Beans3

[Manymissedpigeon]

Laid up at the moment after an eye op. So not getting out on pigeon at the moment but had quite a decent last few weeks mainly on beans. This includes harvested beans and , as a new development for one of my farmers, drilling winter beans. Although the newly cut bean shooting only lasted around two days on each of three fields ( only one out of three of my usual bean planting farmers managed to get any in this spring) as the farmer was desperate to get his next crop in before it was too late for the soil to be warm enough to germinate the seed, he did a full plough and till of the fields which for some reason left a fair few beans and pod laden stalks on the surface.

This resulted in repeated decent shooting days over the same fields ( there are some massive partridge shoots in the area and each barrage in the distance sends a few pigeon over between twenty seconds of and maybe a minuit later) Sadly yet another farmer informed me he would’nt be growing any o/s/r this year so that’s four out of seven farms who used to grow it giving it a miss ( usual reasons being flea beetle, wet weather and even pigeon!, although I hope the last reason was a joke!) said farmer announced he was trying winter beans for the first time, this was after not putting in any spring beans this year. The first field went in a couple of weeks ago by direct drilling over cross disc’ed  stubbles and immediately attracted the pigeon, again the problem being the amount of nearby barley and wheat drilling going on giving the birds some where else to land and nibble without being disturbed. I’ve noted before that, although there are cannonades ringing out in the distance from numerous ‘proffesional’ four days a week game shoots when in game season, I never hear the sounds of the past, pop pop in the distance of a fellow pigeon/crow shooter ( or even three shots from those who don’t mind scrabbling around in nettle patches to collect their empties!) 

Now I reckon that last bit might raise a few comments if anyone bothers to read this far😂

[old'un]

In this area rape is also well down on last year, mainly for the reasons you mention, as regards hearing the pop-pop of another distant shooter, first, most only shoot weekends and secondly I don't think there's the same number chasing pigeons today for various reasons, although having said that, come stubble time I do hear the pop-pop from some fields half a mile away, come winter I never hear a sound apart from the odd gas-gun.

[Wilts#Dave]

3 hours ago, old'un said:

In this area rape is also well down on last year, mainly for the reasons you mention, as regards hearing the pop-pop of another distant shooter, first, most only shoot weekends and secondly I don't think there's the same number chasing pigeons today for various reasons, although having said that, come stubble time I do hear the pop-pop from some fields half a mile away, come winter I never hear a sound apart from the odd gas-gun.

Rape acreage down here too, although have seen a fair bit on my travels. 
What do you put the number chasing pigeons reduced down to, cost? 
I’ve shot more than ever this year, a keeper invited me out last week and we shot 450 between us……he phoned to say there’s more there than ever still (wants to hit them again). 
I must admit I don’t know of many others who shoot them in numbers but do see various butterfly shooters from time to time. 

[old'un]

31 minutes ago, Wilts#Dave said:

Rape acreage down here too, although have seen a fair bit on my travels. 
What do you put the number chasing pigeons reduced down to, cost? 
I’ve shot more than ever this year, a keeper invited me out last week and we shot 450 between us……he phoned to say there’s more there than ever still (wants to hit them again). 
I must admit I don’t know of many others who shoot them in numbers but do see various butterfly shooters from time to time. 

Not sure but there could be a number of reasons, cost, no outlet for pigeons, youngsters having other interests, family commitments and the list goes on, you have got to-be very dedicated to chase pigeons all year round and there just does not seem to-be many of that type any more, I very rarely bump into anyone these days and most of the people I know who still do a bit are in their 60s and 70s and one in his 80s.

I have been shooting pigeons for a good few years and killed a lot of pigeons in that time, I have given up a lot of the farms I shoot, age and the spark to kill the numbers is just not there any more, I have tried over the last few years to find someone to fill my shoes and have taken people off PW hoping they would have the same enthusiasm and commitment as I once did but have yet found anyone who fits the bill.

[Manymissedpigeon]

The cost of a motor alone is a big item these days! In the past a old discovery with a four cylinder engine and second hand off road tyres and a mate with a welder was all that was required whereas ive  just found a lower door trim I knocked of my current four wheel drive while travelling down a, not that rough, grass margin a week ago which would have cost over a hundred quid! Very few dealers round here will take pigeon unless ‘steel shot’ and I can’t use steel in a fifty year old trap gun ( full and three quarters) and ok I know, I could pick up a cheapo pigeon gun!

Strangely enough there does not seem to be the same reduction in numbers of clay shooters, with any shooting ground which closes usually due to local noise problems and not lack of shooters so I’m at a loss to understand why no one seems to be new to pigeon shooting apart from the dozen or so lads I’ve taken along every year who then go on to game shooting at anything from £350 to a grand a day ( obviously not ‘on the moors’ at those prices)

[Wilts#Dave]

5 hours ago, old'un said:

Not sure but there could be a number of reasons, cost, no outlet for pigeons, youngsters having other interests, family commitments and the list goes on, you have got to-be very dedicated to chase pigeons all year round and there just does not seem to-be many of that type any more, I very rarely bump into anyone these days and most of the people I know who still do a bit are in their 60s and 70s and one in his 80s.

