HantsRob Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 Note: this is not soliciting offers to buy kit I am in the market to buy a simple hide setup. This thread is starting primarily to look at the good and bad, and more importantly learn from your experiences! I'm looking for practicable and not expensive! Chair I use an empty water container to sit on currently but this isn't sustainable. There's typically a few types, a simple "stick" with fold out seat, a 3 legged chair, or a 4 leg beach style chair. Thoughts on pros and cons? I did see a barrel type that you can put things inside but that seemed pricy Nets vs pop-up I understand the versatility of nets. I have seen different colours and usage, and see how with poles they can go anywhere. Nitehawk seem to dominate the affordable end, but will I regret cheap poles? £17 for a setup seems too cheap, or is that just because it is what it is? I've also seen the popup screens that seem really simple, fold away nicely, and just seem super convenient. Is there a trade off for the convenience? pop-up example: Portable Hunting Blind 2-Panel Pop up Hunting Ground Blind 360 Degree See Throug | eBay Clothing I typically wear dark green or brown cargo pants with a green top, and flat cap. I wear "normal" sunglasses rather than my reflective oakleys. How important is clothing, and should I invest in some "cammo"/country/leaf tops and pants, or is this less important if I have a hide set up properly? Decoys I assume the dozen half shell decoys for £28ish is around a fair price, and all I would need for a simple setup? I can't see me investing in spinners etc at this point in case I don't get on with it. Half decoy Vs full? Anything else? Am I missing any considerations? I am very new to all of this, so please be kind to someone who's just trying to learn. Hopefully it'll help someone else new in the future also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 Hi Rob , Chair :I used to use the bucket seat which was ok as you could carry bits in it but I found sitting on it after a while killed my hips and back , so now I use a fold up seat from decathlon Nets: I use 2 nets of varying colours together, 1 light colours and 1 darker seems to work well in most conditions at blanking you out , just place which ever one o top that suits hedge row , think they are Silosox ones , I use a one man pop up hide for squirrel shooting on one of my perms , but no good to me for pigeon shooting Clothing; decent Altberg boots , New Forest trousers , camo cap and that’s it unless it’s cold or damp then a Ridgeline digi cam jacket Decoys : Full and half bodied Enforcers for pigeons and a dozen of cradles shoot I shoot enough then I use real birds and put the decoys away , also a ff6 flapper and a magnet Silosox crow decoys im based Havant way should you want to come and look and get an idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 Hi Sam Very kind, I work down towards Netley area, so you're within a stone's throw. That would be awesome to come have a f2f chat and looksie! Thankyou, that's a fantastic offer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 No problem I’m around this afternoon or drop me a pm when you’re free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 The kit list looks ok , hide poles can be cheap enough. The main thing to remember is to keep still just Move, Mount and Shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 Im Fresh in from the decoy field where I shot 16 in a couple of hours from a bail hide . I tend to leave my car in a gateway and walk into my position .so an ex army began carrys all my kit .in it 2 nets , the 2 ply types . 4 hide poles I made from very cheap extending washing line poles . A lightweight take apart .drummers chair I picked up .it spins and is comfy . 12 full bodied pigeon decoys , With a stiff wire to hang them from so they bob in the breeze . Crocodile clips to attach the net to the poles or branches . Cartridges . Binos . A rain coat or poncho (covers everything ) Small umbrella Plastic bags to carry birds out of the field . Machete for hide building . Rag to wipe blood off hands and guns etc . I do have flappers and magnets and batteries. And loads of other kit like cradles etc bit don't use them very often . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 Assuming here that you're youngish/fit and shoot standing up. You shoot better if you have a stable stance so when over stubble I take an ex German army trenching tool to sort out the usual plough ditch close to the hedge. These have a pick and a shovel, are quite compact and fold flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 Four Poles, I have just bought some spares from Dunelm for £3:50 each. A Net, ghost triple layer is best, double layer is nearly as good, get 5m X 1.5m Some spring clips to hold the net. An old 25 litre oil drum with the inner top cut out and foam cushion put on the bottom and then in an old kitbag. The 24 odd half shell decoys go in that drum and that goes in an old Bergan Nets go in the pockets along with cartridges and water. Off you go to your chosen permission and hopefully manage to shoot a few. Simples................