digger Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 i am going shooting on a field of rape this weekend that for the past two days has been blue with woodies last shot over it two weeks ago but didnt start til half nine and walked loads of birds off when setting up.the shooting was really slow for the first couple of hours so does anyone get on the field at first light to keep them hungry ? the nearest rape field is a mile away which will be covered by a mate.any advice gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Digger, There are 2 schools of thought on this one........my preference is to be there and set up before first light, as if you have done your homework and recce'd the field properly you should know exactly where to set up. The sport will then be fast and furious for the first 30 - 40 minutes. Also if you have the nearest other field covered you have a chance of keeping them on the move, although beware that there may have been some drillings locally that will draw the woodies off the rape by the weekend. However, some will advise you not to bother starting until about 9am, walk the birds off and then wait for them to return, (hopefully...). My view is that 20 or 30 dead on the ground is worth 150 hopeful returners. Good luck, but do check for recent drilling nearby - I well remember one day I set up early but couldn't understand why they ignored the deeks and flew on to a field a few hundred yards away - when I had a look I found it covered with new sown beans...I dashed across, set up and then shot 110...!!! It pays to do your homework...!!! Double H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakepitlee Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 done the get up early,last sunday a party of 5 set out to shoot between two winter rape about 1-2 miles apart .decoys whirl birds .woodies feeding hard in the fields.saturday .ping pong.did we get it wrong. dont intend getting up early for a while . Good shooting recommend stay in a warm bed ,let the bird next to you make a nice cuppa lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted March 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 thanks double h,the farm i shoot over is about the only arable in a mostly livestock area so nearby farms are all pasture which means no drillings but plenty of chickweed and clover at different times of the year :< its a forty mile drive to get there but as you say birds on the ground are better than hoping they return.looks like an early start then ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted March 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 its looking at the bird in bed next to me that gives me the incentive to get up and out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakepitlee Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 SAY NO MORE,GOOD SHOOTING THEN .HOPE U BAG A BUNDLE.ME IM INOP DUE TO A OPERATION AND ALL I CAN DO IS DREAM. HER IN DOOR S IS NOT VERY HAPPY CAUSE ITS ABOUT SHOOTING. SHE MAKES A GOOD CUPPA LEE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdev Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Digger went out sun morn and set up at 0530hrs. 1st birds arrived around 0630 shot about 10 then they all ****** off got the odd bird coming back and had a crack.Stayed there all day and it took till about 14.30hrs for the birds to start to come back to the field but got a good bit of shooting and ended up with 64 and 10 which walked off threw the rape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermin Dropper Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 its looking at the bird in bed next to me that gives me the incentive to get up and out Commonly known as a "Face like an alarm clock." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 11, 2004 Report Share Posted March 11, 2004 When we shoot the Broccolli in May/June the best of the shooting is for 3 hours after sunrise and 3 hours before sunset. We have perminent hides built on flightlines to the fields so their worth a couple of hours before heading off to the spring rape or clover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.