Stand and deliver

With harvest just around the corner and pigeon numbers building, Andy Crow is called into action to protect a standing wheat crop

- ANDY CROW

Andy’s working day almost always starts with a cup of tea and a meeting with his boss and landowner, Martin. It gives him a chance to talk through what’s going on and firm up plans for the coming days. When Martin mentions the number of pigeons he has seen coming in to the wheat field just behind the house, Andy takes the hint and plans a foray.

“I really don’t like shooting over standing crops because you are most likely going to lose the birds. But with something like 2,000 birds coming in and it being right next to the yard, I have to get after them as all other methods to put them off were just not effective and we can’t risk too much crop damage so close to harvest. And I have a cunning plan to ensure that I didn’t leave any shot birds out in the field!”

That plan involves a labrador named Rosa and so it is that Andy and his four-legged friend arrive at the field just after 4pm that same afternoon. Andy had already earmarked a spot between two large oaks that the pigeons often used as sitty trees. He makes up a simple hedgerow hide that affords him a good field of fire towards an area that the pigeons were steadily flattening. If you want to watch our video with Andy on hide building, go to www.sportingshooter.co.uk/features/andy-crows-top-tips-for-building-the-perfect-pigeonhide-1-5551681

“Wheat used to be a much taller crop a few years back with long straw that was prone to getting flattened in wet and windy weather. More modern varieties are shorter and by using growth regulators we can ensure the straw is short and stiff and rarely flattens in the same way.