ironhorse Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 I bought a pigeon magnet about two years ago, I have tried using dead pigeons on it, I have used the plastic decoys with wings on it, recently I bought the air pro decoys for it in a last ditch try with it. And I have to say for me the magnet has been a total waste of space time and money. I see from members posts the magnet works for some all power to you, but me I’ll stick to using flappers amongst my decoys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 I bought a pigeon magnet about two years ago, I have tried using dead pigeons on it, I have used the plastic decoys with wings on it, recently I bought the air pro decoys for it in a last ditch try with it. And I have to say for me the magnet has been a total waste of space time and money. I see from members posts the magnet works for some all power to you, but me I’ll stick to using flappers amongst my decoys. Have you learnt to use it while out on your own? LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 I bought a pigeon magnet about two years ago, I have tried using dead pigeons on it, I have used the plastic decoys with wings on it, recently I bought the air pro decoys for it in a last ditch try with it. And I have to say for me the magnet has been a total waste of space time and money. I see from members posts the magnet works for some all power to you, but me I’ll stick to using flappers amongst my decoys. Have you learnt to use it while out on your own? LB Sorry I don't follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 I dont get it either? I know where your coming from i dont even bother taking the rotor out now 90% of the time.It seems to act as a bird scarer most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 What I mean is do you place the rotor anywhere? There are many posts on here on where and when to deploy it and yes, it can scare the birds if it isn't placed correctly within a pattern. Do a search and check out the hints and tips that are on PW by people that have success with it. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 Tried mine everywhere and seems to work best in the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 I know not to place it just anywhere; I’ve been shooting now for over 40 years, so I have a little knowledge of pigeon movements, Like blackbart says it tends to act more like a scare a than a help, mine has spent most of it’s life in the shed, I have other friends who bought a magnet and they have told me the same story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 One of my friends took his to the tip and watched them crush it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tosspot Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 sometimes see pigeon magnets like i see commercial fisheries as killing the very sport they seek to enhance unless i'm shooting over a large field of rape usually solo, the whirly stays at home see too many people expecting this seemingly magical piece of equipment to do away with fieldcraft and time and effort observing flight lines ect magnets work, there's no disputing that, but not on every occasion or every situation plus i am of the opinion that they can be over used in areas and the birds get used to them and avoid them like the plague TP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 sometimes see pigeon magnets like i see commercial fisheries as killing the very sport they seek to enhance unless i'm shooting over a large field of rape usually solo, the whirly stays at home see too many people expecting this seemingly magical piece of equipment to do away with fieldcraft and time and effort observing flight lines ect magnets work, there's no disputing that, but not on every occasion or every situation plus i am of the opinion that they can be over used in areas and the birds get used to them and avoid them like the plague TP I have tried it on all sorts of crops and in different positions and i think it is far from magical now i dont know if its the kind of magnet that i have or as you are implying that your fieldcraft is far superior to mine but i can decoy birds that commit to the pattern without it and with it they just do flybys.So please tell me what am i doing wrong?By the way the land i shoot on i am the only person with a rotor and if they have seen one before it must have been at least 10 year ago and i dont think they live that long,so something isnt right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 (edited) i had 1 and it nevver worked the pigeon would start to come but when it came to about 200yds the just terned away, i went for a shoot with my girl friends dad in linconshire and the pigeons were praticaly flying into the magnet they loved it puled them in from miles away Edited February 5, 2008 by russ91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tosspot Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 mate slow down a sec, i ain't having a pop at no one, just making a generalisation, i am sure your knowledge is just jim dandy i certainly ain't implying otherwise magnets will work, there are too many people on this forum alone that will tell you that so the thread title that they are useless is incorrect i have found that they work as an attractor to the dekes which i'll set some distance away from the whirly but to be honest a year or two ago i went out with my old fella and a mate in my pickup and we had three magnets a flapper plus associated batteries, half a dozen nets, hide poles, lofters couple sacks of full bodied flock coated decoys, bouncers and obviously guns and carts, a whole motor load! i thought enough is enough this is getting ridiculous and have gone back to basics since i have witnessed very recently a couple of local guys new to the sport who are straight in with magnets ect, wondering why they are not getting ton plus bags on every outing, hence my comment on fieldcraft TP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 The headline ‘Pigeon magnet Useless’ is a bit like a Sunday newspaper banner...overstated! IMO they are overrated but that’s only because I’d venture the probability that most if not all adult pigeons have been shot at over one at some time or another and pigeons aren’t stoopid birds; they learn! In the early years of their introduction they did seem to have a greater impact than now however that’s not to say they’re now ‘useless’. I appreciate that you might think you know how/where to use them and set them up but there can be a number of reasons why they don’t work on certain days but isn’t that like all decoying situations, some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue! Without seeing your setup it’s almost impossible to say what’s wrong but something must be if you’ve truly had no success whatsoever with it. Oh and bye the bye, don’t crush it...PM me with a pic and a price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 i have found that they work as an attractor to the dekes which i'll set some distance away from the whirly Absolutely, and it is the reason you set your bouncer/floaters well out too, you want the birds committed to the pattern, the motion deeks provide the 3 ring circus. Remember that they are simple animals and they look for other birds moving which means either a safe roost or something good to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 The headline ‘Pigeon magnet Useless’ is a bit like a Sunday newspaper banner...overstated! IMO they are overrated but that’s