Moving the goalposts

It’s not the classic time for pigeon roosting but in a far from normal year you should take your chances when you can, says Tom Payne

- Tom Payne

Many of you reading this will be thinking, why is there a roosting article at this time of year? Has Shooting Times bucked the usual trend of pigeon shooting specials in February, the classic pigeon month when traditionally we can use all three methods of pigeon management — roosting, decoying and flighting?

The simple answer to that question is yes; this isn’t a normal year, as we are all very aware. However, the goalposts for pigeon have only been moved temporarily.

A lot of our winter pigeon shooting isn’t really governed by pigeon damage over many farms and estates. Our pigeon shooting is governed by how much we will be disturbing the game that might be at large in hedgerow, spinney, copse, cover or woodland.

Any top keeper knows that respectful pigeon shooting before pheasants have been consistently shot doesn’t affect them if decoys are being employed. Once birds have heard the hustle and bustle of a day’s shooting, combined with eight gun salutes, they tend to become a bit more on edge, so obviously shooting the roosting woods is an absolute no-no from the off. Completely understandable.

Prime month

The only reason February has become that traditional month for roosting pigeon is because of the above. February is a prime month for roosting but it certainly isn’t the only month. Shooting in fir woods starts from early November and mid-November for hard and mixed woods once the leaves are off the trees.