weeks ago that it had been fine then one day was hammered, missed the feed by a couple of days. I have been back several times and have not seen a bird on it, I can clearly see through the binos where they have had werried it, what a big patch too! Few fellow shooters who are serious pigeon shooters around here have reported really poor numbers of pigeons this year. Went back again today, no activity. Not long back in. Stood at the end of a strip wood for about two hours, not a pigeon in the sky. What a cold wind and struggled to find shelter from it, back home now. Edited February 13, 2017 by 7daysinaweek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnut Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Been out a couple of times since Christmas, Brentwood Essex area, very, very poor....pigeons and corvids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 18, 2017 Report Share Posted February 18, 2017 Same story for me. Went to a shoot of mine near Maldon and on route just half a mile from my fields, a few trees were filled with hundreds of pigeons (more like a flock of starlings) presumably gathering to attack the rape beneath them. The week before I got a dozen (should have been more but the down hill position was challenging) I was using up some 28grm 8s (yeah I know, 8s! really?) I was surprised at the killing power but my Franchi semi didn't like them, often not cycling properly. Looking forward to getting my 1965 Franchi 48 AL back from the main man Wabbitbosher" and also getting a replacement 20 bore Hushpower, so hoping for some of the hoard to be in my area, though with pigeon shooting nothing is certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guerini Guy Posted February 19, 2017 Report Share Posted February 19, 2017 Really lean times on my perms in South Essex at the moment. Mind you, I only have wheat on my perms right now, so not too surprised. But apart from that, there is very little in the air either, or sitting in trees. Had been hoping for at least some success on previously well established flight lines, but no good right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 May be we should lobby parliament for a few days each year to allow shooting in towns ; there's loads of the beggars around my house and the flight line going over to and returning from Kent every day is second to none. I'm sure they do it just to taunt me. I thought pigeons were getting more intelligence, but isn't Kent where The Crowman shoots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) Having a Hushpower has given new places and times to shoot (may be in the town is is non starter though) Edited February 20, 2017 by getthegat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shalfordninja33 Posted February 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 I had two on Saturday afternoon. One on the walk in to the wood, the other on the walk out. Both were just passing by, not interested in coming into the wood. Hopefully when the peas go in that will draw some in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 21, 2017 Report Share Posted February 21, 2017 Hope so; I'm getting withdrawal symptoms. I got a new shoot last year and was about 3 weeks too late for the peas going in, so this year I'll be on it. Don't know if I like this early warm weather though, bit of crispness might help us and winter should still be here. God damn global warming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 So I went out again today and how frustrating was it! Same as last time with hoards of birds decimating a rape crop just 1/2 mile from one of my shoots. Tried everything to contact the owner but to no avail. Came home without getting the gun out of it's slip and a few gallons of fuel lighter due to trolling around the other shoots and cold calling a couple farms covered with corvids and pigeons only to be told they already have guys that shoot there.So now I'm bored bored bored bored bored and only the prospect of Saturday night TV and a week of work before another chance presents itself. Darn those Essex Woody's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 I'm near to you getthegat Stebbing and roosting this year over Terling area not much about we shoot for 4 weeks in February had about 60 total some big flocks at times but all very wary and country mile high. Lack of rape seems to be the main problem for good old Essex and gets worse year by year. Roll on the drilling of peas beans and wheat perhaps that will change things for us guys ? Come on pigeons come out to play ... . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Oh a neighbor! Cool. I managed to get a go on Tyndales last friday (very very nice of the land owner, farm manager and keeper to allow me) Loved being away from work for a day, out in the open air, but as for the size of the bag.........1 feathered and flew on, one blinding stone dead 40 yard-er and 2 token magpies. That was from 8.30 - about 3.00 ! ! ! I don't give up easily. There were hundreds when I arrived, mostly feeding in amongst with the bird scarer whirly things, They never returned to the field I was in but I could see them in the woods about 1/2 mile awaty, just sitting for hours and not moving. Almost made me wish I'd stayed at work and made some money; almost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Doesn't Geoff Garrod come from Essex, not sure which part but he doesn't appear to suffer with numbers! On the latest shooting show he takes a guy out on a cover crop and shoots 190. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Peter Theobald shoots plenty of big bags throughout the year. There are no shortage of pigeons in Essex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 A friend and another gun shared a bag of 491 in one day late last summer. Peter Theobald shoots plenty of big bags throughout the year. There are no shortage of pigeons in Essex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Think I'd agree that there is no shortage, I have seen plenty at various farms; just that they are always on every other farm at other times, than when I'm out. Not having much time for reconnaissance, I have to take pot luck most of the time. The birds are definitely wising up and can spot a dodgy decoy or flapper that seems never to mover forwards only flap a bit. I did have minor success with a flapper loaded with a dead bird, but my magnet must have it's poles reversed, as it always seems to push them away. After 50 plus years I'm not about to give up though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Just seen the latest Geoff Garrod video! Two or three hours and 190 birds in difficult weather conditions! Impressive, but leave some for the rest of us mere mortals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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