MONSTER SHOOT
A change in farming policy meant there was potential for a monster shoot to present itself
A change of farming policy meant Peter Theobald had the chance of making a huge bag.
Acouple of my permissions lie right on the estuary of the River Crouch, in Essex, and are some five to six miles, as the pigeon flies, from the nearest roost woods. Pigeons only really hit these farms when all nearer alternatives have been exhausted, usually meaning that stubbles have long been ploughed in and drillings up and away before birds venture this far out. Occasionally though, unusual circumstances tempt pigeons to make the long journey out to feed.
Significant situation
This autumn is a case in point, where a change in farming policy has meant the two farms in question have adopted a direct drilling regime. Any dedicated decoyer will immediately recognise the significance of this – stubbles with food on them will not be turned in. When those stubbles happen to contain beans, the potential for a monster shoot presents itself. This year both farms planted more than 100 acre of beans, so, from the day they were harvested, I have been making weekly recce trips to see if the pigeons had found the feast that lay over every field. Usually, once a few birds have started the ball rolling the build up is swift, so it was with some excitement that at the beginning of October, a full six weeks after harvest, about 100 pigeons were busily filling their crops.
Massive flock
I expected the beans to be crawling with birds when I returned a week later, but if anything there were fewer. As I pondered why this should be, a couple of woodies came resolutely across the field passing right over my head. Turning to watch where they were heading, they swept down to a huge wheat stubble behind me to join a truly massive flock of at least 2,000 birds spread all over the field. It should have been easy now, just turn up and enjoy what should be a very big day, but with two fields of more than 100 acres – where the hell do we set up?
We knew from experience that when pigeons do eventually venture out to these farms, they very rarely return to the roost woods when the shooting starts but carry on upwind until they find a quiet spot to feed. As always, luck can play a big part in the outcome of a day’s shooting,
and on the day we chose to shoot we had both good and bad luck in equal measure. The good part was a strong easterly wind, which meant we could use its strength to clear the downwind areas of feeding pigeons, knowing they would carry on up to us. The bad news was that overnight rain prevented us from driving on the field, severely restricting our choice of position. Even culling half our gear, it still involved a backbreaking slog of 400 yards from the nearest vantage point, and this was before we had even shot anything!
Travelling light
I decided to travel light, dispensing with seat, poles and camo nets – building a natural hide at the top end of the field.
Paul managed to transport most of what he regards as essential in two trips to cover the bottom half of the field. Even though we had made an earlier start than usual, it was 10am by the time we were ready to start shooting.
Paul was into them straight away, despatching 60 in the first hour. My position was slower but we were achieving our objective of keeping the birds on the move, so I knew it was only a matter of time before things really livened up. The next hour was busy for both of us, Paul emptying his bag of 200 shells for a total of 160 and having to run back to the motor for another 250 slab (it pays to have plenty of spare cartridges). By 2pm and I, too, was stumbling back for more shells and Paul was, remarkably, near the end of his extra supply. He exhausted these at 2.30pm and though we had more back at the truck and had pigeons streaming in, we decided to call it a day – realising we have still got to pick this all up and get it off the field. A contented, but totally exhausted pair of decoyers finally loaded the last sack of pigeons at 4.30pm for a bag of 536.
Another opportunity
Even while we were shooting virtually non-stop, pigeons were still pouring between us, heading for another bean field behind us feeding in peace all day. We knew there would be another opportunity here while the food lasted, so after letting things settle down for 10 days, I took another look at the fields. Not surprisingly, the one we had shot and the one downwind of it was deserted, but the one where the pigeons had fed last week was heaving. I have seldom seen such large numbers on a field, at least double the amount when we shot it.
Again, we chose a strong east wind to shoot, but because we were so far upwind of the alternative choices of food we lit a rope banger on the fields we shot last week to keep them coming up to our position. This time we took the quad bike enabling us to get exactly where we
“The quality of shooting rivalled any grouse moor as we took on every shot in the book”
wanted, opting to set our deadly trap of two hides 60 yards apart – covering one set of decoys. Not till the banger started to go off did birds start to move, arriving at altitude in flocks of 100 or more.
Good quality shooting
Normally, we choose not to fire at such large bunches, but with so many now coming we decided to fire at everything that came within range. The quality of shooting rivalled any grouse moor as we took on every shot in the book, and we gasped in amazement at some of the birds we both despatched. We ended another remarkable day with a pick-up of 241. Interestingly, probably 50 per cent of the bag were young birds, indicating a very successful breeding season. Most farmers round my part of Essex have already re-drilled fields intended to grow rape, so I am predicting any that do get established are going to take a fearful hammering.
I will keep you posted!