A Bit Too Windy For Pigeons!

[chrismdd 787]

We had a planned a days shooting up at my place for Tim and his mate Dave to come up from Devon. As it takes a bit of organising so we are all free of work and kids we don't like to cancel so when we realised that Monday would be very blustery and with the the possibly of heavy showers we decided to have a go anyway.

On the Sunday Tim gave me a call and was fuming after he joined a local gunclub in Devon and took along his HW100. Whilst there another member mentioned to him that his barrel was slightly loose and that he would fix it for him. Tim also mentioned that the gun had just acquired a slight leak near the filling port so the guy said he'd look at that as well. The guy fiddled with the gun whilst Tim talked to another member when suddenly there was an almighty bang. The guy working on the gun had undone a bolt on the cylinder instantly releasing 190 bar of air!. Everyone started looking for the missing bolt until someone realised that the bolt and allen key had punched a hole clean through the corrugated barn roof above their heads!!

So I was going to lend him my old mans HW97k for the following day, but he arrived the next morning with another gun, an S410 carbine in .22 with hunter green stock he bought the day before (you can never have enough guns). This S410 is so light and for a .22 and was a pleasure to shoot apart from the annoying safety catch on this AT model. Dave now completed the trio with his S410 classic in .177 like mine.

Barley fields were being worked on and the wheat yet to be cut so we went to the old pea field and were greeted by a dozen or so pigeons feeding on new shoots on the stubble. With the possibility of heavy showers I took along my fishing shelter which would house all three of us. This we covered in various camo nets before putting out the fuds.









The hide worked a treat and in combination with the fuds we had pigeons coming straight in from the start and feeding confidently once on the ground. The only occasion that they veered away was after a shower and we hadn't wiped the glistening droplets from the gun barrels. But we remained dry all day.

The only downside was the strong blustery wind that meant that shot placement was a massive issue. Between us we must of gone through a ten magazines. Going for headshots we were having to give upto 2 mildots for windage so we would either have a kill or a clean miss. Birds that landed on the wires were a real challenge as they themselves struggled to stay upright so after a while we decided to only go for those nearer and on the ground.

We should have easily of had at least thirty pigeons and without the wind would could of gone for the longer shots and maybe of had forty or more. As it turned out we had thirteen plus a few extras that dropped into cover behind us.



As the evening drew in we started seeing a load of rabbits coming out around the field and every time we thought about going after them a few more pigeons would arrive so we eventually decided to stop at eight and give the rabbits a go for an hour before darkness. At eight we really noticed an autumnal feel as the temperature dropped. We split up into three parts of the field in ambush mode. The light was rapidly fading and between us we only managed three full grown rabbits in that last hour.

So packed up the decoying gear and home to prep the rabbits and pigeons before Tim and Dave headed home to Devon.

A very enjoyable and challenging day with lots of action and great banter throughout. Next time we hope that the numbers shot will be greater on a less windy day.

Chris.

[The one 8,459]

Nice going mate and thats what this site should be about

[Rez 4,957]

Second that man, proper nice post this. Good images too.

[David.evans 5,323]

Great write up and a excellent hide , just please confirm my eyes are not wrong that looks the dogs of a hide ! Have you got a bivvie under the cam rap

Cause if you have that a great idea and it must work well , confirmed by the photos

Atb Dave

[David.evans 5,323]

Sorry Chris

Miss read the post , great idea tho !

Dave

[chrismdd 787]

Cheers guys.

 

Yes its a Diawa Mission Shelter that I've had for a number of years for specimen fishing the occassional overnighter. Worked so well that pigeons at times landed within ten yards of us and confidently started feeding. With the hedge behind and a full camo net over the top you could not see us inside at all.

 

Just about to settle down to a pasta, bacon and pigeon breast tea.

 

Chris

[TimS 49]

Great shooting and great write-up buddy. Especially in this weeks wind!

Gotta be honest - I chickened out this week! lol

 

Tim

[silentshot1 206]

Great going in the wind!

 

Had exactly the same thing on Monday with the wind etc. Walked away with 8, 4 lost to the thick brush behind me and a further to many to think, missed due to windage! A great day though, you can't beat decoying when it works!

[j j m 6,533]

top read and good shooting bud

[Longers7 720]

Love that idea of using your overnight brolly as a hide, think I'll give that a go. Looks the nuts

[Daz87 76]

Great shooting mate & awesome hide!