steelheadjohn Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Hi people I am very new to the pigeon decoying game and my mate and I hsave just bought a rotary that we are using with dead birds , but i am not sure of the best place to put it in the pattern. Should you put it in the front of the U shape or at the back? Be grateful for any comments abouts decoy patterns Regards Steelheadjohn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick O'Shea Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Take it back to the shop andet your money back - then buy 'The Pigeon Shooter' book by John Batley if you havent got it already and read it from cover to cover then a week or so later again if your like me and dont take it all in first time! This book will guide and help you much much more if you want to shoot pigeon successfully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I always place the rotary at the rear of the decoy layout, as it is supposed to assimilate birds landing with the decoys. Pigeons usually land into the wind, at the rear of the feeding group. John Batley's book (The Pigeon Shooter) is worth a read, as is "Pigeon Shooting" by Archie Coats and "Shooting Woodpigeon" by A E B Johnson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I've tried it different in places and cannot see much difference. Others will dissagree but that is my experience. Generally the birds land in my pattern regardless of the rotary position. Some silly ones will land and go under the rotary! but not generally. My thinking is the rotary gets the distant attention and the pattern of deeks does the close up work. I tend to have it near the front and closer to the hedge/hide thinking that if they see any movement around the hide the rotary will take most of their attention (perhaps a lame thought!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 best results I have had (on the days that a magnet works) is close in to the hide well to the front of the pattern, find this brings them in and if they are going to spook they are within range first,often find that if the magnet is to the rear of the pattern and or to close to the deeks the birds may veer off to early , other times I have had very good results is with two magnets and NO decoys just the magnets placed about 30 meters apart 15 feet to the upwind side of my hide so that the birds will if attracted fly through the gap, IE right in my line of fire. cheers KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 25 yards in front of me at the head of the pattern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelheadjohn Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Thanks for those thoughts , certainly investigate John Bateleys book on Amazon. Never quite got my head around whether the magnet was supposed to be birds landing at the back or birds fluttering up and moving forward at the front. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbob Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I have found just lately the magnet works best about four miles away in the back of the shed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick O'Shea Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I have found just lately the magnet works best about four miles away in the back of the shed. Same here mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Perhaps if some of you placed the rotary in the right place, it would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbob Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Tried every possible position, coating the arms with fluff to stop any reflection, adjusted the speed everything then as soon as it was taken in the birds commited in. Ive no doubt they will work but for the weight of the thing and the ammount of time out of the hide spent faffing around, for me its just not worth the hassle. Not having a whinge Im happy to carry on with various bouncers and angels which for me work better than the rotary. Regards PB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker3 Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 try to get the magnet positioned so the birds don't have to fly over it to get to the pattern i found that they dont comit as well if them have to fly over the magnet butt thats my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funky Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 A magnet is just another weapon in the pigeon shooters kit and should be used at the appropriate time, this may vary from region to region depending on location and time of year. I for one have noticed that there are times that the magnet is awesome and there are periods when it does the absolute opposite. I have learnt that putting the Decoys out first then waiting to see if the birds commit to said pattern is best. In my general experience i feel this time of year they are not that good as the birds are in large flocks and if they do commit they will do so on mass. this will inevitably result in the shooter taking a shoot and the whole flock moving to the next county, this happen with a magnet or decoys, or the both specially over the rape. In the case of the questioned asked i have always put the magnet on the windward side of the pattern. and the purpose of the magnet is to simulate movement and attraction to your location and not landing or birds taking off. Do not suffer the illusion that any of the decoying equipment will work every time. look at the conditions start with a few decoys and change things until it works or you get birds landing in the pattern. over time you will know through trial and error what is best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 In the case of the questioned asked i have always put the magnet on the windward side of the pattern. and the purpose of the magnet is to simulate movement and attraction to your location and not landing or birds taking off. I don't agree that the rotary attracts birds only because it moves, if that was the case why do plastic sacks on sticks scare pigeons, they move ? It is supposed to simulate real birds over the decoys, either landing, or moving up the queue. Getting back to the positioning question, people seem to place it in different points in their layout and if it works for them, thats fine. Clearly its good advice to try moving it, if it doesn't seem to be working. Alternatively, if it works where you put it, leave it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David 686 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 hi i find the best place to put a pigeon magnet is.. i put 15 or so decoys in a circle out 30 yards to my right and the same to my left... put the magnet bang in the midle at about 25 yards out. never put dead pigeons with your plastic decoys. just wait till you have 15 dead birds and replace all the plastic decoys with real birds... dont forget to put real birds on you magnet as soon as you can.. foam winged decoys are good but you could never beat real birds in the field good luck cheers david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) Its rare I do not use a magnet over rape or drillings. I usually use it inside ( the hide side ) of the decoy paten. When used on the outside of the paten I find pigeons often sheer off at extreme range. When inside I think the pigeons pick up the movement from a fair way off and then when they get closer turn their attention to the decoys. I will also use the magnet to control where the pigeons want to land, often placing it slightly up wind of the hide to bring the birds across my front. On one occasion when I had trouble with birds landing short of the decoy paten I moved the magnet to within 3 feet of the hide and it brought the pigeons in nicely , almost too close at times. I have on occasion used it behind me on the next door field to attract the attention of pigeons passing the other side of a hedge and unable to see the decoys. The magnet brings them in closer and they then see the decoys and hopefully come on in. I do find that birds are less happy to land in the decoys if you have a magnet out. There are rare occasions when pigeons shy off the magnet , then switch it off and use it as a bouncer. Edited February 18, 2009 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Spot on advice from Anser2, a lot of newbies make the mistake of putting the rotary at the back of the pattern, hence the birds never come within effective range. