When it works, it works

[Longstrider]

My permission had an 80-odd acre field drilled with Spring wheat last week. Just in time for the birds to find it and get settled into it before the weekend arrived and I could get out and have words with them.

 

I had a couple of dozen pigeon shell decoys with me and a dozen full bodied crow decoys. Seeing how many of each species was already on the filed when I arrived I thought "What the Hell" and put the lot out. Crows to the right of the hide and pigeons to the left.

 

I will usually concentrate on one species or the other, putting perhaps just a couple of crow decoys out as 'confidence tricksters' a little way off from the main pattern of pigeon decoys, but with the whole lot out the birds just wouldn't turn away

 

Having had to move to the opposite side of the field at lunchtime because the sun was in my eyes, I ended the day with 118 blackies, 32 pigeon and very warm barrels

 

Do any of you guys mix the decoys up like this ?

[Cranfield]

That is an exceptional result, very well done.

I do mix my decoys, but in separate groups, I have never tried mixing them altogether, as I have never seen birds mixed like that "in the wild".

Sounds like it might be worth a try.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Yes often put out 27 Pigeon Shells and either 6, 12 or even 18 crow shells.

[pigeon controller]

When pigeon shooting I will shoot a crow and put it out to give them confidence, if the crows continue I will put them out to one side.

[Guest]

My permission had an 80-odd acre field drilled with Spring wheat last week. Just in time for the birds to find it and get settled into it before the weekend arrived and I could get out and have words with them.

 

I had a couple of dozen pigeon shell decoys with me and a dozen full bodied crow decoys. Seeing how many of each species was already on the filed when I arrived I thought "What the Hell" and put the lot out. Crows to the right of the hide and pigeons to the left.

 

I will usually concentrate on one species or the other, putting perhaps just a couple of crow decoys out as 'confidence tricksters' a little way off from the main pattern of pigeon decoys, but with the whole lot out the birds just wouldn't turn away

 

Having had to move to the opposite side of the field at lunchtime because the sun was in my eyes, I ended the day with 118 blackies, 32 pigeon and very warm barrels

 

Do any of you guys mix the decoys up like this ?

 

 

 

Great bag, I always have 1-2 crows 15-20 yards to the side depending on wind I like to think the woodies feel safer coz the crows r there and there smart birds

[Longstrider]

I didn't have the decoys 'mixed'. I had the pigeon pattern off to the left of my view out of the hide, and the crows all out to my right. There was barely 5yds between the patterns though.

[motty]

I would question anyone that thinks that a woodpigeon knows that crows are clever.

I don't use crow decoys to decoy woodies.

[Longstrider]

I would question anyone that thinks that a woodpigeon knows that crows are clever.

I don't use crow decoys to decoy woodies.

 

I can see where you're coming from Motty, but don't you think that a couple of crows could possibly give a more convincing overall picture to incoming pigeons ? After all, if there's food for one species there's often food for both.

[GingerCat]

I think the biggest draw to decoys is opening a can of coke or fumbling for sandwiches. Almost 100% guaranteed to just catch the tail end of a woody at that exact moment.

Slightly less attractive but a strong draw to them is when the wife calls to see when your coming home.

Edited April 13, 2017 by GingerCat

[Guest]

 

I can see where you're coming from Motty, but don't you think that a couple of crows could possibly give a more convincing overall picture to incoming pigeons ? After all, if there's food for one species there's often food for both.

Exactly I'm not saying pigeons no there clever I like to think they do and would therefore feel safer approaching my pattern