Nial Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 I've got a few newbie questions about building and positioning hides etc... How important it is that you are completely hidden from 'pigeon view' when you're waiting in your hide? Is it better to be completely camo'd up, or is it good enough to be in green/dull colours? Should you wear a camo hat/gloves etc? What about face nets etc? Should you be shielded from the air (by trees/shrubbery etc) so the pigeons can't see you or is it good enough to duck down behind the hide when you see them coming in? How still do you have to be when waiting? Can you sit and look about or should you be as still as possible? I presume it's a good idea to place your hide against a dark background so you're not lit up from behind? Thanks for any pointers, Nial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykayaker Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 yep all of the above ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 yep all of the above ! What about... ..he's just ducking down behind a ****ty hide when the pigeon's are approaching? I think I should have asked how important each of the points I asked about are. Nial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykayaker Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 yes sorry your right, but sometimes it doesnt matter wether you can or cant be seen the pigeons still avoid you! i think a decent amount of cover is always advisable but i wouldnt go mad, if your decoys are set well and the birds are hungry then they will come in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 Its difficult to be hard and fast on most things to do with pigeon decoying. I have stood alongside a red landrover at the edge of a rape field and shot over 50 pigeons in less than two hours, not a shred of cammo in sight. However, days like that are few and far between. Usually, I use a cammo net hide and shoot from a seated position. The net is placed so I have a high background and am not silhouetted I wear cammo clothing from the waist up , including a hat, face mask, gloves and dark coloured trousers. I always look out for birds through my netting and don't raise my head or arms above the net until I am taking a shot. Most importantly , I keep all movement to a minimum, until I am about to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagantino Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 Some good points here. I have noticed in some Shooting magazines, that the author seems to be in the flimsyest of hides, and I wonder was the hide built quickly for the Photos used in the article or is it real. I know that I have built well hidden hides and have seen birds shy away from well out. I think Cranfield has it about right regarding clothing etc and yes its great to have one of those days when pigeons dont seem to care and just keep coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 23, 2008 Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 There are times when a flimsy hide works better than a solid one. After all all you need is to break up your outline and provided you are wearing the right coloured clothes and it has the advantage that you can watch the aproaching birds through the camo net rather than popping your head above the netting to see what is comming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2008 and it has the advantage that you can watch the aproaching birds through the camo net rather than popping your head above the netting to see what is comming. That's prompted another question, how high should your hide be? Do you sit and look about until you see a bird approaching then duck down or are you sitting below the top of the hide the whole time? Nial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 24, 2008 Report Share Posted September 24, 2008 The height at the front of the hide depends on whether you are shooting sitting, or standing. As I am wearing a hat and a face mask and keeping movement to the minimum , I will often look for far out birds with my eyes above the netting, but as soon as the birds get closer, or look interested, I view through the netting. I am not saying that this is essential practise, its just what I do and it works for me. The better the shooter is camouflaged, the less dense the cammo netting needs to be (the easier it is to view through). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trussman Posted September 24, 2008 Report Share Posted September 24, 2008 As it's been said, covering up your hands and face is very important in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted September 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 As it's been said, covering up your hands and face is very important in my experience. Is this to stop the pigeons seeing you at all, or just as they're coming in for their 'final' approach? Nial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Make a good hide and then place a friend in it who is not wearing gloves, or a face mask. Walk away as far as you like, I guarantee you will see their face and hands before you notice the hide, they will stick out like a bright light. It is no hardship to wear a face mask/veil, or gloves, but it can make a real difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trussman Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Your hands and face, like Cranfield said, will stick out a mile away if you don't cover them up. A bird like a Woody which has pretty good eyesight will see you at a distance and alter its course away from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAN88 Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Ive camo,d up face ,hat,gloves, and stood in the hedge with no decoys and dropped a go few they hav,nt had a clue were its come from so concealment is everything in my view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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