Pigeon Kill Zones

[Craig Fosse 286]

Has anyone else had problem with pigeon flying off and dying after 50 or so yards with a shot straight into the chest/heart shot, I am someone whith the utmost respect for my quarry, and although pigeon have flown off before in sure this is down to my .177 not quite penetrating the chest

 

Unfortunately I find when pigeon shooting that the head just moves around to much, after yesturday I won't be chest shooting again from a full frontal pigeon, I just can't guarantee a clean kill!

 

There are many places I have read before about kill zones in pigeons and unfortunately a head shot is not always an option, I shot a pigeon yesturday straight in the upper chest where the heart is from 15 yards and it flew off and fell out the sky 100 yards off my permission,

 

Now then guys where is the best place to shoot when a pigeon is staring straight at you?, the head is completely side on which takes the kills zone down to barely 5p and I am human and although everyone says so to me the bigger target the better, although I can hit a 5p piece every time on paper targets, lets be realistic with the hunting positions we get ourselves into I like a bit more fudged actor. You may say that I should know this before however I have just started decoying and pigeons being on the same level as me rather than an incline, is something I haven't really done before and should have thought about before but didn't.

 

I am told te base of the neck but that is quite close to the crop which definantly will result in a wounded bird.

 

Side on it is said to be just in front of the wing rib though I have never used this, normally I use the head, although I have seen it done on Zini and Davys videos, the question is how big is the kill zone of that area?

 

I have read some people favour the white spot on the neck, now that's a good target, but is that not to close to the crop also?

 

A bird facing away is easy, in between the shoulder blades, dead no fuss.

 

What I am hoping for is a dead bird straight away, with little flapping, especially decoying as all the white feathers do no good for them.

 

Be good to hear your suggestions guys.

[Millet 4,497]

If i have a pigeon facing me the only shot i will take is a head shot if you miss it will fly of unharmed..i will never ever go for a front chest shot..i used to as a kid and too many flew away injured..

Side on is my prefared shot around the wing joint area it gives you 2 option's to drop them..one with a smashed wing the other with a organ shot..

[AR177 588]

Best thing to do is take the head/ neck shot and risk missing or wait for them to turn slightly and go in under the shoulder

 

Front on chest shots are difficult as pigeons are all meat up front and there organs are set a little lower than you would expect, need to try and visualise where the heart and lungs are sitting almost like having X-ray vision, there are a few good pics on google images of where they are situated because of you just aim centre of chest more than likely you will miss the vitals and just wound the bird.

 

Might have to be patient and wait for a shot to present itself, horrible I know when you have them in the crosshairs but its worth the wait

 

ATB

 

Adam

[Guest scramble]

Head shot. a hit will drop it, a miss will miss lol. dont aim for the neck its a smaller target than the head.

[DanAdams 10]

I was told that front chest shots will injure the pigeon because the pellet will hit the breast plate and not an organ. (not sure if it's right) likes been said i would want to go for a head shot but if you cant i'd wait until the bird moves slightly. ATB Dan

[Craig Fosse 286]

Cheers guys, anyone heard of the white spot on the neck being a target?

 

Guess I will stick with a head shot as much as I can, or the wing root, sounds good lads thanks

[Craig Fosse 286]

I have tried dissecting a pigeon put when it's lying in its back chest one out its not how a bird stands or sits so the heart locations is different,

 

Google images has to many different pictures

[j j m 6,555]

head or neck shot for me every time

[PIL 7]

A head shot every time for me

A twich of the head or a gust of wind then a miss , I'd rather miss than injure a live target

Steve

[bushing lad 114]

if you hit a pigeon in the chest with an air rifle its dead in my experience

[woodcote1 88]

A neck shot with a 22 will drop them cleanly. The white neck ring makes a great target.

[targa 5]

Has anyone else had problem with pigeon flying off and dying after 50 or so yards with a shot straight into the chest/heart shot, I am someone whith the utmost respect for my quarry, and although pigeon have flown off before in sure this is down to my .177 not quite penetrating the chest

 

Unfortunately I find when pigeon shooting that the head just moves around to much, after yesturday I won't be chest shooting again from a full frontal pigeon, I just can't guarantee a clean kill!

 

There are many places I have read before about kill zones in pigeons and unfortunately a head shot is not always an option, I shot a pigeon yesturday straight in the upper chest where the heart is from 15 yards and it flew off and fell out the sky 100 yards off my permission,

 

Now then guys where is the best place to shoot when a pigeon is staring straight at you?...

 

I am told te base of the neck but that is quite close to the crop which definantly will result in a wounded bird.....

 

 

 

From top of the skull to the crop is almost 3and a half inch of vertical kill zone, so where is the problem...

If you want to have a dead bird straight away you have to wait till the bird turn around so you can hit it in the back above de wing-base, it just fall over without a flap.

[Craig Fosse 286]

Cheers for the input guys, much appreciated

[ghillies 209]

as you veiw a woody face on, theres a big fat chest looking at you, head just above sort of thing, if you hit that 'fat bit' its full of grit and feed, like a stone padded cusion, a lot of fly offs are because they hit a full one. aim just below it should drop it.

 

from the side on, well..any where in the meat are you wanted to eat lol..from the back see the 'spine' best area is dead center the shoulder where the neck meets..they crack n roll over.

 

pull one apart one day, come summer time a lot of woodies burst open the crops that full of whatever theyre eating. once you know where it is you'll know.

[stroller 341]

well done for asking the question