Second time on the stubble

[Old Boggy]

Whilst this should have been posted in Sporting Pictures, as I did not take any photos, then here I assume is more appropriate.

This week saw me on a rape stubble. Several fields of rape had been cut and the first I looked at yesterday was covered in pigeons but was being disced so best left once the tractor had finished as the dust created was pretty extensive across the field with the current wind. This will be looked at later in the week as I've found that birds still find seed on a disced field and are still attracted to it, sometimes more so, for whatever reason. The second, three small fields in total had birds down with a steady flightline to and from all three fields. These fields were out on the marshes and being flat provided little cover other than reeds along the dykes but did provide a cooling breeze in the heat and were therefore my favoured option knowing that comfort was to be the overriding factor over a large bag. My time out also was restricted to just two and a half hours so better to be comfortable I thought. Fortunately the fields had been cut short around all the headlands so driving was easy without that nagging thought that the 18 inch stubbles would be doing damage to my ageing little 4x4's undercarriage.

Set up with my newly acquired 'desert' net (thanks again Cranfield) to the front and a slightly higher net to the back I was soon in position with just a couple of floaters, half a dozen dead and breasted birds on cradles and a flapper. The wind was on my back and any birds approaching would be from behind to swing round into the decoys or in front from the far field. They mainly came from behind which gave some testing shots as they took me by surprise but swung nicely round into the decoys. Sometimes their shadows were seen on the ground giving warning of their approach which alerted me in readiness for what was then a relatively easy shot. In this instance, it was the thought that I had done something right with the layout that gave me most pleasure as they decoyed well.

I ended up with just 17 birds and none lost which for me was a most satisfying and relaxing few hours out. Also seen that afternoon were a pair of marsh harriers and a little egret, the latter becoming more common in these parts.

On returning home, just outside my village a large field of rape recently cut was still covered in pigeons despite my pal shooting 81 on that field on Saturday. He was able to sell on his bag but declined to go the next day as our local gamedealer would take no further birds. 

For me however, my little session was more than enough and in comfortable and isolated surroundings, so I purposely did not shoot what would have been the most productive field. Others no doubt would disagree, but I am most fortunate in being able to shoot whenever I wish and do not have the time, inclination, or stamina to shoot bags of 80+ but admire those, particularly PC et al, who regularly return with such bags. For me little and often suffices, also in the knowledge that my meagre returns are not wasted as we tend to eat pigeon at least once a week all year round, with any excesses given to friends and neighbours.

Thanks for reading.

OB

[JDog]

That is the best report I have seen from you. Your enjoyment was obvious.

[Wooder]

Well done Chris, made good reading, combines out over my way but still no stubble for me yet, should be some by the weekend though.

[Old Boggy]

46 minutes ago, JDog said:

That is the best report I have seen from you. Your enjoyment was obvious.

Thanks JDog. Praise indeed.

[marsh man]

1 hour ago, Old Boggy said:

Whilst this should have been posted in Sporting Pictures, as I did not take any photos, then here I assume is more appropriate.

This week saw me on a rape stubble. Several fields of rape had been cut and the first I looked at yesterday was covered in pigeons but was being disced so best left once the tractor had finished as the dust created was pretty extensive across the field with the current wind. This will be looked at later in the week as I've found that birds still find seed on a disced field and are still attracted to it, sometimes more so, for whatever reason. The second, three small fields in total had birds down with a steady flightline to and from all three fields. These fields were out on the marshes and being flat provided little cover other than reeds along the dykes but did provide a cooling breeze in the heat and were therefore my favoured option knowing that comfort was to be the overriding factor over a large bag. My time out also was restricted to just two and a half hours so better to be comfortable I thought. Fortunately the fields had been cut short around all the headlands so driving was easy without that nagging thought that the 18 inch stubbles would be doing damage to my ageing little 4x4's undercarriage.

Set up with my newly acquired 'desert' net (thanks again Cranfield) to the front and a slightly higher net to the back I was soon in position with just a couple of floaters, half a dozen dead and breasted birds on cradles and a flapper. The wind was on my back and any birds approaching would be from behind to swing round into the decoys or in front from the far field. They mainly came from behind which gave some testing shots as they took me by surprise but swung nicely round into the decoys. Sometimes their shadows were seen on the ground giving warning of their approach which alerted me in readiness for what was then a relatively easy shot. In this instance, it was the thought that I had done something right with the layout that gave me most pleasure as they decoyed well.

I ended up with just 17 birds and none lost which for me was a most satisfying and relaxing few hours out. Also seen that afternoon were a pair of marsh harriers and a little egret, the latter becoming more common in these parts.

On returning home, just outside my village a large field of rape recently cut was still covered in pigeons despite my pal shooting 81 on that field on Saturday. He was able to sell on his bag but declined to go the next day as our local gamedealer would take no further birds. 

For me however, my little session was more than enough and in comfortable and isolated surroundings, so I purposely did not shoot what would have been the most productive field. Others no doubt would disagree, but I am most fortunate in being able to shoot whenever I wish and do not have the time, inclination, or stamina to shoot bags of 80+ but admire those, particularly PC et al, who regularly return with such bags. For me little and often suffices, also in the knowledge that my meagre returns are not wasted as we tend to eat pigeon at least once a week all year round, with any excesses given to friends and neighbours.

