kitchrat Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 In November last year I shot about 100 pigeons off a single (big but difficult to shoot) field of rape for a local farmer, including a 55. This year I have yet to see a single bird feeding on any of the 1000 (approx) acres of rape I have to "protect". (I did see 1 heron but don't think he was feeding on the crop!) I doubt I will equal my Nov-April (inc) total last year of nearly 900! Woe is me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 1 hour ago, kitchrat said: In November last year I shot about 100 pigeons off a single (big but difficult to shoot) field of rape for a local farmer, including a 55. This year I have yet to see a single bird feeding on any of the 1000 (approx) acres of rape I have to "protect". (I did see 1 heron but don't think he was feeding on the crop!) I doubt I will equal my Nov-April (inc) total last year of nearly 900! Woe is me!! Yes same hear I only shot 6 birds in November and the rape has not yet seen a bird. I will have another look around today but expect very few birds around! Good point is I have had a good time on the tree rats, and a lot of exercise walking the hedges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 Every years different with pigeons, lot depends on natural food source and this year there seems to be plenty, been and looked at a few rape fields this last couple of weeks and I am seeing plenty of birds about but they are just flying from wood to wood, not showing any interest in the rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 Bird flu ? I've seen a fair few dead pigeons just by to road side over the last few weeks .and it's not cold enough to be frost death . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 17 minutes ago, Ultrastu said: Bird flu ? I've seen a fair few dead pigeons just by to road side over the last few weeks .and it's not cold enough to be frost death . I doubt its bird flu, most studies show pigeons have a high resistant to infection of avian influenza virus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 2 hours ago, Ultrastu said: Bird flu ? I've seen a fair few dead pigeons just by to road side over the last few weeks .and it's not cold enough to be frost death . apparently pigeons dont get bird flu ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie to this Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 51 minutes ago, ditchman said: apparently pigeons dont get bird flu ! Just ask Jeremy Clarkson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 Its just far too warm yet and such a bounty of natural food They are just starting to take an interest in our game crops - kale - rape- mustard - chicory but as has been said and said the beech and acorn harvest has been huge Snow / frost forecast next week so that can change things overnight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 15 minutes ago, Newbie to this said: Just ask Jeremy Clarkson ahhhh you have been paying attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 Hello, seen a few on the Ivy berries, hoping there might be some shooting over rape in new year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hitman Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 I shot 62 on the 26th November last year ( the day of storm Arwen) . The conditions locally haven’t been great- no wind or foggy. Still plenty on beechmast and berries, however I am seeing more and more on winter rape. When the conditions improve I will be out again- it’s been a while since I shot a pigeon. Hitman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 Same here,been watching some feeding on a block of fields for about 10 days ,biggest numbers on a couple of cold days mid week.It`s not backward rape either ,but they`re getting down amongst it from 9-11am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted December 3, 2022 Report Share Posted December 3, 2022 On my game syndicate days this season there's been noticeably fewer pigeons stirred up when we arrive and start making a commotion. I can't hear any gas cannons yet either which is normally part of the ambient noise by this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted December 4, 2022 Report Share Posted December 4, 2022 10 hours ago, Jim Neal said: On my game syndicate days this season there's been noticeably fewer pigeons stirred up when we arrive and start making a commotion. I can't hear any gas cannons yet either which is normally part of the ambient noise by this time of year. I would go along with that as being pretty identical , our rape is totally untouched and to be honest I am glad it is as I don't no longer enjoy sitting around for long periods in the cold , the game and wildfowl season is getting well underway now and it wont be long before we go back into pigeon mode , how it will be by then ? only time will tell . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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