Catamong Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Gave the clays miss today as the forecast was for strong winds so decided to shoot a field of rape that had been hammered by the grey hordes recently. I recce'd the field yesterday and all was well, a flock of probably over 1,000 birds was feeding hard at lunchtime so I decided to give it a go. I put a rope banger out on a nearby field to keep them on the move, also a mate of mine was covering another nearby field, I got set up before dawn, the first birds appeared at 7.30 just as I was setting up the rotary. I was dead lucky in that my favoured hide position was right alongside a private farm road, so I drove right to the hide position, what a godsend..!! They started coming from all points of the compass, always a good sign, and some vast flocks came in during the first hour. I had the wind and the sun right behind me, pretty much perfect, and it was a strong wind too, ideal for pigeon shooting. By 9am I had 28 on the clicker, then there was a bit of a lull, then they came in again really strongly until about 11.30, then another 20 minute lull, then it picked up again and was pretty steady until about 2.30, when they just stopped coming. I had a break of about 20 minutes to talk to a guy who had parked up at the bottom of the track and was watching me with bino's, it turns out he shoots locally too, and a good few came in to the pattern whilst I was away so that cost me one or two. I ended up with 105 on the clicker, but I actually picked up 106, (I must have forgot to click a couple of kills in the heat of the moment..!!), but I burned up 167 shells, ah well, it was windy..!! I was pretty pleased with that, decent bags are always a struggle on Winter rape, it goes to show that if you do your homework, get other fields covered, and the weather is right, you've got a chance. Will post some pics when I get a minute. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 good man cat. well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 well done cat good shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted February 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Here we go, a pigeons eye view of the pattern: The hide, (all empties were cleared up). The final bag, all shot with my trusty Beretta 682, 1/4 & 3/8 Rhino chokes, 30 gram loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hitman Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 You can't beat it when it all goes to plan, well done mate a bag to be proud of in early Feb. Its good to see someone getting "among" them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Well done Cat interesting to see the magnet in the front corner of the pattern must of been nice to shoot the birds head on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARBINE Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Well done cat nice to see a good bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Jono Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Well done Cat interesting to see the magnet in the front corner of the pattern must of been nice to shoot the birds head on Well done mate nice to see the photoes how much do you rate the magnet what difference has it made to your decoying .I am thinking of buying one managed with out one for years so i would value your oppinion cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted February 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Well done Cat interesting to see the magnet in the front corner of the pattern must of been nice to shoot the birds head on Well done mate nice to see the photoes how much do you rate the magnet what difference has it made to your decoying .I am thinking of buying one managed with out one for years so i would value your oppinion cheers I wouldn't go out without the magnet, in fact I'd put two out if I felt it needed it, the more movement the better. OK, you've still got to be in the right place on the right field on the right day, but certainly on Winter rape, it brings 'em in a treat. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundowner Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 good to know one of us knows how to get on top of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Jono Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Well done Cat interesting to see the magnet in the front corner of the pattern must of been nice to shoot the birds head on Well done mate nice to see the photoes how much do you rate the magnet what difference has it made to your decoying .I am thinking of buying one managed with out one for years so i would value your oppinion cheers I wouldn't go out without the magnet, in fact I'd put two out if I felt it needed it, the more movement the better. OK, you've still got to be in the right place on the right field on the right day, but certainly on Winter rape, it brings 'em in a treat. Cat. Thanks for that cat i'll give it a go then cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogh shooter Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 well done mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Cracking bag there Cat Myself, Pin & Garyb were round your neck of the woods today doing a bit of ferreting, were you opposite the pub of dubious clientele? I'm noticing a huge build up of birds round my way on the rape aswell, I'm planning a day where 10 plus guns are gonna cover most of South Herts to keep em on the move:lol: Give us a bell if your interested. On another note, something you pointed out last year, in a 1000 strong flock outside my back gate every morning is a pure white woodpigeon, whats the likelthood of this being the one you saw last year? SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted February 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Cracking bag there Cat Myself, Pin & Garyb were round your neck of the woods today doing a bit of ferreting, were you opposite the pub of dubious clientele? I'm noticing a huge build up of birds round my way on the rape aswell, I'm planning a day where 10 plus guns are gonna cover most of South Herts to keep em on the move:lol: Give us a bell if your interested. On another note, something you pointed out last year, in a 1000 strong flock outside my back gate every morning is a pure white woodpigeon, whats the likelthood of this being the one you saw last year? SS Hi SS, Yes, I was actually on the hill behind that "dodgy" pub, it's always a good spot, and the Farmer's a bit choosy about who he lets on there, so it doesn't get overshot. I'm up for a "keep 'em on the move day", lack of time is my biggest problem, I'm in France next weekend, the weekend after that I'm helping the Bucks team give those Essex pansies a good whooping, there's just never enough time..!! That white bird could well be the one I saw, I've not seen it since on my patch, so it's obviously moved on, perhaps down your way. And before some bright spark says "It's a feral", I can assure you it's not, I had the binos on it for a good few minutes and it was most definitely a white woodie. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Good read Cat and well done on a decent day's shooting. Did you rsist the urge to keep shouting "Pull", when it went a bit quiet ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Yep I can back you up on the white woodie, had him in the bins aswell definatly wood pigeon, i'll try & get a pic. I've told all the lads round here not to shoot him as he's a great at pinpointing different flocks, where they're flighting & the range they're travelling. As you could imagine trying to organize 10 plus guns over 1000's of acre of land on the ultimate decoying day is a logistical nightmare, I'll let you know when As for being "behind the dodgy pub, up the hill & being a good spot" I'd keep that to yourself, especially with the impending meeting with the Essex gaylords SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grasshopper Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Good bag,and good write up also,well done.. GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead-eye Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 I saw a white/slightly brown in places woodpigeon recently. They are out there. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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