Pigeon decoys

75

Well-Known Member
Maybe a one for @Tim.243 but sure there are a few other regular pigeon botherers on here…

Long story short, recently moved, starting to build relationships in the village and already offer to shoot pigeons on neighbours farm. Happy days and not needing to be asked twice, as soon as time allowed I was off out on some recently drilled barley.

It’s probably 15 years since I last decoyed pigeons and boy it showed! I used to do so regularly and with decent success. Still, managed just over 40 for less than 100 cartridges in a few hours today but should have been more.

I digress. What’s the go-to decoys these days? Very slow going until I got a few dead birds in the pattern and on the whirly. I’ve got a bunch of cheap, shiny half-shell decoys and a dozen or so of those wind-sock things. I guess times have moved on?!

Wind to my back, basic U shape pattern, whirly on one side, flapper in the pattern somewhere and a bouncer well out. even with plenty of dead birds in the pattern they still seemed reluctant to properly commit at times. Help me remeber what I’m doing - it’s been a while 😁😁
 
Maybe a one for @Tim.243 but sure there are a few other regular pigeon botherers on here…

Long story short, recently moved, starting to build relationships in the village and already offer to shoot pigeons on neighbours farm. Happy days and not needing to be asked twice, as soon as time allowed I was off out on some recently drilled barley.

It’s probably 15 years since I last decoyed pigeons and boy it showed! I used to do so regularly and with decent success. Still, managed just over 40 for less than 100 cartridges in a few hours today but should have been more.

I digress. What’s the go-to decoys these days? Very slow going until I got a few dead birds in the pattern and on the whirly. I’ve got a bunch of cheap, shiny half-shell decoys and a dozen or so of those wind-sock things. I guess times have moved on?!

Wind to my back, basic U shape pattern, whirly on one side, flapper in the pattern somewhere and a bouncer well out. even with plenty of dead birds in the pattern they still seemed reluctant to properly commit at times. Help me remeber what I’m doing - it’s been a while 😁😁
Enforcer decoys....chuck the decoys out and turn them up where they land as what happens " WE" set them out in straight lines :rolleyes: Never use a U pattern my self.
A pack of BBQ sticks under the chin of the dead birds, 10-1 the flapper is to slow as most are...
depth of pattern is what your killing range but have the kill zone to far and a pigeon can tip awing in the wind and gone in a second so no hope of a pair..
Couple of clips of how I do it but not set in stone, also I make my kit to suit me..
They are max 30 yds from the hide with most shot at 25. hope that helps


 
  • Like
Reactions: 75
Thanks for that. Much tighter than I had my decoys. Definitely have a play around next time. And looks like Enforcer decoys all sold out everywhere I can find! Prob stuck on a container in the docks like most other stuff 🙄🙄
 
Thanks for that. Much tighter than I had my decoys. Definitely have a play around next time. And looks like Enforcer decoys all sold out everywhere I can find! Prob stuck on a container in the docks like most other stuff 🙄🙄
Food is the key, the top end drills get it in v well, when the farmers get behind then it goes in in a rough with any wet bits or it is to damp to roll, around the turns like trees, pylons and the over laps will get a bit extra.
as you know small pellets open chokes, bigger pellets tighter choke.
some times the previous crop will get turned back on top so a previous bean crop drilled with winter wheat could have the beans turned back up on top.
I have no rape local this year, but know the drill programme for the beans peas and spring drill which will be spring barley. Direct drill on old stubble is worth a look as with the rape that has gone in well in knee high so they won't give it any attention only on any poor bits. not seen and acorns so when they find something it will get bashed up for sure.
 
Last edited:
Chris green decoys well worth a look! Not cheap but for movement and realistic look i
Haven’t found any better .I looked at enforcers but didn’t like the fact they don’t move!!
 
Enforcers aren't going to be available until the new year at earliest I understand. I'll pick up some flocked ones in the meantime. Chris Green ones look ok but at twelve quid a pop...!
 
My mate is an avid pigeon shooter, he does well. He also shoots crows... a lot!

Slight aside to the OP (apologies) but he makes and uses these crow decoys from a wire coat hanger, a black bin bag and some black duct tape. One coat hanger for fence sitters and two crossed at 90 degrees for ground sitters. They don’t half work well and cost next to nothing...
 

Attachments

  • 970AFEDB-687E-4ED6-A69B-3FF7B8AAAF03.webp
    970AFEDB-687E-4ED6-A69B-3FF7B8AAAF03.webp
    553.8 KB · Views: 47
  • 2E9436B8-D3CB-4A81-9435-D2C4BB2E48B5.webp
    2E9436B8-D3CB-4A81-9435-D2C4BB2E48B5.webp
    349.5 KB · Views: 47
I make my own from dead birds. However Silsocs are very good. Critical point is the decoy needs movement. Silsocs are good. My own have a banding tape wire mount which allows rocking movement.
D
 
FUDS I always find work great for me, for pigeons and crows. Just replace with the real thing as you shoot 👍
Having tried just about every option on the market another vote for Fuds, next to dead birds on cradles they are the best and they fold down for storage also don’t shine in bright sunshine
 
I make my own from dead birds. However Silsocs are very good. Critical point is the decoy needs movement. Silsocs are good. My own have a banding tape wire mount which allows rocking movement.
I ordered some Slip Over Jackets for some old decoys I have and a couple of SilloSocks that they had lowered the price on. I think I can get hold of some Enforcer shells. Are they any good or are flocked shells better?
 
When decoying ideally I want pigeon coming in right to left as I am a R shoulder shooter. Kill zone is about 25 to 30yds at about 10 o clock. Pattern is ever changing and remember incoming pigeon like to land infront of thoose on the ground. I used tuo be fanatical but now odd session. Only one this year over un cut barley so trying to drop birds on flat. Bugger all wind but picked up 90 for 200 cartridges. First time I had used shot gun in over a year. Clear pigeon 6s improved and 1/4 choke in my AYA Yeomen.
D
 
Hello, Once you get sorted on Pigeon Decoying i always put a few crows out side the Pattern
Why do you add the crows as you are decoying pigeons?
Some answers I have seen are "add confidence" Pigeons feed/live in a different way to Corvids also they will eat young birds
let alone feed in the same decoying spot.
Load up the pattern with what you have shot is how we go about it, tidy up the long shot birds other wise the ones coming in will land behind them.
Biggest mistake is being in the wrong place or keep going out fiddling with the pattern as you are in the wrong place..

If birds are flying past then you need to be where they are going so move or watch them go past which is something I have learnt the hard way.
 
Why do you add the crows as you are decoying pigeons?
Some answers I have seen are "add confidence" Pigeons feed/live in a different way to Corvids also they will eat young birds
let alone feed in the same decoying spot.
Load up the pattern with what you have shot is how we go about it, tidy up the long shot birds other wise the ones coming in will land behind them.
Biggest mistake is being in the wrong place or keep going out fiddling with the pattern as you are in the wrong place..

If birds are flying past then you need to be where they are going so move or watch them go past which is something I have learnt the hard way.
Hello, Quite often when shooting over laid Barley crows will be around feeding so i put a few deeks out but not in the pigeon pattern,
 
Back
Top