only because I’d venture the probability that most if not all adult pigeons have been shot at over one at some time or another and pigeons aren’t stoopid birds; they learn! In the early years of their introduction they did seem to have a greater impact than now however that’s not to say they’re now ‘useless’. I appreciate that you might think you know how/where to use them and set them up but there can be a number of reasons why they don’t work on certain days but isn’t that like all decoying situations, some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue! Without seeing your setup it’s almost impossible to say what’s wrong but something must be if you’ve truly had no success whatsoever with it. Oh and bye the bye, don’t crush it...PM me with a pic and a price! The title over stated maybe, but it has generated interest and discussion. The ground I shoot is a large area which is farmed and managed as green as possible, it has many woodlands that have regenerate naturally , fields have large headlands and there are set aside areas , the predominant crop is rape which like any rape fields receives a hammering by pigeons. Pigeon magnets have not been used on a regular basis so your theory over use is not a factor. I have used the magnet on other property I have shooting rights, and found that the magnet helped maybe once out of ten sessions. I have come to the conclusion that the Pigeon magnet for me is a lot of clutter to carry around and a less than good addition to my setup, I have spent a lot of time and money on the magnet but for the foreseeable future it will reside in my shed gathering dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 No decoying device will work if pigeons are not in the area , or not interested in feeding on the field you are set up on. Pigeons spooking when approaching a layout could be doing so for a hundred different reasons, usually its because they spot movement in the hide area (often a large white face). Its accepted that in heavily shot areas the pigeons get spooked by just about anything, a passing bus, a carrier bag flapping in a hedge 200 yards away, it doesn't take much. Too many people think they can become instant pigeon shooters by going to a field and sticking out a rotary device, thats half the problem (I am not suggesting any posters on this thread are like this). As has been said, there is no substitute for fieldcraft and time spent in reconnaisance, thats what gets you pigeons, not loads of the latest gadgets. The rotary device has been far too successful to be dismissed as useless. I almost always take mine with me (not often on drillings) and depending on how the day is going, I will vary my layout to include it, or exclude it. If the birds aren't coming to your layout, then change it, that often works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 I understand what your are saying, I have been shooting pigeons now for 40 years plus, that’s not to say I know everything because don’t , but I do spend time watching the pigeons and over the years have amounted some knowledge of there movements, and have an acceptable knowledge of field craft. Like any instrument or tool it works for some but not for others, I think you would agree no two areas are the same and require different approaches. If I were a novice to pigeon shooting I would put my dealing with the magnet down to inexperience, but the plain and simple truth is it doesn’t work for me, and others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Ironhorse, Why not post a couple pictures of your set ups and the equiptment to see if others can offer some suggestions that may help make it work for you. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Fair enough, weather here not nice at the moment, but as soon as I get time I'll do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Iron horse. I shot well over 3,000 pigeons over a magnet last year and already over 1,000 this winter. mainly use them on rape and drillings . I like to set them to catch a pigeons eye and then lead them into a decoy spread. So they act as an attractor before they lock into the decoys. IE , have the magnet my side the decoy spread. But there are times when i will set one well out across a field to draw distant birds and have a second one working beside the decoys. With careful placeing they can also control the flight aproach ofthe birds to give the best shooting angle. A while a go I had pigeons comming into the decoys , but trying to land 40 yards out. i moved the magnet to within 10 feet of the hide and praticaly had the pigeons landing on top of me. I do find that pigeons do not like to land very often if the magnet is used , but they will on occasion fly round the magnet several times. I have even had birds come back to the magnet after being shot at. I will also set a magnet on the outside of a daytime sitty wood if its a big one. It just pulls the birds closer to you. Lofters are out of the question in this wood as the trees are 80-100 feet high. Yes there is the odd day when pigeons shun the magnet , but 80% of the time they work well. Over stubbles i have sometimes had problems with them , but if so i switch them off and use them as a floater. One thing to be careful of is not to set them so the pigeons see the flash of the arms in bright sunlight. If possible on such days I set the magnet in the shade of a tree and move it as the sun goes round during the day. They cam also be less effective in a gale as the wind gets under the tail and wings of the dead birds and look most unatural. Just to give you some idea of how effective a magnet can be , on monday a friend and I were shooting over 2 magnets + 30 decoys. All but 3 of the 56 pigeons we shot decoyed in perfectly , some locking on from 250 yards away. Dead birds are also best rather than decoys on the magnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironhorse Posted February 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 A very good answer my friend, I have used dead pigeons/ plastic pigeons and now air pro, I’ve put it to the side about 20 feet back from my pattern, then they other side I’ve had it at front, also out in the field, I have tried it just about everywhere, but couldn’t balance it on my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 IMO the best use fo a magnett is for ataching fert bags to it for scaring birds out of other fields in the area thus directing them in to my field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 Well Ironhorse the only thing i can suggest is if you are up in Norfolk before mid April let me know and we can share a day over a magnet. Ps bring yours up with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 over the years iv had 2 magnets, and sold them both never buy any more waste of time and money.shells and flappers are the thing, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted February 5, 2008 Report Share Posted February 5, 2008 A very good answer my friend, I have used dead pigeons/ plastic pigeons and now air pro, I’ve put it to the side about 20 feet back from my pattern, then they other side I’ve had it at front, also out in the field, I have tried it just about everywhere, but couldn’t balance it on my head. I'll bet you're using one of the latest "lightweight" versions, with a very slow spin speed and short arms, they don't work anywhere near as well as a faster spinning, long armed version..?? I also agree with all that Anser has said. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.