My sporting week

[Mightymariner]

My work commitments are about to pick up again so I have made the most of the last week.

Firstly, I enjoyed a lovely, friendly game shoot with Clodhopper and JDog. I shot three pheasants and one tall partridge, which was plenty for me. The terrain was undulating, company very good and friendly, informal and fun.

Then, on Sunday in very strong winds my son and I had a very impromptu hour or so on pigeons in some trees alongside some rape. I shot 12 pigeons, and I have to say they were amazing, tall, twisting and acrobatic in the gales. They weren't decoying, just flighting and having a look at my rotary. Max sat with me for a while before getting bored, so I sent him off in the Land Rover to push any pigeons off another field. He is sixteen but responsible and negotiated a very boggy track in the Defender. Then he sat in it and watched me, sending me the occasional text - praising or otherwise when I hit or missed. It was a great couple of hours.

Wednesday morning, again with no planning, I got up and out the house on a whim to shoot a rape field at first light. Not sure why I did, perhaps I was inspired by JDog's session (as reported). Anyway, with minimum kit I was set up on the field by 7.45am. I had no idea if pigeons would come but I had seen them on the field around lunchtime. Anyway, wind in my face didn't matter, as a few birds swooped over my shoulder and into the rotary. There weren't many about but I managed to shoot four in the hour I was there, plus the farmer was happy I had been.

Friday saw JDog and myself heading into the Wolds to some beet fields where the farmer had told me he had seen a "massive black cloud of pigeons". There were probably 300 on and around the field when we pulled into the opening, they lifted off - some heading to a wood in the distance and others to trees not far off. We watched. Nothing moved. We went back to some rape on the same farm and found a couple of hundred. We decided to give the beet a go for an hour or so. We set up at opposite ends of the field. Nothing really moved. It was cold. JDog shot three which passed by, myself nothing.
We moved back to the rape, I set up at the farm yard, with my back to some cattle pens. JDog walked to some trees on the far side. One pigeon came, decoyed and was shot. JDog shot one in the trees. Again nothing moved, and despite the numbers we had seen, they just didn't come back. The lack of wind didn't help. Before he departed, JDog drove back to the beet field and put up approx 500 pigeons! I am not sure we would have shot more than half a dozen if we had stayed there as they seemed to move en masse. We concluded they might have fed at first light and were just topping up later in the day. With some wind and milder conditions it could have been different.

Today, I have to go to work. I shall think of these outings.

[sako751sg]

Sounds a top week altogether fella.

Back to work next week too so not many chances left although if the weather forcast is correct ill try and make the most of it.

The big numbers of pigeons have moved from here but still have a few decent lots feeding on the rape.

Edited January 19, 2019 by sako751sg

[Clodhopper]

I too have found the pigeons frustrating this last week. We were out on Tuesday and saw hundreds of birds but struggled to make anything of them. The best fun I had was also on Sunday in that wind where we managed 2 or 3 screamers heading back to roost.

 

[JDog]

Sadly I have given up the unequal struggle between pigeons and myself, the pigeons having won hands down. They were pleasurable outings with MM and Clodhopper.

Instead today in Baltic conditions my wife and I went to the beach with the dogs.

 

[ditchman]

you need to shave them sideburns....they are getting a bit long...........use Gillette......"the best a man can get"

[aga man]

And there I was thinking you Lincolnshire boys were getting some good sport. Just the same over this side if it is any consolation, some big flocks of pigeons but just about impossible to deal with.

Perhaps we will catch up with them roosting in February.

[marsh man]

A nice way to spend any free time you get at this time of the year MM , something I find with people who enjoy outside sporting pursuits is they rarely get board when they have some time to spare and I couldn't see you getting bored if you had more time available .

[pigeon controller]

A great report of your week and just to show how difficult this pigeon shooting can be at times.

[dead eye alan]

Great read that and i know exactly what you mean very hard time of year to decoy pigeons.  

[Wilksy II]

Great write up MM and nice to put a face to the name the other week! Good to get out and gorge on your sport knowing you’ve got to get your nose to grindstone for a bit!