Decoying on flowering peas

[shoughton]

The peas on my shoot have been flowering for about a week now.

 

I saw another guy decoying there at the weekend and asked how he had got on - quite poorly he reported. I wasn't hugely surprised as his decoy birds were on the ground with only one floater - and the peas must be at least 24 to 30 inches tall. He had trouble finding them himself so I'm sure the pigeons couldn't see them well enough.

 

Is it worth giving it a go with decoy birds on longer sticks? This is my first year on pigeons so I don't really know if they feed on the flowers or leaf at this stage? I haven't seen any more than 1 or 2 pigeons on them - but maybe I could bring them in as it is on the flight line.

 

The pigeons around my shoot seem to be feeding on cut lusen and grass - just outside of my shoot. But when my wife walks the dog on the footpath around those fields it drives the pigeons nicely over a line of trees where I do hide out - nice when it works well.

 

Any advice regarding pigeons on flowering peas woudl be most welcome.

 

Thanks.

[Cosd]

I'm not sure about flowering peas, but you do need to make the decoys visible. If you have a rotary to add some movement and you are under a flightline you are bound to attract some interest to within shooting range at least. Try to find a patch where it is a little bear if you can as close to the flightline as possible. Place the decoys on longer stems if you can so they are visible from a distance otherwise only the birds flighting directly above will have any chance of spotting them.

[deny essex]

pigeon quite often feed on the flower when the peas bloom, decoys rested on top of the peas are where any birds are idealy placed , long sticks to hold them stable if its very windy, the odd bird or two in a nearby bare patch or tram line sets the picture, the same method for when the rape seed ripens and begins to lower or any crop, just think/study what the birds will or can be seen feeding on , pigeon will land on the top of any thick crop to get to the seed or flower, flattening it as they do so, the farmer then starts to lose his produce so worth an ask if you are looking for permission, but make sure you dont damage the crop more than the pigeon when setting up and retrieving or it may be a short lived permission.

[Cranfield]

Observe the fields a bit and see if the pigeons are visiting, I have never had much success over flowering peas.

If you haven't got time to do much reconnaissance ask the Farmer, or farm workers, if they are seeing any pigeon activity.

That approach also shows the Farmer you are "doing the job".

[proTOM1]

For my flowering peas is the best time the birds seem to be very keen on them as for your decoys like has been said place them on top of the peas or use cradles or long sticks to give in coming birds something to see .As for picking up ones you shoot try to pick up as often as you can mark where they drop and pick as soon as you can its the only way !

[Harnser]

you can normally shoot pigeons on peas at any time throughout the growing season . On of the best times is just after the flowers have died off and the pods start forming . I love to eat the peas at that stage as well .

Harnser .

[motty]

Personally, i wouldn't bother shooting on the field if the pigeons aren't feeding there and causing any damage. I shoot a fair few on flowering peas, and had a nice little bag of 35 on some, just a few hours ago.These are vining peas, though, and don't grow much more than a foot tall. Yours sound like harvest peas, growing that tall, and trying to find any birds amongst them would be a nightmare. I witnessed the damage someone and his dog once made after shooting a good bag and trying to pick all the birds - it was probably more damage than he prevented. Your best bet will probably be to wait until the plants are brown and the pods start to split, spilling the peas.I'm sure the pigeons will be on there, then.