Trenta Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Hi guys, I am shooting over standing wheat at the moment, and I need to get shell decoys up above crop to be obvious to the birds. I have balanced them ontop of the wheat, but if there is any wind they soon fall through and I risk losing them. Has anyone seen or used any type of ready made spike or peg to tape the spring sticks to to give them more height? I am using floaters, whirly and flapper duct taped to a spare hide pole but wanted to get my shell decoys up there as well. Cheers Trenta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Tape your existing decoy supports to some bamboo canes from the garden centre. That will get them above the crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenta Posted July 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Yes, I guess that will work - I was thinking something metal, as the ground is like concrete at the moment - a screwdriver with mallet should sort that out though to make a hole for the bamboo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Just remember it is you that has to carry everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenta Posted July 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Another good point! I use a carp barrow for my gear and that seems to work ok when the ground is dry - bit of a pig when it is muddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 I am not sure that you will need shell decoys in standing crops. The rotary should suffice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 I use the 1/4 inch diameter fiberglass tent poles, they come in approx 2 ft sections and have the metal sockets already attached so you can use one or more sections as the crop grows, also they fold down easily into a carry bag, I sharpen one end and use a rubber mallet to knock them in, you can tape the decoys on if you like but I modified all my decoys with a single wire mount just under the head which simply slots down inside the hollow tubes, they also swing into wind which gives them some movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) I tend to just cut some hazels. Fortunate I have easy access to a supply. Thin enough and they also float back and forth in the lightest of breeze as well. Have a field of wheat which is attracting attention at the moment, just waiting for a dry day. Edited July 7, 2020 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 39 minutes ago, Walker570 said: I tend to just cut some hazels. Fortunate I have easy access to a supply. Thin enough and they also float back and forth in the lightest of breeze as well. Have a field of wheat which is attracting attention at the moment, just waiting for a dry day. Absolutely, I had 2 sessions on the wheat last week, with just a magnet and 2 floaters to get above the crop, the birds were trying to land as near to the magnet as possible making some interesting shots trying not to shoot my magnet, there were not a huge number about as it was blowing a gale, but I managed a 17 and a 14 picked with a few lost in the crop as I dont have a dog, but well worth going out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 2 hours ago, JDog said: I am not sure that you will need shell decoys in standing crops. The rotary should suffice. BB just used a rotary and two flappers for a bag of 310 last week on standing wheat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 3 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Tape your existing decoy supports to some bamboo canes from the garden centre. That will get them above the crop. Hello, I use to 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) I had a shooting pal who was a Police diver. He salvaged two damaged fishing umbrellas from a lake for me. I cut out the stays of both and still use them to put decoys above the crops. They are spring steel and will bob about realistically in a wind. They drop into the umbrella pocket on a rod holdall that I use for my hide poles etc. A small wood block , with a 1/8" hole drilled in it, glued into the base of the shell decoy. The rod fits into the hole in the wood block, job done. The shorter bracing umbrella stays I use on sown or shorter crops, in the same manner. Edited July 7, 2020 by Westley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted July 8, 2020 Report Share Posted July 8, 2020 16 hours ago, JDog said: I am not sure that you will need shell decoys in standing crops. The rotary should suffice. Spot on JD also just take a few long canes and put up dead birds like Geff Garrod style thy push into the cracks in the ground very easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenta Posted July 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2020 Looks like the canes from the garden centre will do nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted July 8, 2020 Report Share Posted July 8, 2020 That looks pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted July 9, 2020 Report Share Posted July 9, 2020 On 7 July 2020 at 15:57, Trenta said: Yes, I guess that will work - I was thinking something metal, as the ground is like concrete at the moment i advise against metal rods / poles. You may lose / forget / drop one and later on a combine goes through and picks it up. You will not be a popular bunny.......🐰🐰 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprucey Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 (edited) YOU NEED ELECTRIC FENCE POSTS WITH THE METAL SPIKE AND FOOT PLATE. PREF A BRIGHT COLOUR... THE POST WILL BE HIDDEN SO BIRDS WON'T SEE IT BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THEM AFTER. THE GROUND WILL BE VERY HARD IF NO RAIN AND A BAMBOO CANE WILL JUST SPLIT. CABLE TIE OR TAPE THE SPRING STICK TO THE FENCE POST AND AWAY YOU GO Edited July 21, 2020 by Sprucey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 Mine are similar to those shown by Trenta. Hard ground isn't too much of a problem. Use the cracks in the soil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen-H Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 As mentioned above about lifting decoys on bamboo sticks etc I've also found once we have a few birds in the bag I put them onto bird cradles you can get them in different lengths or if you need them higher you can take a telescopic hide pole apart & place the cradle in the lower tube this should give you well over 2ft - 2 1/2ft of height there really isnt anything better then real birds out as decoys & the cradles let you display the bird perfectly 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.