Thanks for reading.

OB

That sound like my ideal day , I just love the marshes and I am in my element when I am down there with just the wildlife as company

As far as I know we haven't got any rape cut yet, for the last eight days the combine have been busy cutting the winter barley every day , yesterday I had a couple of hours on a big stubble field that had rape over the other side of the hedge , the pigeons wanted to home in on the rape and showed little interest in the barley stubble , with this heatwave showing no signs of coming to an end I recon they will make a start on the rape by the weekend .

By the way , nice detailed report . 

[motty]

Great report. You got exactly what you wanted from the day.

[ditchman]

5 hours ago, Old Boggy said:

Whilst this should have been posted in Sporting Pictures, as I did not take any photos, then here I assume is more appropriate.

This week saw me on a rape stubble. Several fields of rape had been cut and the first I looked at yesterday was covered in pigeons but was being disced so best left once the tractor had finished as the dust created was pretty extensive across the field with the current wind. This will be looked at later in the week as I've found that birds still find seed on a disced field and are still attracted to it, sometimes more so, for whatever reason. The second, three small fields in total had birds down with a steady flightline to and from all three fields. These fields were out on the marshes and being flat provided little cover other than reeds along the dykes but did provide a cooling breeze in the heat and were therefore my favoured option knowing that comfort was to be the overriding factor over a large bag. My time out also was restricted to just two and a half hours so better to be comfortable I thought. Fortunately the fields had been cut short around all the headlands so driving was easy without that nagging thought that the 18 inch stubbles would be doing damage to my ageing little 4x4's undercarriage.

Set up with my newly acquired 'desert' net (thanks again Cranfield) to the front and a slightly higher net to the back I was soon in position with just a couple of floaters, half a dozen dead and breasted birds on cradles and a flapper. The wind was on my back and any birds approaching would be from behind to swing round into the decoys or in front from the far field. They mainly came from behind which gave some testing shots as they took me by surprise but swung nicely round into the decoys. Sometimes their shadows were seen on the ground giving warning of their approach which alerted me in readiness for what was then a relatively easy shot. In this instance, it was the thought that I had done something right with the layout that gave me most pleasure as they decoyed well.

I ended up with just 17 birds and none lost which for me was a most satisfying and relaxing few hours out. Also seen that afternoon were a pair of marsh harriers and a little egret, the latter becoming more common in these parts.

On returning home, just outside my village a large field of rape recently cut was still covered in pigeons despite my pal shooting 81 on that field on Saturday. He was able to sell on his bag but declined to go the next day as our local gamedealer would take no further birds. 

For me however, my little session was more than enough and in comfortable and isolated surroundings, so I purposely did not shoot what would have been the most productive field. Others no doubt would disagree, but I am most fortunate in being able to shoot whenever I wish and do not have the time, inclination, or stamina to shoot bags of 80+ but admire those, particularly PC et al, who regularly return with such bags. For me little and often suffices, also in the knowledge that my eat meagre returns are not wasted as we tend to pigeon at least once a week all year round, with any excesses given to friends and neighbours.

Thanks for reading.

OB

"our" rape was harvested yesterday........stalks were left 2ft high.........farmer knows i dont like shooting over that...so in the evening sent one of his daughters out with the john deere to slash it down to the ground...........going to the shop this morning i at last saw..2 groups of 50 or so birds on the field...........my daughter has been craving me for some more pigeons of late...so i will dust the old auto off charge the batterey up ..and im going to have a nice little session like old boggy......(i hope)

[Old Boggy]

4 hours ago, ditchman said:

"our" rape was harvested yesterday........stalks were left 2ft high.........farmer knows i dont like shooting over that...so in the evening sent one of his daughters out with the john deere to slash it down to the ground...........going to the shop this morning i at last saw..2 groups of 50 or so birds on the field...........my daughter has been craving me for some more pigeons of late...so i will dust the old auto off charge the batterey up ..and im going to have a nice little session like old boggy......(i hope)

Best of luck Ditchie. If you get half the pleasure that I got from my session, you will return a happy man.

[marsh man]

5 hours ago, ditchman said:

"our" rape was harvested yesterday........stalks were left 2ft high.........farmer knows i dont like shooting over that...so in the evening sent one of his daughters out with the john deere to slash it down to the ground...........going to the shop this morning i at last saw..2 groups of 50 or so birds on the field...........my daughter has been craving me for some more pigeons of late...so i will dust the old auto off charge the batterey up ..and im going to have a nice little session like old boggy......(i hope)

Enjoy your session out , I remember your outing last year when you covered the landy with netting and shot a tidy bag with your mate , if at any time you want some pigeons for yourself or your daughter then just give me a shout and I will only be to happy to drop you a few off. 

[ditchman]

17 minutes ago, marsh man said:

Enjoy your session out , I remember your outing last year when you covered the landy with netting and shot a tidy bag with your mate , if at any time you want some pigeons for yourself or your daughter then just give me a shout and I will only be to happy to drop you a few off. 

cheers.............they do a sort of chinese stir fry thingy with them.......

[Clodhopper]

Nice read, there is a wide spectrum of things that make up an enjoyable afternoon and you obviously pieced it all together nicely.