Take the field
Sporting Gun|June 2023
Geoff Garrod enlists the help of three friends to try to reduce the numbers feeding with gusto on the estate farm's crops
Geoff Garrod
Take the field

The good news for me is that there are more pigeons on the estate where I’m head keeper than there have been at any time in the past decade. The bad news, however, is that they’re proving particularly difficult to decoy and are causing significant damage to the crops. The rape in places is so badly damaged that who knows what the farm will do with it.

The problem we have is that the pigeons are in still ‘rape mode’. They are still moving around in large flocks, and there are too many places for them to easily feed. The farm has been using gas guns, rockets and kites to try to keep them away to limited effect, so I was asked to have a go at them in late March.

After plenty of reconnaissance, I decided that the best way to try to make a dent in the numbers was to arrange a day’s decoying with three friends. I knew the areas that they had been hitting hard. With this in mind, I placed my friends in three likely spots and I set myself up on the fourth.

The hope was that we could keep the birds on the move, and if we were lucky the flock would hopefully break up and provide us all with some shooting. We chose a day when the forecast was strong winds and a couple of rain showers to give us the best chance.

Set-up

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من Sporting Gun.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من Sporting Gun.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من SPORTING GUN مشاهدة الكل
Thermal spectrum
Sporting Gun

Thermal spectrum

Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared

time-read
6 mins  |
August 2023
Roe, rucks and new ground
Sporting Gun

Roe, rucks and new ground

Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Sporting Gun

Tales from a lifetime of foxing

Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Fox rot about Charlie
Sporting Gun

Fox rot about Charlie

Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
The sniff of success
Sporting Gun

The sniff of success

Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Adventures of Nick & Ted
Sporting Gun

Adventures of Nick & Ted

A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Sporting Gun

The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system

Vet's advice

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Gundogs Q&A
Sporting Gun

Gundogs Q&A

No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Stop-start!
Sporting Gun

Stop-start!

Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Sporting Gun

Gundogs at the Game Fair

Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2023