SNAKEBITE Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 (edited) I have been reading recently about the lack of pigeons around (generally) at the moment. A letter in a magazine I was reading said this might be down to them being shot in the summer months (breeding season?) What do you think? The reason I included airguns as a choice was I believe when pigeon shooting with an airgun you get less than with a shotgun. Now that's only a guess and I'm sure I will be put right if wrong DISCUSS............... Edited March 11, 2005 by SNAKEBITE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Only if it's pest control. I personally don't shoot them from April to September unless they are hitting a field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Ive never shot them during the breeding season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
game_boy Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 I thought that the main reason that they were shot was that they are a pest and numbers need radical reduction. Surely if you are personally imposing a 'close season ' for a bird that doesn't have one then you are defeating the point all together. To maintain numbers of pests to provide sport rather than reducing them in the first place (as the farmer land owner wants) seems to clash with the reason we all get the land in the first place. I would have thought that farmers would want them severly reduced no matter what time of the year it is. Just how I see it. gb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 not sure where this lack of pigeon is specifically reffering to? but there certainly is no shortage here! have never seen so many so widespread have even seen a flock of about a hundred feeding on believe it or not a roundabout on a main dual carriageway, my place of work had approx 50 pairs nest last year and they knocked at least two sets of squabs out and some managed 3 sets I have had two farmers ring me this last month asking me to shoot pigeon from areas that have never been affected badly before. cheers Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 I thought that the main reason that they were shot was that they are a pest and numbers need radical reduction. Surely if you are personally imposing a 'close season ' for a bird that doesn't have one then you are defeating the point all together. The reason that I think Dazza imposes his own close season is because the population in Ireland is nowhere near the population in England, probably because of the terrain. Last summer was the first time I have ever shot them during breeding season and this was only because the farmer was getting hammered with pigeons and crows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 not sure where this lack of pigeon is specifically reffering to? but there certainly is no shortage here! have never seen so many so widespread have even seen a flock of about a hundred feeding on believe it or not a roundabout on a main dual carriageway, my place of work had approx 50 pairs nest last year and they knocked at least two sets of squabs out and some managed 3 sets I have had two farmers ring me this last month asking me to shoot pigeon from areas that have never been affected badly before.cheers Keith So that's where all our pigeons are hiding. !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffs-Shooter Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 I have a differimg theory on the "lack of winter pigeons". In these here parts the birds are here however are prone to moving off "on masse" when you set one barrel at them. therefore no kills means more breeding pairs means more summer birds? May be wrong but who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Going to have to get onto the council for permission then i can set up shop amidst the flowers on a roundabout with a magnet and some deeks, could be a red letter day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 There is no shortage of Pigeons about... But generally they are in looser flocks and still feeding heavily on Ivy and mast in the woods. It has been a fantastic year for ivy, mast, haws & hips and acorn and this has meant that rape has been virtually untouched in many areas. Around here the birds are starting to feed on clover. There have been big flocks of fieldfares and redwings this year as well. I would be suprised if shooting in the numbers we do all year, had any real effect on the estimated 8-10million pairs of Wood Pigeon in Britain. That said I dont shoot in the Summer generally because I go fishing and birding and play a lot of cricket and get occasionally drunk :*) FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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