Choosing the right type of Decoy

[silverwolf54]

I have just started Pigeon Shooting at a Friends Farm,but try as I might ,I just can’t get close enough with my Air Rifle to get a clean shot.

This is mainly because the Fields are very open with little cover and they can see me from a long way off.I am thinking of using a Hide and Decoys to bring them within range,but would like info on which Decoy is best,Painted or Flocked,and how many should I get?

Any help would be welcomed.

 

 

Edited April 4, 2019 by silverwolf54
Spelling

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello, this would be my thoughts,  with little or no cover your need 4 hide poles, 2 off 8 ft or 10 ft to overlap  x 4 ft high  camo nets, make a  4ft x 4 ft hide with front a bit lower towards where pigeons feeding to get a rifle shot, start with 6 shells 4 whole body, i liked flocked but its your preference, and 2 pole bouncers with decoys, i use proflaps on mine , and a comfy seat, if you can shoot a few with ground decoys first then use on the bouncer to save buying specials, if your using a sub 12 ft llb air rifle put decoys out 100/150ft or your ideal distance, as for where to buy its your choice, good luck, ps to PW

[old'un]

You will defiantly need a hide if there is no cover, if there are a few trees around the field I would go for lofters.

[Ultrastu]

I personally dont try and hide shoot pigeons with rifle (over a crop field ) until the crops have been cut and your over stubbles, when the birds are keen, but more importantly if you space the deeks a few  meters apart, when the bird lands it doesnt realise its surounded by a load of plastic fakes. As the subbles hide the deeks a bit ..

If your over drillings try putting them at least 4 meters apart over a large area.

And keep them down low .

Be ready to shoot as soon as the birds feet touch down 

Edited April 4, 2019 by Ultrastu

[old man]

Any woodland might be a better option? Sitty trees?

Open fields here would be very difficult to get them in for air gun.

[marsh man]

You would really be up against it to wait for the pigeons to land so you can attempt to shoot them with a air rifle , decoys are mainly used to bring a pigeon in range for a shotgun , yes you do get the odd one land amongst the decoys but it is normally just the odd one .

As already mentioned , your best bet is to look around the margins for a sitty tree , possibly a dead Ash tree , you could try to loft a few full body decoys and build a good hide in range of the tree , with all the vegetation beginning to grow this shouldn't be to difficult to be well concealed .

[silverwolf54]

On 04/04/2019 at 16:52, oldypigeonpopper said:

hello, this would be my thoughts,  with little or no cover your need 4 hide poles, 2 off 8 ft or 10 ft to overlap  x 4 ft high  camo nets, make a  4ft x 4 ft hide with front a bit lower towards where pigeons feeding to get a rifle shot, start with 6 shells 4 whole body, i liked flocked but its your preference, and 2 pole bouncers with decoys, i use proflaps on mine , and a comfy seat, if you can shoot a few with ground decoys first then use on the bouncer to save buying specials, if your using a sub 12 ft llb air rifle put decoys out 100/150ft or your ideal distance, as for where to buy its your choice, good luck, ps to PW

 Thank you Everyone for your practical help and advice ,much appreciated.😄👍

[Ratlegs]

My Grandfather made them out of national dried milk tins

The head cut out of half inch wood

then painted

sadly this was in the 1950s and they have rusted away