Flanker Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 (edited) Out today on rape seed. The few woodies that were about were very keen to come in on the top of what's going to be a very heavy crop . The farmer thinks a week to 10 days so it's all looking good! Anyone got any tips for rape-seed - Decoy petterns, times of day etc? Edited July 20, 2008 by Flanker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 hi i always find a good u shape good for rape seed just make sure decoys well spaced out as for times of day i find that early mornings or early afternoon best times . good look get stuck in :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 once cut, dont let the dog on it, nasty stuff rape stem for shin cuts and grazes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Sarakun Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 JUST HAD 4 DAYS ON HARVESTED RAPE. NOT MANY BIRDS ON THE STUBBLE, BUT ONCE THE PLOUGH HAD BEEN OVER IT, WELL THE MIND BOGGLES AS TO WHERE THEY ALL COME FROM. VERY HARD TO SHOOT ON YOUR OWN THOUGH, AS THE FIELDS ARE VAST. 10AM TO 8PM HAS BEEN THE NORM JUST LATELY AND THE BIRDS HAVE BEEN AROUND ALL DAY. USUALLY START EARLIER. INITIALLY THEY DECOYED, THEN WENT FURTHER DOWN THE FIELD WHEN THEY SAW A FEW OF THEIR MATES BEING SHOT. I ALWAYS USE DEAD BIRDS, 5 OR 6 USUALLY, AND PUT A COUPLE AT THE BACK, INTO THE WIND, THE REST FACING ANY WAY AND FURTHER IN FRONT. IF YOU WATCH PIGEONS LAND, THEY START OFF FACING THE WIND, BUT THEN WALK IN ALL DIRECTIONS. I HOPE I AM GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE A WHILE AND IT'S SAFE, HOPEFULLY TO ENCOURAGE THEIR MATES TO LAND. ALL FACING THE WIND LOOKS LIKE THEY JUST LANDED, PROBABLY NOT SO SAFE. IT WORKS FOR ME. TAKE SOME KEBAB STICKS FROM TESCO, AND PUSH ONE UNDER THE CHIN AND INTO THE SKULL, THEN STICK THE OTHER END INTO THE GROUND, (BREAK THE STICK FOR THE CORRECT LENGTH) TO HOLD THE HEAD UP. A FEW OF YOU AROUND A FIELD, SHOULD HAVE A GOOD RESULT IF THEY ARE FEEDING THERE, WHICH WAS THE CASE FOR 3 OF US ON SATURDAY. YOU CAN KEEP THEM ON THE MOVE AND "BOUNCE" THEM BETWEEN YOU. AFTER I'VE SHOT A FEW, I MAKE A COUPLE OF FLOATERS WITH FORKED STICKS CUT FROM A HEDGE, AND TIE THEM TO THE "Y" PART, VERY EASY, TAKES A FEW MINUTES AND IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THEM, LESS TO CARRY, SO TAKE A BALL OF THAT BROWN GARDEN TWINE AND A KNIFE IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT. PLACE THEM AT THE BACK OF YOUR DECOY PATTERN, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE JUST LANDING. THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE PIGEONS TO GET IN RANGE, MOST OF WHICH YOU MAY FIND IN TIPS AND TRICKS, THOUGH I HOPE THIS HAS BEEN OF SOME HELP. I LIKE TO TRAVEL LIGHT AS I OFTEN FOLLOW THE BIRDS FROM FIELD TO FIELD AND USE WHAT IS AROUND ME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flanker Posted July 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 Decoying on the one field that's been cut this afternoon. Birds coming into a horseshoe pattern from 2-3pm, then very patchy. Shot 5, but once there's more cut once the sun returns, am sure there'll be more about. Enough for a very nice salad tonight at least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 TAKE SOME KEBAB STICKS FROM TESCO............MAKE A COUPLE OF FLOATERS WITH FORKED STICKS CUT FROM A HEDGE ......or leave the kebab sticks at home and use the hedge sticks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 When putting dead birds out on rape stubble, I snap a piece of stubble to the correct height and push the pigeons beak into the end of the stem. They look fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flanker Posted August 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 Back again today, 1:30-5pm. Shot 33 Woodies, 5 Rock Doves - missed as many though. Having not done this since a kid (Grandparents were farmers) it's great to get back in the swing of it! Gonna try early morning tomorrow, it seems that the birds slow-up from 4ish, but the first hour was manic!!! Used half shell decoys (Horsehoe pattern) on the high stubble that flapped a treat in the gentle wind. Birds came in a treat - dropping in from some height. Also set out a few once riggie had set in in a 'just landed position', wings outstretched, again on the high stubble. These were balanced on top and agian seemed to work really well giving the impression of birds just dropping in the back of the pattern. Anyone know a butcher in the East Devon area that will buy birds or the breats if they're filleted out. Rattling through some shells and can only eat so much? What a great way to spend the afternoon - even got a bit of a tan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Rock doves, stock doves, racing pigeons and turtle doves are all protected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flanker Posted August 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Didn't know that - why are rock doves protected, there seems so many of them. Very difficult to tell the difference when they pop up over a hedge. Don't shoot them if I know, especially as there's nothing on them to eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 probably ferals ,not rock doves,or young woodies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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