Cosd Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hi, Having got my licence, gun and some camo gear with a friend we have been to a farm introduced to us by my friends dad the last two sundays. It was overcast and windy so from what I have read thought it should be a decent day for shooting pigeons. We spread out, my friend had bought 5 decoys and a pop-up hide, I had neither so set out in one corner of the field taking cover in a ditch surrounded buy trees and growth. My friend went to the oposite corner. The field (I think) is planted with wheat and is about 4 inches high. We set up at about 7.30 as the day broke and stayed till around 2. It was extremely quiete, not very much going on other than the odd birds flying through. Briefly, the first week was better for the amount of birds but nothing like I have been reading here on the forums. My friend shot two and I just one. the last Sunday we got two each, I'd shot just eight cartridges (no 7's 30g), and if I'm totally honest I probably should have shot two more birds and the other 4 shots were more desperation than anything else as they were a little too far. Grim as it may sound, we have both got the bug now, having enjoyed the days so much and are definitely not giving up. I've now ordered 12 shell decoys, a couple of flocked full bodies to add to some home made lofting poles (project still in progress), a pop-up hide and one of those bucket things with the swivel top. My mates on holiday this week so we're missing this Sunday but plan for the next. Apart from boring you guys to death, the reason for this blogg is for absolutely any advice really you wish to offer a couple of newbies. I'm not sure if the field we are in is the right one, or whether we have just been unlucky. Looking forward to any tips guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 (edited) You're in the right place; I can't profess to know enough to guide you but there are guys on here who do! Good luck, enjoy and stay safe. WGD Edited January 17, 2008 by wgd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Pigeon this time of year are essentially hard to decoy, they are just about all on the rape - it's the only thing really edible in any quantity for them. They are a flock bird and at this time of year are in massive flocks making them hard to decoy. Pigeon tend to use "flightlines" - regular passage of pigeons over the same features like the line of a hedge or power lines. The real secret to decoying is field craft. Get out there and watch where they come from, where they go, where they feed. Look for flight lines they use. Nothing wrong with setting up in a field of something they don't want to feed on but you won't have much luck, you'll get the odd bird as you have found. Find and get under a flightline, or close to it as the lay of the land allows. Use the decoys to try and tempt the birds off the line and into range. The general idea in summer when the birds are not flocked up as they are now, is to get them coming in off a flightline to your decoys in ones and twos. In winter this is almost impossible, they come in in hundreds which is un-shootable, one bang and they ****** off somewhere else. Consider ditching the 7's, ideally you want 6's or 6.5's in 30g or better. Someone will no doubt be along in a second to tell us they always use 28g clay loads and it works for them - not for me. You need the extra killing power the larger shot gives you at range, especially if you are not shooting them over the decoys. My fingers are bleeding now, so I will let someone else take over if they want and tell you something about patterns to use (look on pigoenwatch.co.uk - not the forum the main page for some ideas) and all that gubbins. Most important thing is that you stay safe and shoot within your ability. For me that means inside 40yds really, others will have different stories to tell I am sure :unsure: Hope this helps in some way. If you want to read up on the very complex art of pigoen shooting you won't go far wrong with Archie Coat's text - the seminal work on pigeon shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggy Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hi,Having got my licence, gun and some camo gear with a friend we have been to a farm introduced to us by my friends dad the last two sundays. It was overcast and windy so from what I have read thought it should be a decent day for shooting pigeons. We spread out, my friend had bought 5 decoys and a pop-up hide, I had neither so set out in one corner of the field taking cover in a ditch surrounded buy trees and growth. My friend went to the oposite corner. The field (I think) is planted with wheat and is about 4 inches high. We set up at about 7.30 as the day broke and stayed till around 2. It was extremely quiete, not very much going on other than the odd birds flying through. Briefly, the first week was better for the amount of birds but nothing like I have been reading here on the forums. My friend shot two and I just one. the last Sunday we got two each, I'd shot just eight cartridges (no 7's 30g), and if I'm totally honest I probably should have shot two more birds and the other 4 shots were more desperation than anything else as they were a little too far. Grim as it may sound, we have both got the bug now, having enjoyed the days so much and are definitely not giving up. I've now ordered 12 shell decoys, a couple of flocked full bodies to add to some home made lofting poles (project still in progress), a pop-up hide and one of those bucket things with the swivel top. My mates on holiday this week so we're missing this Sunday but plan for the next. Apart from boring you guys to death, the reason for this blogg is for absolutely any advice really you wish to offer a couple of newbies. I'm not sure if the field we are in is the right one, or whether we have just been unlucky. Looking forward to any tips guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggy Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hi,Having got my licence, gun and some camo gear with a friend we have been to a farm introduced to us by my friends dad the last two sundays. It was overcast and windy so from what I have read thought it should be a decent day for shooting pigeons. We spread out, my friend had bought 5 decoys and a pop-up hide, I had neither so set out in one corner of the field taking cover in a ditch surrounded buy trees and growth. My friend went to the oposite corner. The field (I think) is planted with wheat and is about 4 inches high. We set up at about 7.30 as the day broke and stayed till around 2. It was extremely quiete, not very much going on other than the odd birds flying through. Briefly, the first week was better for the amount of birds but nothing like I have been reading here on the forums. My friend shot two and I just one. the last Sunday we got two each, I'd shot just eight cartridges (no 7's 30g), and if I'm totally honest I probably should have shot two more birds and the other 4 shots were more desperation than anything else as they were a little too far. Grim as it may sound, we have both got the bug now, having enjoyed the days so much and are definitely not giving up. I've now ordered 12 shell decoys, a couple of flocked full bodies to add to some home made lofting poles (project still in progress), a pop-up hide and one of those bucket things with the swivel top. My mates on holiday this week so we're missing this Sunday but plan for the next. Apart from boring you guys to death, the reason for this blogg is for absolutely any advice really you wish to offer a couple of newbies. I'm not sure if the field we are in is the right one, or whether we have just been unlucky. Looking forward to any tips guys! Hi I have been shooting pidgeons for the last 46 years .Take notice of the comments on the time of the year,but also do not be in a hurry to start shooting if you get up at daylight good chance the pidgeons will go somewhere else.I normaly go out about 12 am study the area where they are working and then decide where to set up.many times I have not started until 5pm and still shot 100+ before dark.Better a few hours in the right place than all day in the wrong place.As for shells,I have shot 7.5 express clay caridges for years and before that 1oz 7's .I normaly shoot around 115 shots for 100 birds 1/2 choke both barrels.best average one day 74 shots 75 birds before going on to shoot 135 birds with just 6 misses.The object of the game is get um close and kill them.Thats what the farmer wants not loads of shots at 45yd birds and nothing in the bag.Field Craft is what its about and it takes time to learn but well worth it.During the mid seventys Colin willock writer of the Shooting times done a article on me as I was killing hundreds every week .They call me newbie pidgeon shooter here(!)any time you want advice email me and I maybe able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellors Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 :unsure: QUITE RIGHT. !!!!! We old uns know best and here to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted January 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 Pin, Really appreciate your time out to pass on some knowledge. Thanks Again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted January 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 eggy, You too, really appreciate your time out to pass on some knowledge. Thanks Again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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