Sunday Pigeon stomp...

[silentshot1 206]

Once upon a time, long ago...

 

AKA Sunday afternoon!

 

Having bought a UV pen and with a healthy amount of scepticism, I followed the advice on here the other day and painted a UV ring round the neck and two rings, 1/3rd and 2/3rd's down the bodies of both my shell and full bodied decoys.

 

I set out again on Sunday afternoon to the rape field, discarding the Pill Box idea and deciding instead to set up, down wind of a Sitty tree along a hedge line. After about an hour and having had very few pigeons land but plenty fly over and dip but not turn, I was getting bored and figuring where I could shove the afore mentioned UV pen if I met anyone who suggested the idea in the future.

 

I decided to decamp to the spinny about 300 yards away in the middle of the field, another favourite lay up point for Percy and his mates.

 

I set the 10 shell decoys in an informal W pattern, 15 meters out and set the two full bodied decoys on a couple of old 6 ft electric fence posts nearer to my hide in the tree line but still clear to see in the field, finally putting my crow decoy about 25 meters behind the pattern as a security, then waited.

 

After about 10 minutes, the first flock of circa 15 pigeons came winging in and headed straight for the pattern. After a couple of dives, the majority thought better of it and headed for the trees about 20 meters to the left of me. I gently raised the gun, slowly, weary of the glare from the air reservoir and scope glass. I placed the cross hair on the neck of woody, released the FX pigeon kisser and watched through the scope as woody number one went earth bound.

 

Although the remainder of the flock headed for the sky, unusually instead of disappearing towards the oak woods, they circled a couple of times then landed again but with a further flock of chums joining the party. Woody No 2 was about 30 meters away at about a 30 degree angle, a gentle lean out from behind the shadow of a tree and ping THUD. No2 was grounded.

 

No. 3 was a tricky shot, short range but through twigs... wait for a gap, correct aim to ensure clearance and allow for hold under, wait for the wind and ping, FX and pigeon met at head hight.

 

At this point, the stock of the S410 TDR came away, leaving just the central rod with a thread at both ends, attached to the gun. I tried to screw the exposed end back in to the bolt above the shoulder pad of the stock, but it was having none of it, I figured the thread on the bolt must have broken, as there was debris on the rod.

 

I sat there, in the wood, surrounded by literally a 100 pigeons, perched, skipping between trees and diving at the pattern, trying to figure out a field repair, but with the stock not secure, the guns's power is greatly reduced, not to mention my aim! After about 45 mins of trying, I called it quits and packed up.

 

I'm to cynical to think that the UV pen made such a difference, but the amount of pigeons that turned up on Sunday, in comparison to usual, with the same pattern, in the same place, were a good third to 50% up on a normal day that I've witnessed. I'm going to try it again either tomorrow or Saturday.

 

As for the gun, I got home, complained at 'her majesty', who promptly fixed it within seconds and opened the door for me to disappear again! Sadly I didn't as Percy and his pals would have called it a night and my Night Searcher lamp is in bits at the mo so bunny bashing was not on the cards either!

 

Still, a great afternoon, awesome weather, a simple repair and not the trip to AA I was thinking of (ever the optomist!) and maybe a really cheap (2.99 from WH Smiths) Pigeon attractor, as long as the Pigeon was thinking of stopping off at the time!

 

PS for those interested the three pigeons were off 11 shots, I left out the misses under poetic license, but it was windy!

[Freddy Watts 1]

Sounds like you had a good day mate. Sunday does seem like a long time ago indeed. Glad to hear the UV pen worked for you.

 

All the best

 

Freddy

[stealthy1 3,964]

If Wood Pigeons were easy they would lose most of their facination, and probably not taste as nice

[Phantom 631]

Once upon a time, long ago...

 

AKA Sunday afternoon!

 

Having bought a UV pen and with a healthy amount of scepticism, I followed the advice on here the other day and painted a UV ring round the neck and two rings, 1/3rd and 2/3rd's down the bodies of both my shell and full bodied decoys.

 

 

Hi SS1

 

Now cover a big section of the back of the deeks in UV, not just ring them, see what happens

 

Phantom

[Phantom 631]

Forgot to say

 

 

Dont use UV on a Corvid Deek Guarenteed, to clear the area of all quarry

 

Phantom

[silentshot1 206]

Thanks guys

 

Your not wrong stealthy1 and to be honest I find downing pigeons and crows etc far more challenging than rabbits so really feel I've earned the meals. Not wishing to sound catty towards anyone who has recently posted on here, but the challenge in pigeon shooting with an air rifle is immense, I imagine if I'd taken my AYA no.4 with me the bag would have been a lot greater than three but the satisfaction a lot less!

 

Hi phantom,

 

I remember you mentioning not to colour in the crow decoy a while ago and heeded the advice on Sunday. Is it better to colour the whole decoy in then? I thought Pigeons only had UV reflecting feathers on certain parts like the neck.

 

You seem pretty clued up so probably know more of the science behind it than I do so appreciate any more input you may have.

 

Thanks

 

James

[davyt63 1,845]

well done buddy

nice to see the tip worked

regards

 

davy

[festa 206]

happy days nice 1 SS1 its good to see other tips that work .....

 

atb gary

[jackinbox99 41]

Would be interesting to see other results with the UB pen. I too was sceptical when I read it on here, but im all for trying anything once (err.. within reason!!!), so who knows, it might work!

 

3 pigeons tho is an excellent result, esp for air rifle, and a decent family meal!

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Hi SS1.

 

What a brilliant result buddy, good shooting.

That was one tip worth its weight.

 

Nice one.

 

 

ATB.

 

 

 

 

Bill.

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

good shooting matey!