Pidge Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Hi Everybody, My friend and myself have been having a go at shooting some pigeons - without much success. My friend shoots and takes his dog and I just take my dog. We have tried three times recently and each time we arrive at the field 30+ pigeons take off from a flattened area (different each time). We set up our hide and he puts some decoys out with his whirly ones, but apart from the odd one or two that fly over, the others do not return. It seems as though we must be doing something wrong. Can anyone help please or suggest a good book for me to read so that we can hopefully be a bit more successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 (edited) You could be rushing in to set up too fast, you need to make sure that you are under the flightline, dont just turn up and set up where you see pigeons feeding. Maybe the pigeons dont like the Magnet (if you are using one). The books that I have read that have helped me are: Colin Willock's the book of the wood pigeon Michael Brander's sporting pigeon shooting John Humphreys Modern pigeon shooting Archie Coats Pigeon shooting And the best one I think is - Peter Theobalds The Wood Pigeon (the ultimate quarry) Edited September 3, 2009 by MerseaDavid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 I'm new too and have had the same problem on stubble. Loads on it, walk it off (don't even fire a shot) and they move on. It seems you have to be under a flightline, as you'll only decoy ones that you didn't walk off and are coming into the area. For me anyway :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Maybe the pigeons might not be feeding on your field, they might be just sitting on the field before moving on to where they actually want to feed. There are many more reasons what might be going wrong. Can you give us more info? What patterns your using, wind direction (normally), are you set up unders trees of just up against a hedge, etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 I'm new too and have had the same problem on stubble. Loads on it, walk it off (don't even fire a shot) and they move on. It seems you have to be under a flightline, as you'll only decoy ones that you didn't walk off and are coming into the area. For me anyway I very rarely walk the birds off the field when I turn up I will watch the flightline and the choose the spot where I am going to shoot and then set up and the birds will normally leave the field for abit and then start coming back not long after I am in the hide. Sometimes they are already landing in the pattern before I am in the hide :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pidge Posted September 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Thank you - I'll try and get hold of that book. I normally put up the hide which is usually infront of a hedge, big wood pile or once was round one of three big trees in the middle of the field. My friend puts out the decoys which I'm sure are in a horseshoe pattern facing into the wind. I did notice when I put the bag back into the car on Tuesday that some of the decoys are shell ones which look rather bright and scary (compared to the more mellow looking whole ones). I wondered if these might have anything to do with it. One day we turned the magnet off for a while but it didn't make any difference. We are arriving, spotting a couple of pigeons land and then setting up so that sounds like the first mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 as previously mentioned - watch the field for flightlines and make sure the pigeons are feeding on that field. my personal preference on book to read... The pigeon shooter By John Batley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 This months Sporting Shooter had a nice little article in it which seemed to sum up the basics in a couple of pages. Worth a gander in your local newsagent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 (edited) Best to turn up the day before if possible sit in the area with some binoculars and just observe the flightlines to any fields you have permission on- then when you come to shoot you can set up your hide against a hedge preferably right under the flight line good luck I do this and have had some good days Les :blink: Edited September 4, 2009 by Lez325 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 There is a lot of choice of feeding grounds around at the moment and unless you can find a favoured field, the birds are keeping on the move. Its probably nothing to do with your hide setup, or decoy layout, its just the way it is. Not everyone is lucky enough to get 100 birds days at this time of year, a lot of pigeon shooters are experiencing just what you are. Keep observing the fields and perhaps have a few "Plan B" locations in mind, if the first stop doesn't work out. I am sometimes moving 3-4 times in a days shooting at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pidge Posted September 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Thank you for all your thoughts. I've ordered a couple of books and I'll go and find that magazine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robalex Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Some good advice given here Pidge and to save a small fortune on the purchase of books, take the list of titles above, to your local library and request them. Even if the books are not in stock they will source them for you at a small cost. This will help you choose the books you need to buy All the best Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 You'll notice in the reports where people have got _big_ bags (which to me is anything over 20) they always seem to spend a good amount of time at the start of the day watching the pigeons to try to spot flight lines, then set up close to these. It's taken me six months out on one area to get to the point of sussing out the best place to set up and guarantee _some_ birds coming past. Nial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 I will spend anywhere from 1/2 an hour to an hour before I will set up, I like to make sure I am under the line and me and dad have been picking up some great bags. The Sporting gun magazine had a good few pages about where to set up the magnet etc so it might pay you to have a look out for that too It could be that your decoys might need painting because they do go shiny at times once they get worn and then the pigeons dont like them. Also once you have set you hide and decoys up walk out into the pattern and look at the hide and make sure it blends in. I have found at times that turning the magnet off still does not help until I pack it away and then the birds will start to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Hi, Pidge, All the previous is good info. Don't despair. To a degree, I've got the same problem and I've been at it for 50 years! Are you sure we don't have the same problem? Farmers all cutting at once where I am, there's simply too much food available so any disturbence will send them elsewhere. Unless you find a field that they really, really want, you may have to wait until the ploughing starts - hopefully, not on your land first! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 6, 2009 Report Share Posted September 6, 2009 I'm with cranfeild on this one-if they simply are'nt returning then how can you be doing anything wrong?.There is so much food about at the moment that few feilds will hold their attention once they are put off.Do you know where the nearest roost is?-if you can get under it you might be in for a better time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliespaniel Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 i pretty much agree with what is being said archie coates the master always said look for birds in the air not on the ground have you thought about joining a pest control club then you will have loads more land and sky to look at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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