The South of England
Pigeon Shooters name - Fred and Clive
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 83
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 3 DEC 2002
The Crop type - Rape
The day details - Just out for the first time in months. Decided to look over 2 farms where we shoot, just to see if there were any numbers of pigeons about a good few showed on rape at the first farm but soon cluttered off elsewhere. This area looks very promising this year, however we only shot 8. At the second farm, about 8 miles away as the crow flies, there were masses of pigeons (500+) on the rape as were only out walking we stood in a large copse to see what wold happen. We shot from 1.45 to 3.30, basically roost shooting or at least shooting pigeons as they flew over the trees to the rape field, an excellcent start to the winters shooting – Hope for more to come!
Pigeon Shooters name - Lloyd S & Charlie M
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 2 rabits 1 Pigeon 1 squirell
Gender - male
The gun you used - Air Rifle
Bag Date - 10 / 5 / 02
The Crop type - wood
The day details - A hot but some wind blowing to the east but it werent any problem for the pellets or our great shooting. grass was a little bit wet but we did have some tremendus cover.
Pigeon Shooters name - jethro
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 211
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 11 9 02
The Crop type - pea stubble
The day details - it was a grey morning to start with,by the time we set up at 11.00am the sun was shining with light winds.there was a few coming in at first then a more constant stream for the rest of the day a truely wonderfull day 211 in 6 hours just hope i have another great time over the winter.
Pigeon Shooters name - Shane Munday
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 54
Gender - male
The gun you used - 20 Bore
Bag Date - 24/09/2002
The Crop type - rape
The day details - It started of hot and then the sun went in, we tried with out the whirler first but it was rubbish. Then once we had the whirler up we was shooting every 5 minute, by the end of the day we had 54 in the sack.
Pigeon Shooters name - Dan Eames
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 20
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 21/09/02
The Crop type - Pea
The day details - I had been watching the field for a week and seen 50 to a 100 birds feeding. There isn't much arable farming in the area and the peas had been harvested about two weeks before. Some peas had germinated and were begining to grow through. A gentle breeze and sunshine seemed to make the conditons ideal. I started with my decoys and added my magnet when I had two birds. This proved an irresistable combination to the local pigeon population who kept coming in to take a closer look. It could have been so many more but that's the way it goes. I'm looking forward to next weekend to have another go.
Pigeon Shooters name - kevin stevenas
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 94
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 12-05-02
The Crop type - spring barley
The day details - just one of those days-everything was in our favour-wind, sun, numbers of pigeons in the area,everything.
Pigeon Shooters name - Chris Rasey
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 89
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 11/08/02
The Crop type - Rape Stubble
The day details - The field had been cut the week before and one of my shooting mates had already shot 90 on the Wednesday. I set up at about 10.30 using a homemade whirly and started shooting almost straight away!
My shooting mate joined me about 11.30 and we then had two home made magnets going! Due to the wind direction we had one magnet close in on our right hand side and the other farther out on the left, with real decoys spread out between, this set up channelled the birds to the front of the hide. The weather was pretty hot at times but with some hazy cloud as well. We had some good left and rights and almost a couple of trebles (we both use semi-autos). When picking up at about 4.30 we noticed that we had shot quite a few young birds. Has any one else noticed the amount of young birds about? Incidentally after reading one of the reports on your web page about birds not liking to fly over decoys, I have been shooting for about 20 years know and I have forgotten the amount of times I have shot birds that have flown over my decoys and swung back for a second look! I do think that on the right day the birds will do anything to get into whatever pattern you have out and on other days every single bird will ignore them. That's what makes it one of most challenging and the best shooting sports in my opinion.
Pigeon Shooters name - Perry
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 5
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 18 August
The Crop type - Corn
The day details - Field was being cut as the 3 of us shot! We parked up on one side of the field and shot from behind the car. Me and me mate only hit one each but did not drop either, but my mates dad killed 5. A very slow day, not a lot of birds!
Pigeon Shooters name - Martin
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 114
Gender - male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 17/8/02
The Crop type - Pea stubble
The day details - Peas combined 2 days before and the birds where feeding well. Set up about 10ish with homemade magnet and 6 dead birds on cradles. Sunny day but a nice breeze from behind. Had to go and bag off half the field because birds dropping in everywhere. shooting really started after about 2ish, shot about 50 or 60 in an hour (really hectic !!) packed up about 5 to let some in to feed but i'll be back there later in the week.
