jonboy1 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 i'm picking up a set of lofting poles and 5 lofting deecs from peter theobold tomorrow and i'm getting quite excited about getting out there and using them. Has anyone noticed any vast improvements whilst using lofters, either decoying or roost shooting or have i just blown the best part of a ton? I've stood on top of my truck to place decoys in trees before but never tried them 30ft up, cheers jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 IMHO waste of time. Some people have luck with them but i've always found them less than useless. Tried them roost shooting before and had some success, but general pigeon shooting wasn't helped at all by them (tall hedges around where l shoot too - and watched all the progs to get layout ideas too-) T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 I've just made an experimental one..... 4 on a frame to be hauled up on a fishing line ....why, my trees are too high for normal poles ....McF has failed thus far on a tree-magnet and the main fact that I see pigeons looking down to known hot-spots and if they see a mate more drop in ... So I've made 4 mates for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 The main time I would use them is when decoying on rape next to a wood and I would use 10-20 full bodied deeks on lofting cradles rather than just the pole. IMHO - the woodpigeon, when feeding on rape, is looking for a picture that is safe and secure for it. Basically they will eat the rape and sit in trees close by and digest/sun themselves until they have emptied. Then they will descend again, so they will be looking for a field that has birds moving on the ground(rotary/flappers/floaters) and a good few birds in the trees behind them. I believe they do this because times are hard for them, it`s cold and the last few grains of cereal are locked into the stubble fields by frost so rape is the only viable option and to sit in the trees close by means that they use up little energy and have a better chance of survival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonboy1 Posted February 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 henry d, yes that is the situation i intend to use them in this weekend, decoying over rape. The type i am getting are the full bodied, flock coated, weighted ones that you hang in a tree (up to 35 metres high if you like). I've seen them used and they do look very realistic so here's hoping. I'll post any results i have (if any) cheers for the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Me and my dad use them nearly all the time at this time of year. They can make a huge difference to a days shooting but then again they can not make much difference at all. At times if we dont put the lifted birds up we wont see a pigeon any where and as soon as they go up the birds come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 We tried some last week but no luck as of yet,but to be fair there was not alot about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 It is all down to how high you can get them and where the birds are coming in from. If there are birds flying behind your ide then you want to put one or two lofted birds at the back of the hide and if they are coming in from one side then you want the lofted birds that side etc. The higher you get them the more likely they will draw more pigeons in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonboy1 Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 i can't really see them not working to be honest, i mean we've all sat there with decoys, bouncers and rotarys in the field, then watched a couple of pigeons fly across the field and go and land in a tree with 1 solitary bird in it. I'm not expecting miracles but i'm quite confident that if the birds are about it should add a few to more to my bag (famous last words) still, if i don't try them i 'll never know. Got a h&safety test tomorrow am for my job and the rest of the day off so i'll give it a bash in the afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Nice one mate. Let us know how you got on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonboy1 Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 well, i eventually managed to get out for a few hours over the weekend to try my new lofters and have come to the conclusion that they do work and in the right circumstances and on the right day they will definatly add more birds to my bag. For some reason there were very few birds around on my permissions yesterday, i reckon they must have moved onto some fresh drillings somewhere but i decided to give it a go anyway. I put the five lofting deecs in a known 'sitty' tree next to a rape field and tucked my hide away on the edge of a small spinney facing the tree about 35-40 yards away. After about half an hour 3 birds flew in obviously fooled by the decoys, i got two but missed the third as it was heading away at a rate of knotts. Although it was a slow waiting game, i ended up with 8 in total after a couple of hours. Not a big bag by any standards but not bad considering the lack of birds about, plus it gave me confidence knowing the lofters do work and i look forward to using them again on a better day,cheers jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Good to hear they worked for you mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Cheers for the update, good to hear they worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.