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet11-87 Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 most of my gear is decathlon and very good quality but heavy and its my "main" setup, but ive got/used allot of the nitehawk gear and its value is outstanding imo the 20 quid cheap poles i was very surprised at how light and practical they are. wont stand up to being abused but then just dont abuse them. poles,2 ply 4m ghost net and 12 shells is under £60 and makes a decent little kit to keep in the car so you can just grab your gun carts and go for a quick hour or 2 session Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted September 2 Author Report Share Posted September 2 Some great advice there! thanks to everyone so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 21 hours ago, Ultrastu said: Im Fresh in from the decoy field where I shot 16 in a couple of hours from a bail hide . I tend to leave my car in a gateway and walk into my position .so an ex army began carrys all my kit .in it 2 nets , the 2 ply types . 4 hide poles I made from very cheap extending washing line poles . A lightweight take apart .drummers chair I picked up .it spins and is comfy . 12 full bodied pigeon decoys , With a stiff wire to hang them from so they bob in the breeze . Crocodile clips to attach the net to the poles or branches . Cartridges . Binos . A rain coat or poncho (covers everything ) Small umbrella Plastic bags to carry birds out of the field . Machete for hide building . Rag to wipe blood off hands and guns etc . I do have flappers and magnets and batteries. And loads of other kit like cradles etc bit don't use them very often . Age and infirmity means that too much bending/crawling around the stubble is a no no so have adopted the highlighted method to present the decoys which works a treat. Since I started and because I'm quite capable of losing the odd one or several I have just tried to buy some more 'wire' and discovered that the price has gone through the roof. My decoys are Flexicoy so there's some weight and I've found that 3mm rod with a 4" ish overhang is good in that they stay upright and pierce hard ground without bending. For anyone for who finds this suitable, have a look at Dryad Education. I've just ordered a few more lengths - not because I need them now, but just in case they realise that their price is extraordinarily low and do something about it - which have not yet arrived so can't be certain but the last ones were actually 1/8" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 One thing I would not advise is the cheap lining line poles , the ground have been rock hard lately and with them not having a kick plate ( and a point ) although that would be easy enough to put on , you would have a job in getting them in the ground , but t b h you might as well buy the cheap ones as that is what they were made for , only a few quid more and it would be money well spent . I have used a lot of various seats from the five gallon drums to the director type of chair I use now , this one fairly lightweight , fold up and is comfortable if like me your back isn't great. Nets I use two three ply with a Summer pattern on one and a Winter pattern on the other one but again t b h I don't think the pattern make to much difference at you can easily put some grass or weeds on the outside of the net if you feel a bit exposed but two nets on top of each other would normally cancel that out Decoys , I use about 15 Flexicoys if I can drive to my hide position , which in most cases I can drive to where I want to be , but if I had to walk then a dozen flock half round shell decoys will easily start you off , Five hide poles to make life easy and two floaters that go in the pole holder , a cartridge bag with one or two boxes of cartridges and refreshments for me and my dog and that is about it . If the op have got a sporting auction coming up around his way then you can buy a lot of Pigeon decoying stuff for a fair price and once you have got more gear than you want you can put it back into another auction , there yer go , all sorted . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 27 minutes ago, marsh man said: One thing I would not advise is the cheap lining line poles , the ground have been rock hard lately and with them not having a kick plate ( and a point ) although that would be easy enough to put on , you would have a job in getting them in the ground , but t b h you might as well buy the cheap ones as that is what they were made for , only a few quid more and it would be money well spent . Well I would, I use them with a couple of guy ropes and tent pegs, I get a really firm hide that will stand up in ANY wind I am likely to go out in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul hart Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 got these 4mts x1.5 stealth net and 4 quality hide poles £50 deliverd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Well I would, I use them with a couple of guy ropes and tent pegs, I get a really firm hide that will stand up in ANY wind I am likely to go out in. Well everyone to there own T C , I would splash out a few more quid and buy something that was made to hold a net up and not mess about with a similar item that was made to hold a linen line , we hear members who use the same thing and take a long chisel or something to put a pilot hole in first , again why bother when you can but the proper pole with a kick plate on for about a quid extra , to buy four it would be a lot less than a box of shells , like I said , if you are happy with the linen line poles then that's fine , I would find it to much bending if I had to put tent pegs in the ground and then guy ropes , so for the rest of my time on Gods earth I am happy to carry on using the hide poles . MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul hart Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 Still got plenty left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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