I have been shooting pigeons for a good few years and killed a lot of pigeons in that time, I have given up a lot of the farms I shoot, age and the spark to kill the numbers is just not there any more, I have tried over the last few years to find someone to fill my shoes and have taken people off PW hoping they would have the same enthusiasm and commitment as I once did but have yet found anyone who fits the bill.

They do seem to turn up here occasionally, usually when I’ve been watching a decent field and get there before me. 
I rarely know who they are so wouldn’t comment on exactly how keen they are, but often don’t see them again.  
I go out as often as I can and am always looking, the lad I know who’s mad on it is only 30 so not an old boy or anything. He’s got a very large estate to himself though so in a perfect position to be keen and shoots a lot of pigeons. 
The lack of outlet is a definite issue, and would put a lot of folk off shooting a lot regularly. 

[marsh man]

I mentioned a lack of serious Pigeon shooters a while back and if anything there are less now than ever , why should this be ? , apart from age slowing me up I would say in my case is simply lack of demand and rising costs of everything .

Before I moved I was in between two very good farms and a fairly big estate where you could always find some Pigeons and at certain times a lot of Pigeons , things were going well , I had the time , both places were no more than seven miles away and I was getting 25p for frozen Pigeons , not a lot but I was taking up 300+ at a time so I was getting at least £75 towards the cost of shells and didn't need to dump any Pigeons , then seven years ago I moved nearer to the fairly large estate, in fact the outskirts were only two miles away , I knew the place well and had a free hand once the game season finished , so as I was getting older and the bottom was falling out in getting rid of frozen Pigeons I gave up the farms I had before I moved , well last year I thought I would have a run out and have a walk over my ole hunting ground , walking around I bumped into the farm manager , we had a yarn and I asked him who have you got now to do the Pigeon shooting ? , his answer was no one , we get the odd person now and again and then you go months without seeing him no more , this is more or less what I expected .

Cost wise and time wise the average Pigeon shooter can no longer afford to have to many big days without either a outlet or some help with the cost of fuel and cartridges , take the bag of Pigeons Dave and his keeper friend shot over the weekend ,To round the number off we will  say they shot 500 and they both shot well with a average of 2 out of 3 , this would then be three slabs of shells at a cost of over £200 , if they had no outlet they would have to dump that lot and what would happen if the land owner rang up and said there are still loads hitting the rape , how many could afford keep buying slabs of shells , maybe taking a bit of time off from work a filling the car up with fuel , I know I couldn't and I bet I am not the only one , that is only one reason and I am sure there are many more .   MM

[Wilts#Dave]

23 hours ago, marsh man said:

I mentioned a lack of serious Pigeon shooters a while back and if anything there are less now than ever , why should this be ? , apart from age slowing me up I would say in my case is simply lack of demand and rising costs of everything .

Before I moved I was in between two very good farms and a fairly big estate where you could always find some Pigeons and at certain times a lot of Pigeons , things were going well , I had the time , both places were no more than seven miles away and I was getting 25p for frozen Pigeons , not a lot but I was taking up 300+ at a time so I was getting at least £75 towards the cost of shells and didn't need to dump any Pigeons , then seven years ago I moved nearer to the fairly large estate, in fact the outskirts were only two miles away , I knew the place well and had a free hand once the game season finished , so as I was getting older and the bottom was falling out in getting rid of frozen Pigeons I gave up the farms I had before I moved , well last year I thought I would have a run out and have a walk over my ole hunting ground , walking around I bumped into the farm manager , we had a yarn and I asked him who have you got now to do the Pigeon shooting ? , his answer was no one , we get the odd person now and again and then you go months without seeing him no more , this is more or less what I expected .

Cost wise and time wise the average Pigeon shooter can no longer afford to have to many big days without either a outlet or some help with the cost of fuel and cartridges , take the bag of Pigeons Dave and his keeper friend shot over the weekend ,To round the number off we will  say they shot 500 and they both shot well with a average of 2 out of 3 , this would then be three slabs of shells at a cost of over £200 , if they had no outlet they would have to dump that lot and what would happen if the land owner rang up and said there are still loads hitting the rape , how many could afford keep buying slabs of shells , maybe taking a bit of time off from work a filling the car up with fuel , I know I couldn't and I bet I am not the only one , that is only one reason and I am sure there are many more .   MM

I guess that’s probably true MM. There are certainly people that go out in my area but not many that I know of (thankfully) as keen as me or my keeper mate, and he shoots different ground to me albeit not that far away really. 
Outlet wise, he takes a lot of my pigeons in the feather fresh that I have to drop off after a days shooting and I sell a lot to someone with a lot of ferrets to feed. 
The keeper processes them himself and gets £1 per bird (2 breasts vacuum packed) so a good little sideline for him really. 
I went out with him on the same ground this afternoon and between two hides (me and him and his mate in another hide) we accounted for another 250, after which we plucked the feathers off the breasts in the field ready for him to process at his leisure. 
Not many realise how much work goes into shooting good numbers of pigeons regularly, it’s not just a matter of setting up a hide and away you go is it.
As well as the cartridges / time off work I spend a small fortune in fuel driving round looking for them! 

