pigeon controller Posted December 11, 2021 Report Share Posted December 11, 2021 I had a call from the farmer with the rape that I shot last week asking how it was going as he had gone past the fields on Wednesday and they were covered. I informed him of the 41 and 75 bags and told him I would be out again on Friday. Now this farm has circa 300 acres of rape in three main blocks, two are about a mile apart and the other three miles. So on Friday I looked at the one block and nothing in the trees or flighting or down so moved on. The second one is one of the close pairs and it too had no birds visible or flighting. By this time I was getting frantic thing it was a waste of time. Now the last block is difficult to shot as it lays in a valley, so access is downhill which means exit with pigeons is uphill. It also has a maze of ancient foot paths leading across it to a church on the hill. Anyway I scanned the field and all I could see was about fifty birds in a sitty tree down at the valley base, but as I scanned the surrounding land which I do not shoot I could see at least another 100 birds sitting in trees. These were obviously digesting Breakfast and would return. Now being Old and Idle I decided that these birds would have to drop in over the hedge at the top of the field to continue feeding. The position would have the wind at my back but the only drawback is that I would be shooting into the sun. I built the hide and set out the decoys on the brow of the hill in the first tractor tracks from the edge of the field. Now these were close but I set them out in the tracks approx forty yards wide . The pattern consisted of two flappers , four flyers and six stand ups on spikes which looked very sparse. I set the flappers on timers so they did not flap together to allow movement. So I was all set up for 10.30 and the first customer came over my head and banked round the approach the decoys, bang , as I did the lower field in the valley erupted with two hundred plus birds who all came up the hill and over my decoys. I dropped two and split the flock all over the place. As the day progressed I had birds coming from all directions to the pattern , the sun cost me a good number of birds , the day tailed off and I packed up at 15.15, I had 150 on the clicker. I actually found 149, so it was a mega day for me, even with me being level with the Disco it took me five trips . Today’s outing started at the field I shot last week as I could see a number of birds down feeding hard. I decided with the heavy rain forecast to set up in my original position again. I had twelve decoys from the day before and put out one flapper ( broke one yesterday ) four flyers and seven stand-ups on spikes. This demonstrates the damage to this field as the first time I shot it I had to use cradles to lift the decoys above the rape now all the favourite area are down to the ground. It was now 10.30 and the first birds were coming in confidently, then the rain and fog or low cloud descended on us and it just stopped. I shot a high crosser and it took ages for the feathers to come down vertically in the still conditions. The rain was set for the day and I stayed hoping for the roosting birds to cross in front of me but nothing came but packed up at 15.15. I picked up 49 birds which was good in the weather conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 You're a pigeon shooting god PC 👍. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Well done PC and thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Well done PC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Your winter rape results are second to none PC, glad to see this year is no different! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Solo again or did DB join you this week end? Nice to see that lovely layed out picture Well done just like old times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted December 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 5 minutes ago, dead eye alan said: Solo again or did DB join you this week end? Nice to see that lovely layed out picture Well done just like old times. No DB’s better half was 60 yesterday and today he gets his new puppy so a busy weekend and no shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Good to see that you are continuing to post again. Good report, photos and and excellent bags. That first bag would have done me in,but two days running, that`s total dedication. Very well done and many thanks for posting. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 nice to see it’s business as usual pc must have a thousand on rape here along with houses two roads horses and a footpath not safe shot to be had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted December 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 1 hour ago, clangerman said: nice to see it’s business as usual pc must have a thousand on rape here along with houses two roads horses and a footpath not safe shot to be had What’s the size of the field? Can you not set up in the tram tracks in a safe position Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 3 minutes ago, pigeon controller said: What’s the size of the field? Can you not set up in the tram tracks in a safe position just to much in the way already had a pair of idiots upset neighbours so office stopped the shotguns but I’m still having few with air rifle so not total loss not half lot there more arrive by the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted December 12, 2021 Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Look like you are back to normal service P C , a superb report and two cracking bags , the big bag would have made headline news around these parts as very few Pigeons are shot locally at this time of the year with the short days and the wildfowling and game shoots in full swing . Is your outlet improving , or are they still a job to move on ? , lately I have heard of a very bleak outlook when it came to selling game and wandered if the demand for Pigeons have improved with only small numbers shot at this time of the year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted December 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2021 Not enquired about pigeon demand just filling the freezers. Lots of pigeons about and due to the lack of acorns on the rape early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted December 13, 2021 Report Share Posted December 13, 2021 It's just like you've never been away PC Great reports, thank you 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwell Posted December 16, 2021 Report Share Posted December 16, 2021 A cracking report and weekends shooting PC, well shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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