Psyxologos Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 I know. You all are laughing your heads out. But I want to know if it is possible for me to just wait hidden somewhere and shoot pigeons as they fly above me. I read in the forum many peopl eusung several types of decoys. How come I need a decoy? Do pigeons come more willingly if they think other pigeons are in the area? apologies if this question sounds funny, I just had to ask... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 You could, but you ain't going to have much fun Your gun has a very short range, waiting for the odd bird to fly close enough to shoot would be a waste of time. You need to draw the birds toward and within your kill zone. There are many DVD's and books available that you can read and I'm sure you'll get advice here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Pigeons are very social birds and take notice of what other pigeons are doing. The sight of some "pigeons"(albeit decoys) on a crop apparently feeding, will attract other pigeons to come and take a look. If the set up is right and the shooter well hidden, they will often land among the decoys. If you know your shooting grounds very well, you will have seen that the birds often take the same routes when passing over the land, these are called "flightlines". If you can get under a flightline and the birds cooperate by passing within range, you can have a reasonable shoot. However, this type of shooting is rarely as productive as setting out decoys on a favoured feeding field. The best "no decoys" shooting is roost shooting. The time for this is in the Autumn/Winter months, when the days get short and the leaf is off the trees. Observe the routes your birds are entering the roosting wood and position yourself just inside the trees. On a windy evening the shooting can be fast and furious, but expect the kill/cartridge ratio to be low, these are not the easiest of birds to hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 If you have a sitty tree to get close to you could get quite a few without decoys, they will help though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted September 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Thanks everyone. This makes sense. Appreciate the time you took to reply. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 get on a flight path hide up well you should get a few shot's off and if you get any use them as decoys .you can only try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Try dung heaps. Pigeons (and black stuff) will readily flight into these and you can shoot without decoys although it helps to have some out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdunc Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Try dung heaps. Pigeons (and black stuff) will readily flight into these and you can shoot without decoys although it helps to have some out. Don't much fancy making a hide there though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebrown Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 The hide would surely look like **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 I sat under a tree waiting for the odd pigeon to come across, nice and relaxing if you just want to get out of the house for a while, but doubt if you will shoot much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 It's about timing I guess.. I had a wonder the other evening with dog and gun, managed to flightline a couple of birds - which where then put onto wheat stubble as decoys. Ended with 9 in a couple of hours. It was fantastic fun, and very rewarding to shoot a few with no decoying kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 I've just sat under a flight line and shot a few birds before. It works ok, but not as well as decoys. If you do just sit and wait, be sure to place what you do hit on the ground in clear view so the following birds will come in closer to take a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykayaker Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 just get out, it doesn't matter if you get anything or not being out in the field is better than being in the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 just get out, it doesn't matter if you get anything or not being out in the field is better than being in the house that is the way I see things. The cost of everything is too much. I have a lot of things to buy, since I am just starting. I need: Gun Cartridges camouflage clothes and don't think I can spend more than £1000 for everything, if that. Having to add a tent, decoys and props to that would definitely compromise the quality of the other things, and I consider them to be essential... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 that is the way I see things. The cost of everything is too much. I have a lot of things to buy, since I am just starting. I need: Gun Cartridges camouflage clothes and don't think I can spend more than £1000 for everything, if that. Having to add a tent, decoys and props to that would definitely compromise the quality of the other things, and I consider them to be essential... I think you could outfit yourself adequately for pigeon shooting on a £1000 budget. Visit Guntrader.co.uk and see a wide range of reasonable secondhand O/U guns for much less than £500. Army surplus style cammo net and cammo clothing incl hat/gloves/face mask, under £150. Cartridges - £150-175 per 1000. Hide poles - (clothes line type) £15 Decoys - 10 shells £50 (also look at Boot Fairs etc for s/h plus DIY floaters & cradles) You don't need to spend a fortune, or become a "tackle tart" to shoot pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b325 Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Can i just wait and shoot . Yes i often do just that. the shooting you get will be more challenging and more exciting.you will not get as many as you would using decoys but you will remember a lot more of your kills. you need to identify the field the pigeon are feeding on and identify the place they are coming from (usually a wood ) and then stand about half way between the two under the flightline.if you are lucky you will be able to shoot them flying both to and from the field. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhamm2 Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 Funnily enough, I did just this last night. Had an hour to kill before the family were home, so I nipped out for a recce and at the last second grabbed the gun. I put just 10 cartridges in my pocket and headed out. I had no hat and was wearing blue jeans and a green fleece. Parked myself under a flightline I had previously watched and simply stood still under a tall hedge. Amazingly, shot four birds in 10 minutes with seven cartridges! Incredibly exciting and the noise of the shots was moving the birds around, several of them heading my way from a 1/4 mile away or more. I had just a few bits of grass to scrunch down into and tried to keep my face down until the last second. Great fun, over as soon as it was started as I had to get back to put on tea, but immensely satisfying and I've found it's one of the forms of shooting I enjoy most, opportunist style. I would imagine that a few dead birds spread around the area might have also increased the bag should I have been able to hang around longer. However, I'll take shooting however I can find it, and it's never a trip wasted - often the ones where you don't feel there's much chance of bagging anything turn out to be the most fun. Beautiful evening too. Get out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.L Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 Of course you can as explained in previous posts find a flightline and tuck into a bit of cover ,never going to produce a big bag but my favourite tactic if only out for a couple of hours .I never really worry about being camoed right up ,just keep your big old white face hidden and stay still its the movement that will be your undoing , just get out there and enjoy it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagantino Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 Decoying is so rewarding in many ways. First you are in control...it was you who set out the pattern and controlled the place the birds would come to. Secondly you can observe the beautiful winging in and flight pattern of the pigeons just before you stand up and take a bead on them. About 2 weeks ago i was shooting over freshly cut barley and some guys set themselves up along a hedge. They were shooting at very high birds hitting nothing. Its about you and the birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Thanks for that. I just thought that walking up to them would give the shoot a feeling of 'a hunt', where the 'hunter' has to earn his kill. I am not interested in bagging twenty or thirty birds, just enough for a tasty pigeon breast salad. Four or five birds would do me great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Thanks for that. I just thought that walking up to them would give the shoot a feeling of 'a hunt', where the 'hunter' has to earn his kill. I am not interested in bagging twenty or thirty birds, just enough for a tasty pigeon breast salad. Four or five birds would do me great! If you think that just putting up a hide on a field and tossing around a few decoys is going to get you "twenty or thirty birds", then I am afraid you are in for a nasty surprise. There is more fieldcraft and "hunting" skills involved in decoying than any other method of shooting pigeons. If you like pigeon breast salad, have a look in the recipes section for some other ideas, pigeon pie is as good as it sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted October 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Thanks for that. My twenty to thirty bird statement was an estimation from what I read here. Of course there is people who write that they have shot seventy, but I suspect they are a lucky minority and/or are extremely proficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 (edited) just get out, it doesn't matter if you get anything or not being out in the field is better than being in the house :look: i agree entirely!!! i got my gun last friday and have been out every single day since and havnt shot 1 thing! (appart from a winged crow which doesnt count as i couldnt find it ) i just love being out in the country! im starting to decoy now though and my first result will be tomorow if i can afford to get the stuff i need! Edited October 30, 2008 by dogfox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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