Pigeon Shooters name - Zoe
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 31
Gender - female
The gun you used - Other Shotgun
Bag Date - 02/08/02
The Crop type - Harvested Wheat
The day details - I used a 410 Shotgun, likewise with my two other team members. We started at 8 o'clock and finished at 7:30. It was a windy but sunny day with bright, clear skies. We used to separate horseshoe formation sets of 7 decoys, about 5ft between each decoy. We were only shooting from a range of 20 yards but were well cammoflauged. The others had bags of 15 and 27 so I was the best! 31's not bad for a 410!!! (Congrats on being the first female to report ed.)
Pigeon Shooters name -Martin
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot =78
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 20/07/02
The Crop type -Barley Stubble
The day details -Set up about 10am with home made magnet and plastic decoys, birds flared away, took in decoys and just ran magnet. Birds came steady in 2,s & 3,s all day. I shot 78 pigeons for 103 cartridges. A great days sport!!
Pigeon Shooters name -Geoff Coy
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot =30
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 20/07/02
The Crop type -Rape Stubble
The day details -: Interesting web page! Went out this afternoon, the farm where I shoot harvested the winter rape yesterday, Fortunately none of the other farms nearby has yet. Arrived this afternoon with all good intentions of decoying. On arrival there were 200+ birds already in the field although these quickly disappeared after the first shot was fired. Set up the decoys and they seemed to be working well until the sun went in then they showed no interest in the decoys, however they were very interested in buzzing the surrounding oak trees. Mainly 2's and 3's but sometimes bigger groups. Took up position at the edge of the field under a group of tall oaks and waited. Decoys 2 Oak trees 28....
Pigeon Shooters name -Cranfield
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot =23
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 3rd July 2002
The Crop type -Mowed hay field
The day details - Set-up at 8am in steady rain, very grey sky with low cloud. Forecast was for the rain to stop by mid-morning. I shot my first pigeon at around 11am when the rain stopped, but the wind increased. Birds came in small groups, some singles, up to about 2.30 and then it all went quiet. I left the field at 4pm. I used 10 fullbodied flock coated decoys and my rotary decoy device. All the birds shot were adults in prime condition.Pigeon Shooters name -S. Forbes
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England - Isle of Wight!
The total number of pigeons shot =22
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 25/05/02
The Crop type -Peas
The day details - Arrived at field around 9.30am to find hardly a bird in sight which was unusual as they had been hitting the peas in this area of Hampshire very hard! after observing for the rest of the morning i decided to setup and give it a go along a dividing hedgerow, did'nt see a bird for about an hour and then they started turning up in groups of about half a dozen or so with the odd one drifting over! all went quiet once again due to a buzzard which strangely enough decided to hover above my coys hence the pigeons stayed well clear. Finished up around 4pm with 22 pigeon toboot! :-)
Pigeon Shooters name -Rich Lockhart
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England - Isle of Wight!
The total number of pigeons shot = 62 pigeons 3 crows
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 3/04/02
The Crop type -Drilled Peas
The day details - Got to the field in the morning,around a 1000 pigeons there. So set up under a sitty tree started off alright but the day got hotter and they just sat up in the copses. Not a bad mornings shooting for the Isle of Wight!!
Pigeon Shooters name -Allan
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 48
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 6/04/02
The Crop type - Peas
The day details - Three guns in two hides over magnet. Bright day with some clouds with cold wind. Hides made in hedgerow and the wind was blowing from behind. Good sport from 2.00pm to 6.30pm.
Pigeon Shooters name -Cranfield
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 6
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 12th April 2002
The Crop type - Rape
The day details - A bit too bright, but with a keen NE wind. Set up on some stunted rape that was alongside a wood, in the corner of a large field. The rest of the crop was 4ft+ high. I had seen birds feeding on this area on two days earlier in the week, when I was fishing a nearby lake.This morning I shot 3 birds quite quickly and became very optimistic, but I only shot 3 more over the next 3 hours. By noon, there were no pigeons to be seen in the area and I packed up. I believe they are on nearby marshes eating clover, but I have no access permission. The pigeons are in noticeable smaller groups in the last few weeks. Quite a lot of pairs about.
