PTaylor2k4 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Hi, i've never decoyed before and i'm thinking of buying a few decoys to try and improve my bag. i'm after crows, magpies and pigeons so which are the best decoys to go for? i was thinking of getting a large owl for maggies and crows but im unsure about pigeons. If i buy a couple of crows/maggie decoys to use with the owl or maybe hang a maggie on a fence could these be used near pigeon decoys as 'confidence birds'? i read this somewhere. Im using a .177 12ft/lbs air rifle so any help in choosing a few and maybe where to get them would be great, oh and which are the best 'type' to go for? like shell, full etc Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 How abput buying pigeon decoys for the pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTaylor2k4 Posted January 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 yeh but which ones!? and how do you place em? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 yeh but which ones!? and how do you place em? Each to there own, you cant beat natural birds, but to get them you gotta have decoys lol I use plastic flocked full bodied ones until I have enough real ones to create a pattern In general a horseshoe shaped pattern is acceptable, facing into the wind. But dont have them set out like a regiment, have a few offset ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Hi PT, Pigeons and magpies don'y readily mix, so you will need to target one or the other. My preference for pigeons is to use full bodied deeks, as the shell type never seem as effective, particularly when the birds are approaching low in a strong wind, as they can see the daylight underneath them. You need as many as you can put out on rape, i.e. 20 or 30, less on fresh drillings, but on every occasion, you MUST be in the right place on the field, which you can establish through good reconnaisance the day before. Experience has taught me that this is invariably the furthest possible point away from where you can park the car..!! You will also need a rotary on rape, and there are a number of good lightweight models available. If you are after magpies, the best way to thin them out is to use a Larsen Trap, however if you are the lucky sort of guy with loads of time on your hands and don't mind sitting motionless for 3 or 4 hours, I'm told that if you put a crow and a magpie on the rotary in an area where maggies frequent, it draws them in well, however, I don't fancy your chances of zapping many of them with an airgun, and I would recommend about 32 grams of No 7 through 1/4 choke. Good luck. Double H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTaylor2k4 Posted January 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 i dont have an FAC i'm willing to lie still for 3 hours though lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 He means a shotgun though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I've seen airgun pellets bounce off pigeons...!!! No doubt somebody will say they can kill 'em clean at 150 yards with an airgun, but half the fun of shotgunning them is to shoot them on the wing. By the way, you don't need an FAC to get a shotgun, and unless you have a dodgy record with the law, acquiring a shotgun certificate should not be problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 No doubt somebody will say they can kill 'em clean at 150 yards with an airgun, Don't think Aled has seen this post yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 No doubt somebody will say they can kill 'em clean at 150 yards with an airgun, Don't think Aled has seen this post yet. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTaylor2k4 Posted January 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 i meant shotty licence, no point in applying for one realy as i'm joining the marines late feb. think i'll buy an owl decoy to get the crows and maggies, cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 No problem mate Happy to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishdave Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Pretty lame air gun to bounce of a pigeon! A 12ftlb air gun will reach out as far or further than a shot gun for pigeons but is obviousely a total nonstarter on the wing. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Pretty lame air gun to bounce of a pigeon! A 12ftlb air gun will reach out as far or further than a shot gun for pigeons but is obviousely a total nonstarter on the wing. Dave No doubt Aled could down one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTaylor2k4 Posted January 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 1 hand behind his back i heard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Why do owls work with Magpies? Sorry about this but I haven't a clue!! :*) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Why do owls work with Magpies?Sorry about this but I haven't a clue!! :*) Im not sure, Im guessing it will be like crows mobbing a bird of prey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTaylor2k4 Posted January 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 they are predators of maggies so a big fuss it made, good with a maggie decoy below it with some red material Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 they are predators of maggies so a big fuss it made, good with a maggie decoy below it with some red material So surely it would scare them off not attract them? Now I am REALLY confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTaylor2k4 Posted January 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 safety in numbers i think, they try and scare it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
napier Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 i use flocked decoys which are realy good, i also use a .177 air rifle for pigeon shooting over decoys and it works a treat. try www.pigeonwatch.co.uk for help on decoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 Something ive never tried, pigeons shooting with an air rifle. Is it only viable on stubble and freshly sewed stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
napier Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 i was shooting over a short grassy field with new clover and buttercups!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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