studlee Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Ok please guys bare with me......im still frigile and not fully broken in! I have juts got shooting permission on some land close to where i live! I was chuffed to bits as a completly 'winged it' but i think the only reason he gave me it was because on one of the fields crow was hammering it and the one otherfields pigeons were having a party! As Soon as i walked up to the bushes they just took off! (and laughed on the way) I want to get things right rather then winging it all the time so i would LOVE all your advice!? I am going back Friday as i have a day off work! Woop Woop 1, Decoying = iv looked at pattens but they all seem to suggest shooting with a shotgun rather then a sub 12ft lb rifle (BSA lighting XL springer). Will pigeon land next to decoys long enough for you to take a shot? 2, Flight Path = the land i have shooting permission over has just small shrubs and small bushes without any great big tree's etc. I dont know what it ment by implying arranging your decoys within the flight path 3, Hides = I was laid in the shrubs pretty much covered, the decoys was facing the wind 5x of them just dotted around 20 yards from where i was hiding!! Do i need lots and lots of camo? Or a little camo three man tent ......what kind of hide is best? 4, Targets = suggestions have been made to suggest in order to be effective at shooting you will need to be able to shoot 5 shots withing the diameter of a 2p all the time at 35-40 yards?? I set a 2p out at 35 Yards (with a 3-9x40 scope) is this right? 5, Collecting shot birds = When i shoot pigeon the other will fly off (right?) and then do i go and collect it or leave it there? Will the pigeons returns if its still there? or do i come out of hide? Ok im sorry ill stop now i know it might be a bit over the top and many post may have some of the answers but just with reference to shooting with a rifle not a shotgun. Also are all rifles out of the box much less then 12 ft lbs??? AHHH to many questions. Thanks in advance everyone! Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toombsy Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hello mate, I'll try my best... 1. Not many will land near plastic decoys. More pigeons will land near to flocked decoys (because they look more natural), and even more will land next to real, dead pigeons. It won't be easy pickign pigeons off with an air rifle, that's for sure. 2. A pigeon's flight path isn't always the same day in day out. If you watch the pigeons flying between fields, or from woodland to fields, you will eventually see a pattern emerging where the birds follow each other. They begin following an imaginary 'road' if you like. That's called the flight path, and if you find one, set your decoys up as close as you can to it. 50 yards maximum. 3. Any hide is best so lang as the birds can't see you. If you've got good camo on and you remain very still, you can get away with sitting tight to a bush. You just got to remember not to lift your bare hands or turn your bare face around too quickly - the birds will see a flash of white skin and they'll spook. A tent isn't ideal as you need to see as much of the sky as possible - it gives you notice that a bird or two is heading your way. 4. Sounds about right. But if the truth be told, you're the one that will be able to tell whether you think you're shooting accurately enough to be able to kill a bird/rabbit/squirrel outright with one shot. If you can hit an area the size of a 2p at 35 yards you're on the right track. BUT, when there's a live animal in the sights you will react differently, so be prepared for that. 5. Personally, I don't have a dog so I have a good look around to see if there's birds coming in. If there isn't, and I'm sure about that, I will quickly pop out, dispatch the bird if necessary, and place it among the decoys so it looks natural. And if there's a hell of a lot of feathers from the shot bird, I will try my best to tidy them up a little - but I don't spend long doing it. 30 seconds from the hide and back, that's all. Hope that helps in any way, and best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toombsy Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 I think you might get better success by placing a couple of lofted flocked pigeons in the bushes, and sitting tight as close as you can. You'll be surprised at how close they will land in bushes if you sit very still under them. It's certainly worth a try as pigeons are far more likely to confidently loft in a bush than come in to land on terra firma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Tom Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Maybe if you try feeding the field in the same place for a couple of days till they find it. the put a hide up and put some decoys can use same pattens, decoyed the other day and on pigeon landed by my decoys and started to eat wished i had my air rifle lol i only had a shotgun and it was safe to shoot it lol. You dont need to pick your bird up if the pigeons are still in sight only pick them up when you know there are none in trees or anywhere to put them in a decoying position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 I think you might get better success by placing a couple of lofted flocked pigeons in the bushes, and sitting tight as close as you can. You'll be surprised at how close they will land in bushes if you sit very still under them. It's certainly worth a try as pigeons are far more likely to confidently loft in a bush than come in to land on terra firma. definatley the way to do it with an air rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realtreedave Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 try using a camo headnet and gloves.if crows are on the menu[not literaly, read the rat thread in recipes] try adding a crow decoy 15 metres out from your pattern,this can also give the pigeons confidence.owl or raptor decoys over a partialy gutted rabbit or squirel drives them nuts.good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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