doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Pigeon shooting/hunting?

I am curious has to how this is commonly done? I observed a large flock yesterday and could'nt help but think that being among them with a my shotgun would be fun. They are not a game bird or protected here so no season or limit! They did look like they would disperse rabidly so I thought perhaps decoys are used? Thank you.

Kurt

Some of our Brit friends & members should be able to help you by sharing their prefered methods and hides and a source for some shell decoys commonly used for decoying wood pigeons. I am not aware of anyone selling them here, tho their may well be sources I am not aware of.

In South America, decoys are also used tho they are a bit different, often simply stuck on a pole in expected areas of flight and any and all birds taken are utilized immediately by placement either on another pole or in the crotch of a branch or simply placed on the ground to further enhance the 'spread'.

On thing about shooting pigeons in the field is to learn to disregard everything your brain is telling you about the birds' speed and the requisite amount of lead. Rather, take that data and double it. You will then get results.

I find them most fun when released from a spring loaded box.
bill

Box bird shooting is BIG sport in PA, just ask around. It is generally kept rather quiet as the "hug-a-bunnies" go bonkers. Some erstwhile shooters do likewise. Ask quietly and you will find a ring or rings there in PA. Best, Dr. BILL ps Strausstown Gun Club might be helpful.

If you have the opportunity to observe them for a while you should be able to figure out where they preffer to roost. Figure out when and where they go to feed/water and put yourself in the path at the right time.

We usually see them coming out to feed about the time we quit duck/goose hunting the farm fields, say 8am?

YMMV!

BTW, they are tasty breasted out and grilled, think big dove.

Mark

Thanks for the replies! I saw easily 100 birds in some cut corn & hay fields around 11:00 am. They were chased from the field by a tractor collecting round bales. I noticed them later roosting on power lines. It is winter here; snow and in the 30 degree range. I am guessing they would prefer better protected roosts than power lines so I have to do more reconnaissance. Feb. 15th ends the hunting season for game species here so I thought pigeons would help pass the time.

Boxed birds could be fun, but I don't think I'm intersted. Thanks!

Kurt

You will find the answers to every question on http://www.pigeon watch uk then go to forums and find your answers or ask your questions.

My pigeon "box" is a barn and my neighbors are delighted when I shoot as they are pests in a horse barn. My technique is to stand outside in the shade of a juniper and throw a rock on the tin roof of the barn, The pigeons come out circling and I get my shots. They often come back after about fifteen minutes and I get a second shot if they don't see me. It is great fun and not considered murder. The trouble with organized pigeon shoots is that the bleeding hearts have an event they can point out as heartless and since I hunt by stealth there is no public notice. David

In most states pigeons are not considered game animals and are the shooting is totally unregulated. You can bait them, make decoys of folded cardboard with a little grey and white paint. Make yourself a flapper or two with glossy white wings to flutter to attract their attention if flying nearby. And have a few wire frames from hangers that you can use to prop up the first birds shot as additional decoys. Most dairy farmers would be glad to have a responsible type shooter work over their pigeons out away from the cattle. Just don't over educate a particular flock by shooting it up too frequently. If they are decoying in 7 1/2 shot works okay but if you want to pass shoot some taller shots go to 6s.

Dig posted a report of a days pigeon shooting just a while back.

I posted this on another forum in the Summer. I used to shoot woodpigeon in fair numbers, but a couple of house moves have taken me out of the big arable areas with lots of oil seed rape...that's what you need to get amongst them. My average bag was about 40, the biggest ever 198 over drilled peas.

"Salopian" was to have joined me on this day...as you see he didn't miss a great deal!

"I went out yesterday to see if I could decoy a few woodies over rape stubble; it was stinking hot so I wasn't expecting too much; woodpigeon tend not to feed when it's so warm. (97 deg. F. crazy for UK).

"The European woodpigeon, Columba Palumbas is a handsome strong flying bird, a great sporting quarry, and excellent eating. It doesn't cost Jack Diddley to shoot him, it's free for the asking.....and in truth he has no close season. What more could you want? Here's our hero ....


I set up in the shade of an oak, not a normal tactic, but I couldn't face sitting in the sun for a couple of hours. Normally I put the hide up at least 35 yards from any trees.


This is the SOP Eug hide; there's a dry ditch I can stand in and the deep "V" gives a clear view of the killing ground over the decoys.


I used a rotary decoy machine that mounts two dead birds and whirls them in a circle about 7 foot radius. It's a home made effort utilising a windscreen wiper motor and a 7 Amp/ Hr. motor bike battery.


My other deeks are fibreglass shells set up on a bit of wire; they wobble in a breeze (which there wasn't)!


As soon as I kill a few birds I replace the artificials with dead birds propped up on the stubble stalks.


Here's a snap of one dropping into the pattern...
He's right in the middle of the snap, just to the left of the decoy machine.


...and another who wasn't as confident as his chum. Most of them were a bit chary and didn't commit, giving shots at 35 yards ish. He's just over the trees in the far barley field.


I finished up with 17, which given the circumstances was good enough. I drove home listening to some favourite opera tapes, and had a couple of glasses of cold cider on the shady patio with The Management....a lovely way to end a super day.

Shamefully... my gun was the Beretta auto, full choke, English Express shells 1 1/16 teenth oz Brit No 6. I prefer an auto in a hide."

Regards, Eug

PS I find the pigeonwatch forum a shade juvenile; well lets be honest, bloody puerile! I note Petes' link is a duffer; if you really want to go there just google pigeonwatch.