Pigeon Shooting Novice

[willowbank]

Into my game and clay shooting but fancy doing a bit more on pigeons, I have a large permission on a mates farm and roost shoot regularly but have no idea about hides/decoys etc! What do I need as a basic set up and any pointers would be helpful! Cheers

Not read the whole thread but see if you can find a copy of a pigeon shooting book by Archie Coates who is acknowledged to be the absolute expert, going back a few years but full of sound practical tips.
The book is collectable but you might pick up a copy on eBay,

Willowbank

 

[Nickb]

Always worth getting a few crow shells to add to the pattern as an ok pigeon day can be a very good crow day.

View attachment 401198View attachment 401197

Exactly, I always do this. Rather shoot corvids than pigeons

 

[Nickb]

Not read the whole thread but see if you can find a copy of a pigeon shooting book by Archie Coates who is acknowledged to be the absolute expert, going back a few years but full of sound practical tips.
The book is collectable but you might pick up a copy on eBay,

Willowbank

Times have changed a lot since that book was written.

 

[Nickb]

Times have changed a lot since that book was written.

 

[willowbank]

Times have changed a lot since that book was written.

Reading some of your posts I think we can disregard your comments, pigeon are pigeon they have not changed nor has the field craft,
without any exaggeration I’ve shot thousands of woodies in my 50 plus years, i do believe I know what’s what

WB

 

[Nickb]

without any exaggeration I’ve shot thousands of woodies in my 50 plus years, i do believe I know what’s what

WB

Haven't we all old bean but times change.
When Archie was shooting them there was a lot less pressure and bags were much easier gained..

 

[Tim.243]

I've never took swipes at your family.
Anyway some people have a sense of humour some don't.
Some can accept the truth others can't.

Just have the craic and don't be woke

I never said you did so don't worry However I see you cherry picked this part.
However when you were dishing out comments about women in general which got you a ban

Then take a bit of your own advice when dishing it out.

 

[Tazz]

The number one thing you need to build a decent bag: it is not a great pattern, it is not a great hide, it is not to shoot like Digweed… it is to be where the pigeons are feeding. Observation is key.

Exactly, 6 hours in the wrong place is trumped by a couple of hours in the right place

 

[Tazz]

I read Archie Coats’s book on pigeon shooting many years ago and it will have some relevance still, however so would stalking books from the same era. That said the world moves on and there are better books around now featuring kit that was never available in those days, fieldcraft never dates but kit and the use of it does in both stalking and pigeon shooting

 

[Nickb]

I never said you did so don't worry .

Why mention it then Timmy

 

[Tim.243]

Why mention it then Timmy

Why are you swerving the other part you made about women that got you your ban.

 

[Nickb]

Why are you swerving

Keep on taking your medication old man.

Off out stalking now , catch you later sweetheart

 

[Tim.243]

Keep on taking your medication old man.

Off out stalking now , catch you later sweetheart

As you said, you can dish it out but can't take it...put your big boys pants on as it is cold out there.

 

[Tim.243]

As you said, you can dish it out but can't take it...put your big boys pants on as it is cold out there.

Found the post you made no meds required.

 

[Cyres]

I think there are more pigeon now than there have ever been. Now an extremely common garden bird esp in my small garden. Urban populations have exploded and now breed all year. In fact saw a pair in coitus on New Year's day!
If you have ground close to towns then super abundance. When I was shooting seriously in the 80s then a 100 bird day was a red letter day. Now common place event.
I used to be able to sell all mine and it paid for cartridges and petrol. Now I have no outlet and with the cost of cartridges it just enough to keep me and a few friends on pigeon breasts.
D

 

[Tim.243]

I think there are more pigeon now than there have ever been. Now an extremely common garden bird esp in my small garden. Urban populations have exploded and now breed all year. In fact saw a pair in coitus on New Year's day!
If you have ground close to towns then super abundance. When I was shooting seriously in the 80s then a 100 bird day was a red letter day. Now common place event.
I used to be able to sell all mine and it paid for cartridges and petrol. Now I have no outlet and with the cost of cartridges it just enough to keep me and a few friends on pigeon breasts.
D

The Southend "Flight Line" is birds that live in town/gardens will make a move to feed on the surrounding fields of their choice of what is available through the year. So they often fly direct to the field and if you get it right then they just keep coming (winter it could be bigger groups)
Pigeon Controller from S Birmingham has lots of small farms on the outskirts of BH and has that same type of thing.

 

[Cyres]

Exactly the situation I have. First arable fields next to an urban area. Often huge nos will hit one or two fields of stubble or laid corn.
D

 

[25 Sharps]

No better decoy than frozen dead birds. Leave them enough room to land in pattern. I've not been decoying for years but used to have success with flapper more than a magnet, but anything that puts movement in pattern will help. Also I had one that mounted dead bird and you could clip wings up as though just landing, tail spread. Keep still until last minute, don't be in & out hide too much.

The latter is called a floater…..

 

[BenBhoy]

The latter is called a floater…..

It was a bit different to a floater tho mate, think it was called an angel or something??
Like this one

 

[25 Sharps]

I've never took swipes at your family.
Anyway some people have a sense of humour some don't.
Some can accept the truth others can't.

Just have the craic and don't be woke

He’s referring to me as I made a dig about him living with his mother, having no clue his mother was deceased, obviously had I known I’d never have said it.

I apologised but he doesn’t seem able to move on….