[marsh man]

20 minutes ago, Wilts#Dave said:

I guess that’s probably true MM. There are certainly people that go out in my area but not many that I know of (thankfully) as keen as me or my keeper mate, and he shoots different ground to me albeit not that far away really. 
Outlet wise, he takes a lot of my pigeons in the feather fresh that I have to drop off after a days shooting and I sell a lot to someone with a lot of ferrets to feed. 
The keeper processes them himself and gets £1 per bird (2 breasts vacuum packed) so a good little sideline for him really. 
I went out with him on the same ground this afternoon and between two hides (me and him and his mate in another hide) we accounted for another 250, after which we plucked the feathers off the breasts in the field ready for him to process at his leisure. 
Not many realise how much work goes into shooting good numbers of pigeons regularly, it’s not just a matter of setting up a hide and away you go is it.
As well as the cartridges / time off work I spend a small fortune in fuel driving round looking for them! 

Hi Dave    Someone mentioned there are no shortage of clay shooters at his local club and yet hardly ever see or hear anyone Pigeon shooting , with clays the birds are there when you call Pull , you get around a 50 bird layout in no time at all , have a yarn with your mates and often on the way home after 2 or 3 hours out .

This is not the case with Pigeon shooting , if you have only got a minimum amount of Pigeons you have still got to find them , once found it might involve a lot of carting all the gear over wet fields and you then hope and pray they come back , they start drifting back in the odd ones and twos and sport is fairly slow , you stick it out and then it start to rain , at first fairly moderate and then quite heavy , you have shot about 25 and you call it a day , you cannot carry everything back in one go so you have to make two trips backwards and forwards back to your motor , time you get everything back you are soaked , your gear is wet and so are the dead pigeons .

This is not fiction it is fact and things like the above happen fairly regular , maybe without the amount of walking or shooting in the rain but you will not shoot a Wood Pigeon by just turning up at a clay shoot and call pull.

Then your luck change , you find a good flight line and then you pinpoint good numbers hitting the rape , you can drive to near where you want to set up and every thing look like a good day , you get in a good days shooting and you are not far off a three figure bag , time you get home and lay them out to cool off you are ready for your tea , in the morning you ring up your local game dealer who is nearly thirty miles away , the good news is he is taking fresh Pigeons , the bad news is he is only paying 12 pence each so again it will cost you more for fuel than what money you will get back for your shot birds  , you then ring another one as you are going to freeze them all only to find they no longer take frozen Pigeons . 

To get all these setbacks you need to be keen , have the time , can afford the fuel , need Pigeons on your perm(s) and several other things can and do get in the way and then you wonder why there are not as many Pigeon shooters as there once was . MM 

P S   Another very good bag had by all . 

[kitchrat]

On 24/10/2024 at 21:32, marsh man said:

Hi Dave    Someone mentioned there are no shortage of clay shooters at his local club and yet hardly ever see or hear anyone Pigeon shooting , with clays the birds are there when you call Pull , you get around a 50 bird layout in no time at all , have a yarn with your mates and often on the way home after 2 or 3 hours out .

This is not the case with Pigeon shooting , if you have only got a minimum amount of Pigeons you have still got to find them , once found it might involve a lot of carting all the gear over wet fields and you then hope and pray they come back , they start drifting back in the odd ones and twos and sport is fairly slow , you stick it out and then it start to rain , at first fairly moderate and then quite heavy , you have shot about 25 and you call it a day , you cannot carry everything back in one go so you have to make two trips backwards and forwards back to your motor , time you get everything back you are soaked , your gear is wet and so are the dead pigeons .

This is not fiction it is fact and things like the above happen fairly regular , maybe without the amount of walking or shooting in the rain but you will not shoot a Wood Pigeon by just turning up at a clay shoot and call pull.

Then your luck change , you find a good flight line and then you pinpoint good numbers hitting the rape , you can drive to near where you want to set up and every thing look like a good day , you get in a good days shooting and you are not far off a three figure bag , time you get home and lay them out to cool off you are ready for your tea , in the morning you ring up your local game dealer who is nearly thirty miles away , the good news is he is taking fresh Pigeons , the bad news is he is only paying 12 pence each so again it will cost you more for fuel than what money you will get back for your shot birds  , you then ring another one as you are going to freeze them all only to find they no longer take frozen Pigeons . 

To get all these setbacks you need to be keen , have the time , can afford the fuel , need Pigeons on your perm(s) and several other things can and do get in the way and then you wonder why there are not as many Pigeon shooters as there once was . MM 

P S   Another very good bag had by all . 

Not only do pigeons fail to appear (on a pre-determined flightpath) when you call "pull"they also have a tricky habit of swerving and kinking and ducking and diving if they see you raise the gun. That's why we love it!

[TIGHTCHOKE]

[old'un]

57 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

She was the original master of the bleedin' obvious.....................................