kitchrat Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 From mid October until the end of the year I was having a rare old time. Loads of rape to shoot over (100's of acres) and massive numbers of pigeons in the area, in lots of small/mid-sized flocks plus 1's and 2's and 3's. In general they would drop straight onto the crop and decoyed quite well, or at least came to have a close look. In spite of all my beating commitments I was shooting over 50 each week, on average. Then, after a swampy day of 25 in early Jan in the mud, the weather turned misty and cold and so did my barrels! The mid-sized flocks would not drop onto the crop anymore and would not decoy. They would go into trees or a wood and other flocks would join them, to form a mega-flock of several hundred. After some considerable time, a few would drop down (ignoring my pattern) and the rest would flock-string after them. Walking them off or firing a shot would send them all elsewhere to repeat the procedure and devastate the crop there. The layout of the fields of rape/farms with rape meant that I could often see them building up a mile away, whilst I watched an empty field. Very frustrating! Now, they have absolutely stripped most of the fields bare and many of the birds have moved on. Those that remain use the same tactics and are virtually unshootable. The farmers are saying "Now is the time the crop needs protection, when spring growth starts" but what do I do? If I had 25+ shooters spread about, the pigeons would go elsewhere (farmers happy) but none of the guns would get any decent shooting. The turnout for roost shooting has plummeted after a couple of windless nights. However, I'm hoping for some early spring drillings in about a month, Kitchrat will fight back!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 Good to hear you are still above ground , for how cold it have been of late then you wouldn't had decomposed if you had passed away under the hedges , the last two Saturday afternoons I have spent nearly as long in my motor draining my coffee flask than I have in some drafty wood , no good getting ole if you don't get wise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 3 hours ago, kitchrat said: The turnout for roost shooting has plummeted after a couple of windless nights. 7 rats and a very long pigeon with the air rifle was good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 once their in full rape mode all you can do is keep watch with rick for a change or opportunity to get on terms again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpip Posted February 15 Report Share Posted February 15 Keep going, when I had plenty of rape to shoot I had better bags in March/April on stunted areas, even when it was in full flower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellors Posted February 15 Report Share Posted February 15 My last 3 trips were the same. Even with lack of rape on most farms round here now what there is has huge flocks with no interest its always the same this time of the year. 3.30 in the afternoon those picked all had empty crops. They still appear to be hitting the ivy berries so i assume there filling up in the woods and on the hedges late before bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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