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To shoot, or not to shoot ?


Cranfield
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Depends whether you are shooting them as vermin or for sport. I was out last night and my ground was leaping with kitts. I would have had no reservations about shooting them as vermin but on That land i shoot for sport and for the pot so i will give them a few months b4 they meat their maker.

 

Dave

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I shoot to the end of March and then my guns go away until September.

 

I know this debate will rage on and on and views are split between whether there should be a close season or not... but ultimately we all shoot pigeons primarily for sport, secondary for pest control :beer: (Search your heart and tell me Im wrong!)

 

Its my contribution to preserving that sport by, in an obtuse way, letting the pests reproduce.

 

I think far more people are shooting pigeons now than back in the 50,s and 60,s and yet many Older guns, and I mean people I have spoken to in their 70's and 80's, (which include many farmers) are adamant that there are not the very big flocks around that they saw in their youth.

 

I have no problem with people shooting pigeon all year if they want to but I wont do it.

 

Cheers FM.

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i stop about now. seen a few pairs getting down to it in a tree of love whilst out walking the dogs today.loadsa baby bunnys.stood underneath a rookery for 10 mins rooks didnt even bother with me must of been about 50 odd. shame i cant shoot there always the way. cant wait for the branchers to come out.

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One of the main problems is, when is the "breeding season".

With our mild Winters, I suspect the birds are now breeding for over 9 months of the year.

 

I tend to fish and travel during the Spring and Summer, so I don't do much pigeon shooting between Spring drilling and corn/rape harvest time.

However, I use to shoot pigeons 12 months of the year and would have no problem doing so again.

 

I started shooting pigeons in the 50's and I don't believe there were more pigeons (in Kent) then, than now.

Remember, there was no rape being grown then and in Winter, green crops were very scarce.

The pigeons therefore were concentrated in much smaller areas and flocked up in great numbers.

But, if you moved a mile down the road away from the green fields, you wouldn't see a pigeon.

Now, they are spoilt for choice of Winter foodstuff, the birds are more scattered and in most areas the flocks are smaller.

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Around here birds are breeding from April-October, thats a long time not to be shooting them when a farmer is on the phone to you every other week. If we want to keep our land we have little choice but to shoot them although in May/June we try and give them a break.

 

Mark.

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Guest Mr Pieman

Just out of interest, how do you explain to an irate farmer that you won't shoot his marauding pigeons as they might be breeding? :)

 

Most farmers would probably like the idea that one shot could potentially mean the death of several pigeons :)

 

I know that sounds harsh, but pretty much sums up the reality of pest control :):)

 

PP

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I do shoot pigeons all year round, under the guise of vermion control.........W

 

What the farmer, wants.......................the farmer gets!

 

Although I appreciate .... that spring time is associated with all creatures great and small breeding..... but I have been picking up young birds all year round.

 

There are far too many about to let them have a chance and breeding in peace. and although they are intruiging birds, they are also classified 'pests'

 

Do we stop killing rats in spring?:huh:?

 

A cloud of pigeons passed over me contanstly for 10 munites the other day in Lincolnshire, I would guess that there was in x s of 10,000..........................

 

Paul in North Lincs

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