Pigeon Decoy Pattern

[MrToad]

Bear with me im relatively new to pigeon decoying, just wondering if the horseshoe really is the best pattern out there, any thoughts on what works and what doesnt would be great!

 

Cheers

 

Mr T

[Cosd]

MrToad, if you click the sponsors site above there are patterns shown and explained there, otherwise there are plenty of threads if you use thesearch button above.

 

I'm quite new, but I'd say v and l shape

Edited April 11, 2008 by Cosd

[bignoel]

the horse shoe patten with a magnet at the head works me .

[ROBLATCH]

i think its all down to the day wind direction etc. a bit of thinking and recon works best for me. its trial and error as to what pattern is going to work.some good some bad its all in the game.

[Suffolk shooter]

When using the "horseshoe" pattern, I tend to put the magnet at least 15 yards in front otherwise I find it tends to spook the birds coming to land at the head of the pattern.

 

Same applies when using the "L" or "Dogleg" pattern. Only my observations and might be different elsewhere.

 

The other thing I do is start with no more than 10 to twelve deeks and build up with natural birds eventually replacing the plastics as and when they're shot.

 

As ROBLATCH said, it all depends on wind, sun direction and each day is different. Sometimes they'll decoy to nothing but the magnet others when you have a few deeks out as well and then sometimes tottally overboard with loads of deeks.

 

Remember not to have all deeks head down or head up, but a mixture and make the pattern, in terms of deek position random with not all head into wind. Leave plenty of room to land into and most importantly make sure the killing area is approx 20-25yds from and in front of the hide for optimum shot pattern.

 

All the best

 

SS

[Cranfield]

Lots of different formations work, but the thing to remember is to make the layout look natural and create an area for the incoming birds to land (within range).

[Harnser]

Having been a pigeon shooter for more years than i would like to remember ,i have never seen pigeons land onto a field in any particular pattern .I have spent many hours studying pigeons going into feed and they will always decoy onto each other in a random manner .They are very gregarious and like each others company ,but there dos seem to be some kind of order to their feeding where by they tend to land at the back of the pattern and walk in to feed . I tend to set my coys out in a random manner facing into the wind ,as the birds like to land into the wind . If you are lucky enough to catch a feeding frenzy ,which i have done on several occasions then all the theroy is out of the window and they will land anywhere and from any direction . If it was practical to put out 2 or 3 hundred decoys randomly then you would shoot a lot of pigeons most of the time . Keep trying different patterns and you will decoy pigeons . Harnser .

[MrToad]

Cheers guys ill soak up all that valuable advice and try and put it into action next time im out on the field!

 

Thanks again

 

Mr T

[Hendo]

Horse shoe pattern with dead birds and Sillo socks for movement and a Magnet 10 yards up front has been working for me on the rape this year.Starting to use cradles for the dead birds now as the rape is starting to grow at last.

 

Hendo

[mossy835]

iv been useing the horse shoe patern now for many a year, and works ok for me.