Si-Bore Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Hi guys I am lucky enough to have found a great reliable flightline that is on the top of a hill and the birds fly very close to the ground at the top. The only problem is that they tend to come over the hill in a random fashion i.e. some straight over the top and some half way down, round the side of the hill. The ideal would be to locate myself on the top of the hill as thats where I have the most shot potential......but........there are house 150m away looking down the hill where some of them fly (obviously a no-shot situ). So my question is; with the hill being rough grassland and some gorse bushes backing into a wood - would it be worth using some decoys to channel them or would it put them off due to the fact that no pigeon would ever land there? Or could I use the magnet to draw them closer and more consistantly - or would that too put them off? I can position myself half way down the hill but lose many shots when they come over the top. If I am on the top I can shoot straight and over-head and to the right. Cheers Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Beasley Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 The top of a hill is always a safe bet, because the deeks are up higher and are therefor more visible. If it were me, I'd pitch up on top with a big spread and try that first, then if the flighline changes you can always move the hide ( leave the deeks where they are ). Just dont shoot the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Just a minute, you said its a flightline so of course they will come spread out and at random thats what they do. Keep taking the ones in range and don't spoil it by trying to decoy 'em so I would'nt bother with deeks or a magnet. Cheers, C.B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm with CB on this one, why not try and gently "bend" the flightline in your direction by using a couple of plastic sacks on poles, they're unlikely to do a "U" turn but it may just be enough to spook them up towards you. You will need to be on good terms with the house owner if it's only 150 yards away, even if you're not shooting towards it, remember there could be a night worker trying to get some daytime sleep or other very elderly or very young residents that might not appreciate the noise, it will pay you to check it out..!! Let us know how you get on. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Its not one house but an entire housing estate. The wind is blowing the noise away from them but it can't be too much fun at 7.00am if they can hear it easily. Its the best time for the birds coming over though. The police are aware as I always log it bofre I shoot (in fact tonight) but will keep an eye out for unhappy neighbours. I am now shooting with a friend so will be able to keep them between us hopefully. Will let you guys know how we get on. Thanks Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Si , try the magnet and a few docoys and see what happens. I often set up under a flightline between feeding fields and set up the decoys on a bare field. Though the pigeons do not want to land on the field , but the magnet\decoys bend the flightline towards my hide to such an extent that the majority of birds give me a chance. If you try it let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Pigeons will frequently rest on meadowland and at the moment round here they are feeding heavily on clover, especially early on damp days (when the rape fields are muddy). I would try a decoy layout as far away from the houses as possible (to avoid complaints) , as I think you should pull them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 The rain delayed the flighting and I ran out of time. **** law. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 If you want to decoy pigeons - try a place where they are known to be feeding. If you want to shoot them as they come into roost - find a known roosting wood. If you have a flightline and presumably it is an established, maybe very old flightline, don't spoil it, just sit or stand in a bit of natural cover, behind a wall or similar and shoot the ones that pass in range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Whatever but TRY something it's the only way you're gonna learn what works and what doesn't...only remember, what works one day probably won't the next! That's pigeon shootin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 (edited) I have got to disagree with you over shooting a flightline Country Boy. If you can get under a good flightline and get the birds looking at your decoys you can shoot them all day. Most of us have had the trouble of pigeons clearing off on rape after the first shot . , but provided you are far enough away from the feeding field and roost wood thats not a problem. As long as the pigeons have some where safe to flight from and to they will suffer their flightline being shot all day without any let up. The other problem is decoys do not show up as well in rape where as if you can find a bare field they stand out nicely. Few of the pigeons will land , but if you have the set up right many will deviate over the decoys and give you a shot. A few days ago i set up on a rape field disturbing over a thousand birds that disapeared into the distance. 2 hours later without a shot I moved across to a field ( where no pigeons were feeding ) between 2 woods and under a flightline. Result 32 pigeons in the bag in a few hours. Shooting the flightline does not spoil it been shooting some regulary for years without any affect on the numbers of pigeons useing them. Edited March 9, 2008 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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