Decoys and airguns.

[Cranfield]

I was out today looking round the pea fields and did not see too many birds, but on the last field I walked off about 15 and so decided to set up with just a few decoys and see what happened.

 

The answer was "nothing" for the first hour and then the wind got up.

Soon after, a bird dropped straight into the layout from behind me and I didn't spot it until it landed.

I waited a few seconds in case there was one behind it, but as there wasn't I shot the first bird.

 

It went quiet again and I started thinking about how long the bird was on the ground and how I could have shot it with an air rifle (it was about 20ish yards away).

So I decided to let incoming birds land, if I could and see how many I could have shot with an air rifle.

 

In 5 hours I shot 18 pigeons and 12 of them landed and would have been quite easy air rifle shots.

Now I have often read air gunners on here talking about decoying pigeons for their air rifles and I must admit I have felt a bit sorry for them and considered it must be hard work, but this completely non scientific experiment showed that it could be done, if the circumstances were right.

 

I was set up with my back to a high long hedgerow and the strong wind in my face.

The birds were coming in from behind me, over the hedge and dropping straight down at the back of the decoy layouts.

This means they never faced the hide, so there was no chance I could spook them.

 

Its surprising what you think about and play at, when the shootings a bit slow.

[Lancs Lad]

I started my pigeon shooting this way.....................

 

And then sold my airguns to fund my shotguns. I had more birds flaring off than I can remember and must have only accounted for half a dozen birds to the airgun.

 

Was it something wrong with the pattern..................possibly. However these birds would have been easy s.g shots.

 

We do get guys coming into the shop enquiring about using airguns as an effective tool to control pigeons.

 

In the right circumstances such as In barns, roosting, off chance shots then I say yes. But for decoying I have always recounted back to my own experience. And thats not just because Im trying to sell them a shotgun....

 

As you have picked up, movement in the hide could account for the flaring, getting the gun up for the shot, infact as I recall there were probably a few that did land that I flared up because of moment...

 

 

Air guns - Buildings, built up areas, rabbit bashing.

 

 

Decoying - Shot Guns.