Decoying over rape.

[george123456789]

One of my permissions has suddenly been hit by pigeons, so im going to have a go at decoying them. I have decoyed succesfully in the summer over stubbles but i'm wondering whether i need to do anything differently when decoying over winter rape. I have 12 shell decoys and two full bodied ones, is there anything i should do to make my pattern more effective against the rape? I know all the basics but im just wondering if i need to do anything special for decoying over rape.

Thanks, George

[henry d]

If the crop is any height at all you will need to get the decoys up on sticks so they are seen well, I would advise you to use bouncers/floaters and a rotary too if you have them.

Another thing I like to do when decoying at this time of year is, when you get a large flock of 10+ birds coming in, don`t shoot at them, just wave or move about to put off a bird or 2 and they will move the rest of the birds. Same goes with big numbers of birds sitting in trees near the field you are shooting in, just get up and walk them off, it may sound strange to do this but IMHO you are then likely to get the birds back in smaller numbers as if you fire a shot when 40-50 birds are about then 40-50 birds won`t be back for the foreseeable future.

 

Best of luck :yp:

[Catamong]

It's essential to use a rotary, (2 if you can carry them), put as many deeks out as you can, and do not let any birds sit on the field, otherwise any newcomers will head straight for the real ones.

 

Fire the odd shot or two to stir 'em up a bit.

 

If at all possible get other fields nearby covered with other guns.

 

Cat.

[Jim Sarakun]

It's essential to use a rotary, (2 if you can carry them), put as many deeks out as you can, and do not let any birds sit on the field, otherwise any newcomers will head straight for the real ones.

 

Fire the odd shot or two to stir 'em up a bit.

 

If at all possible get other fields nearby covered with other guns.

 

Cat.

 

The twirly, or pigeon magnet, in my experience, works the best, and is a very worthwhile investment. I often use just the twirly. Always use dead birds, though if you start with decoys, every time you shoot a bird, bring in a decoy and replace it with a dead bird. Big flocks of decoys have never worked for me, unless it is dead birds and I find 5 is plenty plus the 2 on your twirly, less to carry too. Also in my experience, 3 dead birds work better than any amount of artificial decoys, then build up your pattern as you shoot them.

 

I find sillo socks work best, as they wobble in the wind, and don't shine in the rain either, though have seen Pigeons turn away from these too. If you are covering a big field, put lollipops out where you don't want the birds to go, though first look to see where they are feeding, and then decoy there, and put the lollipops in the adjacent fields where they may feed, ie if it is also the dish of the day. Although the farmer of that field may not wish you to shoot it, he may let you walk on it to put out your lollipops

 

Oh, lollipops. Get a reel of red and white boundary tape, about £7 for 500mtrs x 2" from the inter net. and 20x5ft canes from your local garden centre, about £2. With a good pen knife, split the top of 10 canes, leaving the knife in to keep the split open, and tie the end of one of the 15-20ft lengths of tape you cut earlier, with a good reef knot. Doing it this way, they do not blow off in a good wind. Use one of these per 100ft circle, though move them if in the unlikely event, the pigeons land amongst them. With the other 10, the thickest ones you picked out earlier, cut in one end a 2" groove. Tie the tape from the reel onto one, then unroll the reel for as long as you like, and tie to another cane. This job is best done in the field, and depends on how much ground you wish to cover. Don't pull the tape tight when you stake the canes, but leave enough to flap in the breeze. At the end of the day, wrap the tape around the top of the cane. This is when they look like a lollipop.

 

I rarely use a hide, and prefer to travel light, relying on personal cammo, and surrounding cover. Army surplus, brown and olive green clothing is the best, though not any thing black, and covering those hands and your face is very important. Unless you are lucky enough to stumble onto a feeding frenzy, you will have to work those birds, and follow them around, hence the need to travel light. You can create your own feeding frenzy by throwing a couple of hands full of peanuts amongst your decoys. Pigeons love peanuts, not the salted ones though, the ones from your garden centre. Let the first few birds land and eat a few, this will ensure that they come back a few times before, or if, you have to move, and put a couple of decoy crows in the next field to give them confidence.

 

Now that the day's are short, and the staple diet is rape, all the above works very well, though this will all change come spring. Remember one thing, if you want to put out your decoys and sit in a hedge and wait for the Pigeons while reading a novel, all you will achieve is to read a novel. If you decoy and shoot a few, then they move to the other side of the field, put your lollipops where you have just been, and move over to the other side of the field too. Be aware that they usually come back after about 20 minutes if that is their feeding place for that day. If you have not had a shot for an hour, then move. I hope this has been of help, and helps toward those 100+ bags....Jim...

[Whitebridges]

Hi Jim, Very interesting post, thanks for your trouble. Can I ask where you are from?

[Jim Sarakun]

Hi Jim, Very interesting post, thanks for your trouble. Can I ask where you are from?

 

 

I am in Cambridgeshire. Where are you?

[george123456789]

Thanks a lot guys, especially Jim. Can't wait to get out the day after boxing day with my new gun!