Tackling the problem

The end of the game season provides the chance to get among the pigeons but you must be ready to adapt to succeed, says Tom Payne

- Tom Payne

On many farms and estates, pigeon shooting has to take a back seat during the shooting season because of disturbance to game birds. Farmers have had to watch as pigeon numbers build, while enthusiastic pigeon shooters have had to sit at home and wait patiently for the end of the season.

Winter is the hardest time to make a real dent in the numbers. Birds tend to flock and, whether because of nonlethal controls or the volume of game shooting, pigeons can be jumpy.

There are many winter crops that can be on the menu but the crop that has become the classic go-to food source is winter oilseed rape. But many people think that there is a change afoot.

The costs of farming constantly fluctuate. Oilseed rape has become an expensive crop to produce and, because the insecticide that controls flea beetle has been banned, the risk of putting in all that work only to lose an entire crop to pigeons or beetles is putting farmers off.

Changing patterns

Where flea beetle is a problem, pigeons will always favour the stunted parts of the field because it’s easier to feed and they can keep an easy eye out for airborne predators. For the farmer it becomes a nightmare. As a result, certain areas are currently growing little to no rape.

This has changed population densities, with some areas losing a winter population and others that have continued to grow rape gaining one. It was very evident during last year’s harvest, with some areas performing unbelievably well and other areas very quiet. I’m seeing the same trend this year, too. Shooting over winter rape can be tricky due to the behaviour of the pigeons. The birds are flocked and, unless you shoot in the correct conditions, with winds around 15 to 25mph, they will feast as one. You need that wind to break up the numbers coming out to feed into small, decoyable groups.