Pigeon roost shooting

[potshotpat]

Anybody out roost shooting today? Here in Lancashire very few about, very little breeze.Even though we had shooters in most coverts. Numbers would be good but when there not I think these sort of days are good for steadying up the Spaniels.

 

[JTO]

What is the situation with the general license conditions?

 

[Tedward]

Prevention of damage to crops.
If I’m eating the pigeon it’s not going to eat next seasons crop.

 

[Apthorpe]

Pigeons destroy a lot of winter crops too, it's not just summer grains.

 

[Rogerp]

5 of us went out this afternoon. & came away with 23, not that many about

 

[potshotpat]

What is the situation with the general license conditions?

The way I shot today I've only got a provisional.

 

[JTO]

Most people start too early. On the first Saturday in February, 4.00 pm for the first shot and 15 minutes later each week.

 

[Tim.243]

Most people start too early. On the first Saturday in February, 4.00 pm for the first shot and 15 minutes later each week.

Also a gale of wind

 

[potshotpat]

Any reports from other UK counties on week two of the pigeon roost shooting. Out today in Lancashire on the drive out, pulled over just out of town and took photos of 15 Fallow deer on a field that their barrier to move west is the M6. Got into my wood about 2-15 pm both my dogs as keen as keen as Spaniels can be. Not much going on so it became a nature watch afternoon. Squirrels, woodpeckers,buzzards,jays,pheasants,partridge,teal,mallard, pinks by the thousands. Then two Roe does walked right past me and never sussed me. But the highlight for me was a Stoat in full Ermine. Beautiful. Oh and I also shot the one and only unluckiest pigeon in Lancashire. I offered to take my wife to come with me today I said I'd bring a seat for her to be comfortable, she declined but with a tear in her eye she said you go on and enjoy yourself on our 45th wedding anniversary . I'm wrapping the pigeon up in fancy paper as a present . Game changer. So anyone had any luck on the pigeons.

 

[Smellydog]

Congratulations and wow, sounds like a beautiful afternoon.
Not done any roost shooting. Too dam busy chasing fallow and fox!

 

[Beretta V]

I was going to go but no wind and I couldn’t hear many people about so done some decorating

 

[Callumc]

Had a good night in North yorkshire yesterday, ended up with 25, shot kike ahit so could have had a lot more. Plenty about.

 

[Class870]

Nothing about here this afternoon. 4-5 of us in the local woods, no joy for anyone

 

[Liveonce]

Not roost shooting yet, but finally seeing large numbers on the rape, in SE Kent, but have never found it easy to shoot them at this time of year on rape, have a roost shoot organised for next weekend.

 

[Smellydog]

Just got in from doing crows coming to roost. Only got a few and a squirrel but what a lovely evening

 

[3red dogs]

Tedward
It isn’t within the new regs to shoot a pigeon because you want to eat it.
Read the rules before you chat.

 

[Liveonce]

Tedward
It isn’t within the new regs to shoot a pigeon because you want to eat it.
Read the rules before you chat.

However if you try a none lethal method first if practical and they return and you shoot them for crop protection then you can then eat them, which is how i read what Tedward had written.

 

[3red dogs]

Agreed if you accept that eating them is a by product and not a first reason to shoot them.
Please be aware that the rules are pants ,and we eat pigeon for breakfast every Sunday.

 

[Brittany boy]

Normally good numbers here but very few and far between this year, wonder if bird flu has taken its toll

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Not many around East yorkshire, they sit on the rape untill really late at the mo.

They also come over in large packs rather than the steady stream so they soon wise up.

Every pigeon I've opened so far out the 10 or so 9 have been rammed full of rape and the other a bit of wheat which I can only guess is from a spillage or a feeder