At last..

[JackReid 35]

Good day all!

 

So the last few times I have posted it has been regarding these crafty woodies and their ability to sense danger hundreds of meters before you get to them, with the only approaches to getting them being static hunting in a hide and waiting for them to land, or to catch them of guard (the less likely of the two).

 

From lots of my previous posts you may of sen my problem in that, yes I had got a nice hide overlooing a nice position, but t really wasnt a busy enough flight line or stop off point for the pigeons, meaning I could sit there 2 hours and not have one land. All in the meantime seeing hundreds of the pigeons occupying some large trees 500 meters away, regularly heading off in an exodus to feed on a field then returning. Theese tree's however I could npt seem to get myself a firing position onto. Not many matural areas to enhance, not many hedgelines to get into within comfortable killing range. So I have been putting off digging a hide into the ground, then making the rest of the hide. This was something I was waiting for ym maate to come give me a hand with. However yesterday after going for a shoot, sitting in the same position under the tree and not really getting anywhere, headed over to the larger trees in the distance, to go have a think about it ( I chose a moment when all the woodies had flown off for a feed).

 

It then occured to me that the hedgeline I once used to take out alot of rabbits was indeed facing onto these tree's, however the range was a bit to far for my optimum shooting, and I didnt fancy 'chancing' 50 metre shots all day long, but I had noticed earlier that with the huge overflow of pigeons sometimes there, they began to occupy the closer tree's...At about 30 metres which I was nailing n practice. So I lay in the hedge and took the first photo of the trees you will see here.

 

Again, this is whilst the woodies were absent, as I would not be able to approach and get into the hidewhile they were there as they would fly.

[JackReid 35]

Then lying in the hedge the pigeons began to ocme back, only a few of them however, they circled the area to check it was all safe (this still suprises me, an animal that really doesnt have many natural predators scouring the floor for danger around a huge tree they sit on the top of!?).

 

So, they start landing in the 45+ larger tree, this is good news, just wait for the rest to come, keep my face down and let them relax..

[farmboy99 1]

its strange i remember someone setting up a sort of competition where they gave different prey different points depends on how hard they are to kill. and woodies were highest. ive always found i can get a woody so much easier than a crow. the crow notice the slightest movement 100s of yards away theyre a nightmere to get but i seem to be able to sneak up on woodies a lot more successfully. that pic does look very open though there is no real way of sneaking up there. have you tried setting up a little hide along the hedge line the trees are on? might be worth a go?

[JackReid 35]

Then things turned even better. Another group landed in the further tree's....then some corvids landed in throwing their weight about, making about 10 woodies bail out the tree (Whats so special about this tree?!), however there was still lots there.

 

Then, if you look to my first picture, within the picture there are 5 tree's. closest about 30 metres, maybe 35... furthest 50+.

A pigeon landed in tree 1 at around 30 metres... I kept my face down as I was desperate to make this kill, I've been figuring these pigeons out for a while now and this was make or break. He turned his back to me and dropped his head down a little bit, a headshot was possible, but he had broadened his back and was asking for a between the wings heart shot, so giving a little bit of hold over, about an inch on target to account for the 35 metre shot (opposed to my 25 metre zero, but also not giving it to much as I was shooting quite a steep climb, let the RWS superfield fly and crack, the bird fell.

 

All the other birds took off when this happened, something I hoped wouldnt happen as it would be nice to have a follow up shot. An observation that suggests to me I will use the position intermitently throughout the day, popping back in breaks when they goto feed.

I thought am sitting tight and waiting for themto come back, but I wanted to go collect my kill which had hit the ground like a sack of spuds.

I took this next photo while getting out the hedge to give you an idea of where i was, then the next picture is a sheep thats died (killed by a big cat??

[JackReid 35]

The bird in situ..

[JackReid 35]

I rolled the fella onto his front and although the shot had landed a bit higher than I expect (maybe 1 cm) it was a good kill, very satisfying and clean.

[JackReid 35]

This is the sheep...