Pigeon Shooters name -Craig Foggo
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 9
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 21st March 2002
The Crop type - Newly drilled peas
The day details - Bright day very little wind, which probably didnt help set up on rape earlier on but after 1 1/2 hours without a shot decided to move on, getting on to the field and moved a few off set up with 10 decoys, very slow but arriving in ones and twos even had the odd crow taking a look
Pigeon Shooters name - Paul Kitchenham
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 2
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 23rd March 2002
The Crop type - Lucern
The day details - Breezy day, bright, birds fed up until 10.30am. Tried the trusty horseshoe pattern tight togeather 5ft between decoys I shot really badly birds in abundance flocks of 500 or more around. Few days ago during the cold spell i missed 2dozen birds or more (I must go for a few lessons as I have a new gun). Heres a good tip for you: Try the decoys with a hacksaw blade in the hole in the bottom they rock in the wind works a treat Rape in this part of the world is long hardly worth the effort of shooting over but beggars cant be choosy, good luck to all.
Pigeon Shooters name - Cranfield
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 14
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 21st March 2002
The Crop type - Rape
The day details - I started at 7.30 am. They were mostly single birds and pairs. The wind died at around 11am and the sun came out and this brought and end to the shooting. The rape is well advanced, but for a short section under some trees. The pigeons have continued to feed here, despite seed drill being available on neighbouring farms. I used a rotary device and a few fullbodied decoys
Pigeon Shooters name - Paul Willis
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 1
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 gauge
Bag Date - 4th February 2002
The Crop type - Rape
The day details - I watched birds for two days, up to 300 to 400 flying from small wood across small field of wheat . I had the day off, the conditions were just right and I had everything set up by 7:00 four hours later I had only seen pigeons far far away only one bird in the whole day, but I still enjoyed it.
Pigeon Shooters name - Jamie Williams
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 25
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 20 gauge
Bag Date - 24/02/02
The Crop type - Just drilled spring barley
The day details -Arrived at dawn, set up hide in a shelter belt in the middle of 140 acres of rape I had a 20 bird decoy pattern. Only one shot despite being on a flight line, they just werent interested. So went on a drive around to find about 150 feeding on rape four fields over. Relocated into a good natural hide. Shot four over the next hour or so. But still no major action. Then a friend arrived with his magnet, which we set up on the rape. Five birds came in immediately 2 didnt get away! Nothing after that so went on another drive. Found 400ish on a freshly drilled field. relocated again. Set up magnet with a 10 bird pattern. Oh yes the wind had now picked up to hellish which didnt help. The magnet worked a treat and we shot the remainder. Cartridge to pigeon average was appalling! but a lot of fun and the first time for me over a magnet! I think the wind meant the bag wasn't more. Looking forward to going out again next weekend. Moral of the story....Do your reconnaissance to find out where they are !
Pigeon Shooters name - Aiden Claridge
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 27 and 1 crow
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - February
The Crop type - Rape
The day details -I had seen a lot feeding on the fields on early days of up to 500. I set my hide up in a belt at 8.30am and set my decoys (10) out,I set them out in a group not in a patteren because I think this is rubbish that the birds will come better if you set your decoys out like a horse shoe.I had around 70 shots the birds came in well but i shot poor as it was the first time on the decoys in a long time.
My Opinion I suggest you try the patterns on the tips page. It can improve your bags. 27 pigeons is a decent bag, if you noticed some pigeons veering away from your 'pattern' and you had no idea why then I reckon it is the layout of your birds. On the other hand if they all decoyed perfectly then you could have hit the jackpot! The horseshoe is to channel the pigeons in to get them into better range of the shooter. It is also a more realistic pattern than pigeons strewn about any old place.
Pigeon Shooters name - Mark Adams
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 45
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 20th December
The Crop type - Maze
The day details -Shot most of the birds as the were coming into a wood behind my decoy pattern. It was fun intense shooting lasting from 7.00am until 4.00.
Pigeon Shooters name - Noel Pope
Part of UK bag was shot - South East England
The total number of pigeons shot = 6
Gender - Male
The gun you used - 12 Bore
Bag Date - 06/02/02
The Crop type - Kale
The day details -It was a cloudy day with a moderate wind. We set up our decoys in the field in which we sat on the edge of. It got of to a slow start, I was shooting with my son and in the first half hour we had not seen a pigeon. Then sudenly a group of 3 pigeons flew across of which we shot 2. We then changed our position to the next door field where there was more activity. We set up our decoys again and here we shot down 4. We were out there for about 2 hours and it was great fun.
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