Steve29 Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Well I had a day out on the wheat stubble on Sunday, only my fourth trip out decoying and with the last three producing only five birds in total I was hoping for a better day, especially seeing as I have just splashed out on some new decoys! Set up by half 8 after about an hour reconnaisance on a bright sunny day with a nice breeze. I began by setting up the full army, 12 plastic shells, 6 flocked shells, 2 full bodied flocked crows (which I bought as I've read they help build confidence and catch the eye?) and 2 full bodied plastics sat on top of a bale out in the field near my pattern..... I eagerly awaited the birds for about two hours (tweaking things every half hour) and nothing! So took in the plastics and still nothing. Every passing bird just ignored the decoys I saw a good number of birds heading to another field so I decided on a change of location. This time on bare stubble i.e. no bales/straw. I set up only the two crows and the six flocked shells, and I ended the day with 1 pigeon (and about four missed! ), 6 crows and a half smile on my face. I say a half smile as I was after pigeons, not crows, although I know the farmer won't mind. There was plenty of pigeon traffic but only a handful came in to the decoys, they seemed oblivious to them, so maybe i'm lacking movement, although the crows could see them fine. I know some swear by flappers/magnets, etc, for movement but until I come home with a decent number of birds for the pot I've got no chance of persuading the mrs to let me spend money on either of those. I bought some eezy wobblerz on ebay today, hopefully they'll help with movement as I only have spring sticks at the moment. Just thought i'd share my experience in case anyone has any pearls of wisdom to share before trip number 5 this weekend Also, has anyone used a flocking kit and is it worth the money to cover plastic shells? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 on a bright sunny day with a nice breeze. Not exactly ideal conditions... try on a grey overcast and windy day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 It could be that your crow decoys are too close to the pigeon decoys, sometimes the pigeons dont like having crows near them. I set up with a crow decoys once and the pigeons would not come near the pattern and as soon as I took the crow in the pigeons came straight in. Maybe you are not on the flightline or your decoys are not being seen by other pigeons. Always make sure you are under the flightline (you can never spend too much time on recon) Try to get your decoys above the stubble 6inches or more will help them stand out from a longer destance. A bouncer would also help draw birds in to your pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Not exactly ideal conditions... try on a grey overcast and windy day Personally I would say that the conditions are great for shooting pigeons but it is down to what you prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve29 Posted September 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 It could be that your crow decoys are too close to the pigeon decoys, sometimes the pigeons dont like having crows near them. I had them on the edge of the pattern but not more than six feet away, so perhaps that didn't help. Forgot to ask before, whats the usual spacing for decoys? I tried them close up to about ten feet away from each other and the latter seemed to work better. Maybe you are not on the flightline or your decoys are not being seen by other pigeons. Perhaps not, but I've really struggled to see any fixed patterns on the farm. I've spent hours doing recon (as long as i've been out decoying) and still none the wiser, so i'm having to go with trial and error for the time being. There was plenty of traffic about though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 If and when i ever use a crow in addition to a pigeon pattern I always found it better to have the crow dec's 10 meters from the pigeon decs, preferably on the far side of the possible pigeon approach to the pigeon pattern. A crow dec helps sometimes but its not often i find the need to use it , if i see pigeon down on a field and birds flighting in to them with crows nearby i may use a crow dec , otherwise i just stick to a normal pattern of plastics under or as near to a flightline as possible and if a fair breeze blowing all facing into and semi into the wind, Movement in the pattern always gains more interest from pigeon, but there will be days when they just dont want to play ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flanker Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 All sounds very familiar and part of the joy of shooting pigeons. Shot 29 birds on one occasion in 2 hours end of last week with birds dropping into a very simple horsehoe pattern from all over. Just a few days later, nearby location, same crop, weather, wind direction; birds very high and not looking whatsoever despite all means of 'encouragement'! I'm developing a kit bag that's as managable as possible - example 10 half-shell birds, smallish net and poles so that on the days when for whatever reason it's not happening, I don't feel too hard done by, especially if only able to spend a few hours. The good news is, when they are coming in, and seemingly nothing can stop them - it makes up for the 10 times you manage 2-3 (or worst), get wet, scrape your leg on barb-wire and get into grief when getting home because you said you'd be home an hour ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 I had them on the edge of the pattern but not more than six feet away, so perhaps that didn't help. Forgot to ask before, whats the usual spacing for decoys? I tried them close up to about ten feet away from each other and the latter seemed to work better. Perhaps not, but I've really struggled to see any fixed patterns on the farm. I've spent hours doing recon (as long as i've been out decoying) and still none the wiser, so i'm having to go with trial and error for the time being. There was plenty of traffic about though. I would say that the crows decoys were too close, they must be near on 15 ft away from the pattern and also on the far side from where the pigeons are coming from. I tend to keep my pigeons about 2-3 ft apart on stubble and on winter rape they are even closer and I will have more of them. I must admit at times it is hard to find a flightline at times but you just have to keep looking and experimenting. Also where you have your hide makes a difference to how the birds come in, if you are shooting in a corner of a field surrounded by tall trees then the birds may not like to come in because they dont have a good escape route. At the end of the day if Pigeons have their minds set on going to another field then they wont come in, they might get close but just wont land. Try not to spend too much time out of your hide (in the field) because you shall have alot of eyes watching you and it will take a while for the birds to start coming back normally about 20 minutes or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 What sort of pattern were you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve29 Posted September 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Had the fifth trip yesterday over cultivated rape stubble and thanks to your comments I had the brids dropping in left right and centre from about half 10 through to 3ish. I spent longer on recon, put the crow deeks further away, had good cloud cover and wind, and got sat right under a flight line. The only problem is, I finally get the birds doing what I want and I must have forgotten how to shoot overnight! I'm no sharp shooter, but normally hit a good 80% of whatever it is i'm shooting at, be it birds or clays, but I missed almost everything and ended the day frustrated with only 3 in the bag and a hide full of empty cartridges! Once the red mist went away I managed a little smile because the only thing that let me down was my shooting, which I know is better than that, all else worked for a change. Now just need to combine good shooting with good decoying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Glad we could help mate it is always nice when it works but your not the only one who has the bad shooting days mate You shall get into them soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 try setting up wit the wind on your back, stay down until the bird is just about to land as then it switches its vision for wide angle to narrow so its looking where its landing. this way you know the bird it just about a sitting target. i was told to work on the landing birds first then once I'm hitting them then more to the flying birds. didn't quite go to plan this year but i have still had a few bags of over 100 birds. this weekend i had 145 on a new patch so I'm getting there. Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham20gauge Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 It's nice to know that other's have day's of the three P's Iwas out last friday on stubble the bird's were comming in steady all day,the trouble was most of them were going out aswell!! ended the day 9 in the bag, IT'S A GOOD JOB i did'nt shoot any more as the bag was full with empty shell's STILL THERE'S ALWAYS THE NEXT TIME? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris crow Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Ive used the flocking kit they cover easily.used the missus finest icing duster to spinkle the flocking on to shells.put some paper down to re use the bits that fall off. ps dont use the black on its own its too dark mix a bit of the grey with it to tone it down.they look really good but they do shine a bit in strong sunlight which is a bit off putting. its been hard to decoy em up here in yorkshire they dont seem to want to play. Ive watched them fly over real feeding birds on the stubble ? so theres no much chance with decoys.they seem to be flying here there an every where and no real flight lines as yet .so i will keep watchin em for now.sometimes you learn from just watchin the birds 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.