When pigeons come home to roost

Roost shooting can be a rewarding and productive way to control pigeon numbers, but it needs careful planning and common sense, as Peter Theobald explains

For the average pigeon shooter, the only time they get to have a go at roost shooting is on affairs organised by gamekeepers at the end of the season. And unless you are blessed by favourable weather on these occasions — that is to say a strong wind — you are likely to come away both disappointed and frustrated in equal measure.

Roost shooting pigeons as they return to their dormitories needs just as careful planning as a day’s decoying, something that is unlikely to happen if the date of the shoot has been decided weeks in advance. Add to the mix half a dozen other Guns whose main objective appears to be to boost the profits of cartridge manufacturers and you have reason to see why I am sceptical of killing many birds on these events.

Considerations

As with decoying, several criteria need to come together. I will start with the most important and that is a strong wind — 25mph minimum. This will have the effect of drowning the noise of your shooting and encouraging the pigeons to approach the wood at a shootable height. It is also tiring for birds to flight into a strong wind carrying a full crop of food, so they will often be reluctant to go far after being shot at before attempting to have another go at getting in for the night. Also, pigeons will generally choose the lee side of the wood in which to roost, if the wind is particularly strong, making it easier for you to predict where they will head. Ideally, birds will have been left to feed in peace all day, before heading for the roost woods. Don’t think you can chase them around all day on the fields and then expect them to turn up in nice small bunches at roost time. Invariably they will stay on the fields,