[JackReid 35]

So all in all, it was quality not quantity, and I' happy to finally have cracked the woodies in that big tree and cant wait to get back there.

The funniest thing about this hunt however, is I was supposed to be driving to Birmingham airport for about 6.30pm to pick the parents up, I got back to the car soaking wet after it poured down at around 4.30. Went to start the car and....nothing. Dead battery, I hadnt let the lights on, the autonater had gone, what a time to break down ey? they were already in the air so icouldnt give them the heads up. Managed to get AA pickup, dropped off to my dads mates whos a mechanic where my dads car was waiting after new brakes, So jumped in that, drove to birmingham airport with a gun in the back and in full camo, luckily the counter terrorist secuirty werent about!

 

All the best

Jack

Edited February 28, 2010 by JackReid

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

lol good story, your right, quality not quanitity. the good thing abotu a pcp with a silencer, 50% you can take a second shot. i once missed a woody feeding on ivy as its head just ducked down. it didnt notice the pellet sailing a 1cm above its head. i got in on a second shot. good shooting and a great example of how hunters can get results by thinking about where to set up for static shooting.

[andyz 30]

Very nice read, especially like the fact that you took your time and proved it paid of in the end!

 

Sounds like you've got a plan sorted, keep us informed. Like Aaron said silencer would be a good idea!

 

Happy hunting, Andy

[Countrykid 1]

I thought he had a silencer on?....

But it's be cause the gun is a springer the spring makes the majority of the noise.

[JackReid 35]

Very nice read, especially like the fact that you took your time and proved it paid of in the end!

 

Sounds like you've got a plan sorted, keep us informed. Like Aaron said silencer would be a good idea!

 

Happy hunting, Andy

 

Yeh as you can see I've got a silencer fitted, a really good oe at that, and in terms of springer volume my guns one of the quietest I've heard. A well made springer given a real nice service will be even quieter. I was at a gun shop yesterday getting my mates air tank filled, and I asked if they had a chrono and they did. He went and fired 5 shots off there and there just happened to be a guy there who really new his shit. He said just from the sound of it she was in good condition. Scary thing is though with RWS superdomes I averaged OVER 12/ftlb and that is after 2.5 years of good use!. So will prob make the move to Bisley Magnums or a heavier pellet as its illegal in the laws eyes for now.

 

Anyway with regard to the birds flying off, I think the quietest PCP on the market would have had the same effect, it was the shot flying through the air, hitting with alot of force the bird and its one way ticket to the floor that caused the fly off. If a mate stands 25 yards away from me the gun is barely audible, even more so if your off side to it.

 

All the best

Jack

[ferretville 69]

Patience paid off in the end

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

Very nice read, especially like the fact that you took your time and proved it paid of in the end!

 

Sounds like you've got a plan sorted, keep us informed. Like Aaron said silencer would be a good idea!

 

Happy hunting, Andy

 

Yeh as you can see I've got a silencer fitted, a really good oe at that, and in terms of springer volume my guns one of the quietest I've heard. A well made springer given a real nice service will be even quieter. I was at a gun shop yesterday getting my mates air tank filled, and I asked if they had a chrono and they did. He went and fired 5 shots off there and there just happened to be a guy there who really new his shit. He said just from the sound of it she was in good condition. Scary thing is though with RWS superdomes I averaged OVER 12/ftlb and that is after 2.5 years of good use!. So will prob make the move to Bisley Magnums or a heavier pellet as its illegal in the laws eyes for now.

 

 

Anyway with regard to the birds flying off, I think the quietest PCP on the market would have had the same effect, it was the shot flying through the air, hitting with alot of force the bird and its one way ticket to the floor that caused the fly off. If a mate stands 25 yards away from me the gun is barely audible, even more so if your off side to it.

 

All the best

Jack

yes of course, if your gun made no sound at all the flapping of the woody going down would scare them off. i'm sorry i didnt think of that lol

[pest hunter 151 15]

nice shooting there mate