The most unexpected afternoon

[motty]

I was mulling over my options on Friday afternoon. I had phoned a farmer and asked if there were pigeons on his clover. He said there was a lot on there last week. I thought I would try the field on Sunday, as I doubted it would produce much.

I was in no rush to get to the field, preferring to catch up on a bit of sleep. I eventually got ready, then arrived at the field at 11am. I was fully expecting to have a quick look at the field, then go and have a look at the rape further up the road. As I entered the field, though, over 100 got up from a little area in one corner. I stayed and watched. Birds started appearing and looking to drop in. They went to the far end. The rain then started to pour. This didn't bother me too much, as I had my large (new and unused) fishing brolly with me. Pigeons kept coming. Usually I don't set up until the rain ceases, but I decided to have a go. I erected the brolly first, then built the net underneath in the dry. I hastily put out 22 flocked shells close to the hide position (little pithole), then added the magnet in front and to the left. The wind was nicely on my back.

I drove the truck back to the corner of the field, and then watched pigeons floating into the decoys as I returned quickly to my hide. Could I be in for a good day?

I fired my first shot and killed my first pigeon as soon as I entered the hide and got loaded. Maybe 700 pigeons lifted from the far end of the field and surrounding trees. I didn't know they were there! They dispersed in all directions and I settled down to some proper decoying. They came from all points of the compass, swinging in towards my hide. I was taking pairs fairly regularly and my recent poor shooting form was all but forgotten. This wasn't to say that I didn't miss a few - I did!

The pigeons were quite kind. Some nice little bunches came, so I could pick and choose my targets. I could ignore a low decoying ''doddler'' in favour of a nice driven type bird. This was sport to be savoured.

The bag was mounting, and I had a couple of pick-ups to clear a fresh area for pigeons to head for. The pigeons were reading the script, thankfully.                                                                                                 I knew I had smashed the ton by the amount of cartridges I had fired. I shot a cracking triple just before the close of play, which was a bonus. I carried on until I the tap was starting to be turned off. I might have shot a few more, but I had a good few to pick on my own.

I finished with 160 pigeons and a token rook. I shall review the footage I got, with a view to posting a video later this week.   Thanks for reading.

My picture appears o be missing. I will sort it!

Edited April 8, 2019 by motty

[sam triple]

good read and a good day had by you

[Clodhopper]

Great report Motty. A lie in aswell as 100 pigeons, how much better can Sunday’s get.

[Smiler23]

Fair play, you certainly seem to get stuck into the pigeons.well done

[john smith]

Brilliant result motty and brilliant report

Quote

 

 

[Shotgun57]

good report well shot 

[oowee]

Great day out and nice write up 

[JDog]

Let me get this right. You set up having seen 100 pigeons and you just failed to see 700 pigeons in and around the same field? Some people have all the luck.

 

[marsh man]

You are certainly catching up after a slow start , shooting over clover is just a distant memory now and your report have described how exciting and rewarding  it can be , hope you have got a few more good days to come  

[muncher]

Nothing on that field Jules!!

[pigeon controller]

You saw the opportunity and made to most of it , I'm glad the brolly worked for you and you were able to choose the more sporting shots. In all you ended up with a brilliant result for the day, well done.

[GingerCat]

Great report and what a great day you had. Keep it coming. 

[kenholland]

see, that lucky four leaf clover you kept came in handy, well you know where to go on a Friday now well done.