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Normally birds want to land where the rotary is and I place my layout some distance from the hide and always place the rotary where I expect the birds to be shot (which is at the rear of the decoys). I usually shoot 4-5 days a week out of the game season (when I am not fishing) and this "newbie" shot 348 pigeons last week in 4 days and has shot 105 so far this week over 2 days. Just think how many I would have shot with the rotary in the right place. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaseone Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 As a complete novice I always put mine to the front and to the side of the pattern, front left or right depend which way the wind is blowing 4 people out today, I was the only one with a Magnet, I shot 41 the other highest was 2 birds :o so I feel they work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 i've often noticed the birds trying to land on the magnet, i guess they think that's the head of the flock moving up the field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Normally birds want to land where the rotary is and I place my layout some distance from the hide and always place the rotary where I expect the birds to be shot (which is at the rear of the decoys). I usually shoot 4-5 days a week out of the game season (when I am not fishing) and this "newbie" shot 348 pigeons last week in 4 days and has shot 105 so far this week over 2 days. Just think how many I would have shot with the rotary in the right place. Yes, that's good shooting for a newbie Cranners, but I'm afraid I can't understand your comments, so let's be clear about one thing..?? I think we both agree that birds tend to want to land directly behind, (and downwind) of the rotary. As they approach the rotary, they will typically jinx away once they get within 5 or 10 yards of the rotary, as they realise they've been suckered. So, how far from your hide do you position your rotary..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurrasicway Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Re dead birds with decoys. Something that I noticed last week. I added to my U shaped shell decoy pattern with dead birds. I put the two dead birds closest to me and the birds that committed to the pattern committed to the back of the dead birds which were closer to me and easier to shoot (less far away). Seemed to work well with the mix. Have you had different results mixing dead with decoys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Yes, that's good shooting for a newbie Cranners, but I'm afraid I can't understand your comments, so let's be clear about one thing..?? I think we both agree that birds tend to want to land directly behind, (and downwind) of the rotary. As they approach the rotary, they will typically jinx away once they get within 5 or 10 yards of the rotary, as they realise they've been suckered. So, how far from your hide do you position your rotary..?? Cat. I shoot mostly in wide open spaces, with very few hedgerows, trees, woods etc., to use as background. Assuming a reasonable wind blowing left to right across the face of the hide, I would set my decoys out to the left of the hide with the furthest some 40 paces away, the rotary would be at the rear of the layout approx 30-35 paces away. The incoming birds would cross the front of the hide to try to land with the rotary, thats when they get shot (at). If there is no, or little wind, then I split my decoys into two groups either side of the hide about 25 paces out and position the rotary very slightly left or right of the front of the hide, in the space between the decoys. Thats my normal "out in the open" set up, I just change the position depending on the wind direction and the hide location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 When I do put my magnet out, I put it at the head of the pattern (U, V or L). Its supposed to imitate birds moving at the head of the flock. Putting it between two groups of deeks is giving the impression of birds moving between the groups. I find when the magnet is out the birds committing come to it only to veer as Catamong said 5-10 yards away from it when they realise they have been duped. If you aren't shooting at them before then then you will struggle. You don't want them on the end of the barrels. Whilst never having had a "red letter" day, I don't do badly. It must be made clear to newbies though that the magnet is not the be all and end all of pigeon shooting, fieldcraft is first and foremost and siting hide and deeks in the right place under a flightline, a well built hide, no movement until the absolute last minute and the ability to hit them are all key elements. Oh,yeah an understanding wife/girlfriend is also a requirement to be able to spend time out just getting the buildup of fieldcraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Its rare I do not use a magnet over rape or drillings. I usually use it inside ( the hide side ) of the decoy paten. When used on the outside of the paten I find pigeons often sheer off at extreme range. When inside I think the pigeons pick up the movement from a fair way off and then when they get closer turn their attention to the decoys. I will also use the magnet to control where the pigeons want to land, often placing it slightly up wind of the hide to bring the birds across my front. On one occasion when I had trouble with birds landing short of the decoy paten I moved the magnet to within 3 feet of the hide and it brought the pigeons in nicely , almost too close at times. I have on occasion used it behind me on the next door field to attract the attention of pigeons passing the other side of a hedge and unable to see the decoys. The magnet brings them in closer and they then see the decoys and hopefully come on in. I do find that birds are less happy to land in the decoys if you have a magnet out. There are rare occasions when pigeons shy off the magnet , then switch it off and use it as a bouncer. I find exactly the same. If I place it to the rear the birds will jink off as the approach. I place mine approx 10m in front of the pattern head so that it gives them confidence to fly into the head of the pattern but without getting them too close to get spooked. I had birds streaming in on Sunday using it in front and landing! I strongly believe they are drawn to it but often don't want ot get too close to it or they will spook unless young birds. My friend was using the magnet in the autumn and I had bouncers and a nice pattern out, all the birds flew straight over mine and dived into his pattern. When I went over to inspect it was the most regimented, symetrical pattern I have ever seen, every bird was exactly the same angle into the wind yet the magnet did the 'pulling'. So in the right situation - they work very well. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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