bunny_blaster Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 The pigeons in Warwickshire seem to be very hit and miss at the moment, there one minute gone the next. The little pub in the village I live in opened for the first time in years on Thursday evening which I attended. Whilst in there I met my neighbour who happens to be one of the farmers i shoot for. He mentioned he had some ground that was just drilled with spring wheat and was covered in pigeons and crows when he checked two days ago, the only problem being it was over an hour way in Oxfordshire. I agreed to go and have a look and he dropped me a pin location the following morning. Saturday came and I left for the ground full of hope and excitement, travelling through some great looking country side on my way. Upon arrival the fields were devoid of birds, I sat and watched it for 3 hours and saw a total of 5 pigeons, GUTTED! Never the less I headed back towards home checking various fields of rape in search of pigeons. I eventually found a block that had birds down and joining but time was getting on. I got set up at 14.00 and packed up 3.30 when it went dead with 26 pigeons. I’d driven almost 150 miles that day. On Friday I had a drive about after work and found a block of rape that had about 300 birds down feeding with a steady line in so this was today’s fields of choice. Most other farms I looked at have deployed gas guns now. I got to the fields about 10.00 to find the birds coming down the line nicely. I got set up and the first hour was steady but it soon slowed down. I went for a drive around on the quad and found the line had moved over towards a housing estate. I pushed about 500 off the field and hoped they would start coming back to me again but it just didn’t happen. I packed up at 15.00 with 34 pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 Well done Ben, ten out of ten for effort, I bet you would like a pound for every time your told it’s covered with pigeons!! Keep at it and you will get your day, thanks for posting and good luck in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 Commitment at the highest level Ben , to us lesser mortals we would be happy with your end result but having followed your exploits along with P C over the years we were often told you all done miles upon miles throughout the day and then found a field in mid afternoon and managed to shoot a three figure bag in the hours that were left of the day, and then for good measure PC kindly laying them out which was neater than some of my early brick work . Now you still put 100% work load into the sport but the big bags are now less than in the pass , we have all got our different reasons about numbers about and what they are feeding on , when we went out today you can now see the rape is turning into a lush Green and the land is more than ready for Spring drilling so where do you see your next three figure bag coming from ? , one thing for certain it will come to you , but when ? MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 well done in finding and shooting a few, you deserved a bit of shooting after putting all those miles in, as you say its hard work this pigeon shooting game. I still believe there's been a lot less pigeons about this winter, its perhaps been one of my worst years for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Thats still good going seems to be more feeding in gardens than in the fields just now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 1 hour ago, old'un said: well done in finding and shooting a few, you deserved a bit of shooting after putting all those miles in, as you say its hard work this pigeon shooting game. I still believe there's been a lot less pigeons about this winter, its perhaps been one of my worst years for a long time. Totally agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny_blaster Posted February 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 20 hours ago, marsh man said: Commitment at the highest level Ben , to us lesser mortals we would be happy with your end result but having followed your exploits along with P C over the years we were often told you all done miles upon miles throughout the day and then found a field in mid afternoon and managed to shoot a three figure bag in the hours that were left of the day, and then for good measure PC kindly laying them out which was neater than some of my early brick work . Now you still put 100% work load into the sport but the big bags are now less than in the pass , we have all got our different reasons about numbers about and what they are feeding on , when we went out today you can now see the rape is turning into a lush Green and the land is more than ready for Spring drilling so where do you see your next three figure bag coming from ? , one thing for certain it will come to you , but when ? MM The problem round here is finding a field they are committed to. Most of the rape is either in big blocks or there’s other fields not far away so they are just lifting up and not returning. As for when my next big bag will be, honestly I don’t know. I’ve got the numbers about but like I said they are just not committed anywhere. This mild weather has made the dreaded tree buds start to show early so we will soon be losing them again. Along with others this has been my worst winter on record. I do hope my luck will change sooner rather than later. I certainly won’t give up though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 17 minutes ago, bunny_blaster said: The problem round here is finding a field they are committed to. Most of the rape is either in big blocks or there’s other fields not far away so they are just lifting up and not returning. As for when my next big bag will be, honestly I don’t know. I’ve got the numbers about but like I said they are just not committed anywhere. This mild weather has made the dreaded tree buds start to show early so we will soon be losing them again. Along with others this has been my worst winter on record. I do hope my luck will change sooner rather than later. I certainly won’t give up though Well said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 1 hour ago, bunny_blaster said: The problem round here is finding a field they are committed to. Most of the rape is either in big blocks or there’s other fields not far away so they are just lifting up and not returning. As for when my next big bag will be, honestly I don’t know. I’ve got the numbers about but like I said they are just not committed anywhere. This mild weather has made the dreaded tree buds start to show early so we will soon be losing them again. Along with others this has been my worst winter on record. I do hope my luck will change sooner rather than later. I certainly won’t give up though Excellent response Ben and I am glad we have got a few of your findings in common , namely big blocks of rape by our standard , not committed when shootable numbers are found and not returning when disturbed , what we haven't got in common is good numbers about , like other members we have good and very good years in the past for Acorns , even on good years we have had the odd decent day on the rape but not this year , in the past some members have said we need a spell of cold weather , throughout the Winter we have had two spells of well below freezing temps and that haven't made a scrap of difference , as you rightly say , Along with others , this had been your worst winter on record , so this is widespread and not just localised . Now we have got an unusual spell of very mild and dry weather and I agree with you saying the buds will be coming out early as I have already got Pigeons feeding on my flowering Cherry tree in my garden , the ground now is as dry as you expect in early Summer and no doubt spring drilling will soon be getting underway , yes you will always get the odd person who will get a good bag on fresh drillings , this could well be the farm have got a vintage drill or the land could be lumpy , on ours the drilling now go on un noticed as the drill is ultra modern and the seedbed is normally perfect so very little , if any seed is left behind . This famine could well run on till the Summer and then we would have to join the annual team of stubble shooters , god help us if there is a shortage in numbers and W J put pressure on to stop all forms of Pigeon shooting except shooting purely over crops , we might think that is far fetched , but it certainly could happen ( In time ) MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkin Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Good report BB, very enjoyable and thanks for posting, I would be happy with that number how things are going.👍🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) Well done on getting what you did…..I must admit I’d usually expect to see you shooting bigger bags at this time of year, both yourself and PC always seem to get bumper winters so it is odd even you are struggling for numbers! Seen a few on the Facebook group shooting good bags, Poolman as usual getting 100/200 plus days constantly. Some areas are just much easier to shoot pigeons than others to be honest, but this winter has been my worst on record I think…..not shot a pigeon on rape or seen enough worth bothering to go at. I did spot a good number and line into a chopped up maize strip when I was looking at the rape on the weekend, but it’s on a game shoot so a no go. I’d say they’re the key draw at this time of year and where the big bags come from if you’re lucky enough to have access to them (with pigeons in your area)! Edited February 21, 2023 by Wilts#Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 Hello, around the vale I see lots of rape fields stripped of plants yet see no pigeon 🤔 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.