tody27 Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 HI guys, just wondering, has anybody started on the spring drillings yet? If you have, hows it going and is better than the rape I have noticed the farmer on the land that I shoot has just started sowing them- hopefully some good shooting soon tody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Farmers in our area are prepairing the land. I have not however had a great deal of sucsess on spring drillings in recent years. The drilling equipment seems to be much more efficient and the farmers drill the stuff a mile deep. Either way its great sport, good luck webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sniper Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Tody, I went down to Lincolnshire last week and quite a few fields had been drilled a couple of days before with spring barley. There was none left on the surface, so no shooting there yet. I noticed a farmer, locally, drilling beans on a couple of fields. I thought he was a bit early but what do I know about planting times ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 I have not however had a great deal of sucsess on spring drillings in recent years. Exactly the same with me Webber and i don't await spring drillings with the enthusiasm that i use to. The only good bags i have had in recent years have been on beans where the farmer has spread them over the field and then just scuffed them in. However i have also found that a field where there is always good shooting whatever the crop, can be used to kid the pigeons after being drilled. Even when no seed has been left on top for them to eat, a good pattern of decoys spread out can often draw them in for a good days shooting. Another crop that usually brings results is peas especially when they start to pop up through the ground and the pigeons pull them out to get at the pea. :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Unfortunately the spring drillings will be another 3 or 4 weeks away for us up here. :< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy17 Posted February 26, 2004 Report Share Posted February 26, 2004 I think there just starting in my area.Id have to say that the best spring shooting I've had is over peas good numbers over beans and peas.Will be nice to get some bigger bags compared to my recent poor bags,I've struggled to shoot into double figures over the winter has anyone else had it like this??. yis andy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterswind9465 Posted February 26, 2004 Report Share Posted February 26, 2004 First sown fields in Fife are shooting well I personaly shot 97 today and my clients had 476, yesterday we had 279, tomorrow we will be shooting on sprouts as there is an inch of snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flightline Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 I have not however had a great deal of sucsess on spring drillings in recent years. Exactly the same with me Webber and i don't await spring drillings with the enthusiasm that i use to. The only good bags i have had in recent years have been on beans where the farmer has spread them over the field and then just scuffed them in. However i have also found that a field where there is always good shooting whatever the crop, can be used to kid the pigeons after being drilled. Even when no seed has been left on top for them to eat, a good pattern of decoys spread out can often draw them in for a good days shooting. Another crop that usually brings results is peas especially when they start to pop up through the ground and the pigeons pull them out to get at the pea. :unsure: Totally agree ernyha. You can con the birds, always provided you`re under a flightline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 28, 2004 Report Share Posted February 28, 2004 I havnt seen any peas grown in our area for many years. Beans yes, peas no/ webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 Hunterswind, I've never seen Drills this early in Fife before, especially with and inch of snow? We have over 60 farms and non of them have any drills in yet, what area are you shooting? You seem to be getting plenty, well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete k Posted February 29, 2004 Report Share Posted February 29, 2004 i think all the pigeons are mixed up as its benn such a mild winter as where i shoot theres 14 maize fields and now 2 spring drillings and they still dont want to know but the peas will go in in about six weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergame Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 No drillings in west Lancashire area as yet. Had some superb sport on chopped up maize gamecrops with over 1100 pigeon shot since late December. This week the birds are still using the maize early in the day but moving off after an hour or so to feed on pastures containing clover about a mile away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterswind9465 Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Hi Mark The sown fields are near the coast, last week we were shooting north of Cupar in Strathmiglo area plenty sown fields there, one of my contacts is a contractor and he gives me the tip offs. Ps the fields are only good for max 2 days we are now back on the rape but today is not good as there is no wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Cheers HW, We've just had our first fields sown on the 6th, this is even 10 earlier than normal, the fields were frozen for the last week in Feb. The birds are not on these fields though, still hitting the rape. We've still got a few farmers that drill their own fields so the sport should be good, especially on the rocky and steep fields. The contractors don't tend to waist much any more. Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterswind9465 Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Hi Mark Please give me a call if you have any free dates as I am fully booked and need to pass some clients on my number is 07866 395975. Thanks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 9, 2004 Report Share Posted March 9, 2004 HW, We've got space on the 16th + 17th March for 4 guns then the two of us are full till the end of April when we have a break. Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 11, 2004 Report Share Posted March 11, 2004 Sorry, dates taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdev Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Plenty of fields getting drilled today with pea,s here in the south east!! But can,t get at them due to the weather down here RAIN. Suspose it will have to be the rape for the next few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Rain?? Snow more like, I wore me wellies today to lessons. Got laughed at. Had dry feet. Laughed at those who were 'fasionalbe' but had wet feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B2g Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 Sowings in west Lancashire have been a total wate of time as yet. Reasons for this are modern day drilling machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turner Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 spring drilling started about two weeks ago in my area. most of it has bin sring barley. but the birds are starting to get back onto the gaps in the winter rape. a couple of farms will be drilling spring rape in a few days if it stays dry,but most of the shooting will be on the winter rape for the week or to for me, all i can say is roll on harvest time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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