Captain Caveman Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Does anyone have any experience of decoying over taller rape? eg, decoys on bouncers or a magnet working above standing rape, not on laid crop. ?? I tend to stop decoying when the winter sown rape gets too leggy and don't really go again until after the combine on the stubbles. Am I missing out? Cheers for any advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warlock Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Never found any success on tall rape as all that can be used are floaters and magnets plus pigeons don`t tend to like trying to land in tall rape as it grows so close together, also there is more flavour in the newer younger growth. At the time rape is tall around my way the pigeons have moved onto their next favourite meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Pigeons normally feed on the smaller rape because it is easier to land on and they can eat it easier and see anu dangers that may be getting near them. I have shot over tall rape before and I used a pigeon magnet and a bouncer with 15 shell decoys. I used some 2-4 ft canes to keep the decoys above the rape depending on what time of year it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Cheers for the replies. I know pigeons generally feed off basal leaves of rape, I just wondered if they would be drawn down to the floating type decoys over the tall stuff from a flight line. Though I suppose you'd have to pick the right time to shoot carefully as they wouldn't be able to make a 'landing approach'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warlock Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 I forgot to mention the biggest problem and that is crop damage when retrieving the pigeons when shot and also finding them in tall rape is a pain in the butt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 As the rape grows I look for shorter headlands and tractor tracks, the birds will usually come into these areas. Once the seed appears it really becomes hard, as you can't go into the crop to set up, or collect shot birds. I tend to put decoys above the rape via the tractor tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 You cant always collect every bird you shoot and the less times you walk in and out of the crop the better. At the end of the day if you have got pigeons going on to one of your rape fields or even flying over it is is worth shooting it. I did make a bouncer that was just over 6ft tall, so it stood out above the hedges and any tall crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 As the rape grows I look for shorter headlands and tractor tracks, the birds will usually come into these areas.Once the seed appears it really becomes hard, as you can't go into the crop to set up, or collect shot birds. I tend to put decoys above the rape via the tractor tracks. Thank you Cranfield. There are some areas on the fields I shoot which collect water and these always have more stunted rape growth so I'll try these when the crop grows on a bit. I think I'll invest in a couple of these floater/bouncer things this year and give it a try, it might buy me an extra months shooting. Many thanks for all the advice chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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