dead eye alan Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Just put 200+ of the rape farmer jumping up and down shouting about gas guns so back on it tomorrow morning at first light, report back latter!  😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mossy835 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 i never go first light,i all ways go about 10 in the morning,i find it better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clangerman Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 I forgotten what 200 look like reccy today nothing but empty rape fields and odd few on ivy not a gas gun to be heard in the area most depressing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Centrepin Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Almost nothing on my perm this morning, just snow, mud and dog walkers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JDog Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 In this area pigeons are going onto rape at about ten and no earlier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dead eye alan Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 Well got there at 07.10 walked the 300yards with full kit, absolutely nackerd with the ground so wet it was like walking in porridge. Set up with flapper, magnet, 12 shells, and settled down with a cup of tea. The weather forecast never mentioned FOG but visibility was down to about 80 yards. First bird in at 07.58 and fell to one shot from the mighty Hatsan classic decoy straight in, 4 more followed in the first hour. The fog seemed to be getting denser but it was not freezing so everything was just getting damp, 6 more in the second hour and some glaring misses too. the next hour only produced 3 more to the tally, but the fog was now beginning to evaporate and I could now see the oak trees on the other end of the field. It never really picked up and by 12.30 with a total of 23 picked I packed up, 2 trips back to the motor and back aching, legs like jelly was pleased to be on my way home. Was it worth the effort early start and pain? ------------------ you bet!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clangerman Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 good effort that man muds hard going with kit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kenholland Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 23 more than most of us have shot lately , well done. weather for the weekend looks a bit snowy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the hitman Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Well done getting out and a good write up- 23 is a very respectable bag. There seems to be a difference of opinion about when is the optimum time to be out at this time of year. When I was starting out pigeon shooting in the 80’s I bought a pigeon shooting book by John Gray, where he states that you can go out at first light in winter but don’t expect to be out all day. I have in the past been set up like you before 8am and home by 12ish - sometimes with as many as 40 in the bag - so it’s just a case of what works best in your area. Hitman. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dead eye alan Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 12 hours ago, the hitman said: Well done getting out and a good write up- 23 is a very respectable bag. There seems to be a difference of opinion about when is the optimum time to be out at this time of year. When I was starting out pigeon shooting in the 80’s I bought a pigeon shooting book by John Gray, where he states that you can go out at first light in winter but don’t expect to be out all day. I have in the past been set up like you before 8am and home by 12ish - sometimes with as many as 40 in the bag - so it’s just a case of what works best in your area. Hitman. And on weather, harsh conditions like what is forecast for this next week will change things, 10.00 start to give the frost a chance to throe clear the snow 25yards out and Waite. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
flycoy Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Good post! good bag too at the moment  good sport though in the fog as they appear over the decoys, keeps you on your toes eh?  Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lakeside1000 Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Well done Alan, good effort, I had a go Friday with just 9 birds down but efforts thwarted by fog, Had the covid jab on Saturday so was a bit under the weather for the weekend, woke this morning to 30 to 50 mph winds , driving snow and temperature below freezing, so it looks like shooting is on hold again until this lot clears, lovely British weather. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dead eye alan Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 20 minutes ago, lakeside1000 said: Well done Alan, good effort, I had a go Friday with just 9 birds down but efforts thwarted by fog, Had the covid jab on Saturday so was a bit under the weather for the weekend, woke this morning to 30 to 50 mph winds , driving snow and temperature below freezing, so it looks like shooting is on hold again until this lot clears, lovely British weather. Yep weathers put payed to the shooting at the moment but I will be out as soon as I can, maybe tomorrow if I feel brave to face the cold. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marsh man Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Good to see people posting about small bags as well as the big ones , most of the big bags are shot on the stubbles or late summer grain and Bean crops , this is when the weather is at it's best and if you have got Pigeons on your patch it is not that difficult to get good numbers ,  we are now well into February and apart from Muchers good bag on the rape all the other bags have been well below Munchers bag , you really need to be at the height of dedication to brave the weather we are having at the moment , roads blocked with drifting snow , a bitterly cold Easterly wind and below freezing temp's , I didn't get a decent bag last year to close on Easter when the rape had been treated and fresh shoots were appearing , Rape must be one of the most frustrating crops a going for the pigeon shooter and more people can relate to smaller bags than the big one that crop up from time to time . Good luck to those who will venture out over the next few days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian willetts Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 I was out yesterday set up 11 packed up by 2 wind chill was about-3 the sodden ground which was frozen when I arrived but once I was sat started to melt and instead froze my feet anyway still enjoyed bagging 4crows and 2 woodys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
old'un Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 this week looks like its going to-be a cold one, just be careful when out in a hide in this sort of weather, it does not take long for the heat to-be sucked out of your body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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