Gone with the wind

A new permission has great potential but Tom Payne’s plans are scuppered when the pigeon choose shelter over sustenance

- Tom Payne

It was a Thursday evening and as I pottered around my pigeon shed oiling bits of kit, sorting out nets and testing a new flapper, I felt a sense of boyish excitement running through me. I was going camping. The freedom from lockdown. The independence from others. But most excitingly, I was going to be shooting pigeon on a new permission.

As the jackdaws floated back to roost over the shed and the local pigeon population cooed as they enjoyed that last bit of evening sunshine, I shoved the final bit of pigeon hide into the boot of the car and celebrated with a cold beer.

Now, with the rules and regulations around COVID-19 being relaxed slightly, I could turn my attention to farms further afield. However, in a normal year, I would usually stay with friends or in a pub. With neither option available, I had decided to embrace the British wilderness with a tent, sleeping bag, stove, kettle and some baked beans.

I woke the next morning, doublechecked everything and then set off with anticipation towards the Lincolnshire Fens. My plan was to get there, meet Stephen, the farmer, and get my bearings with regards to the ground. I would then spend the afternoon on reconnaissance with the aim to shoot on the Saturday. Peas were top of my list; however, this part of Lincolnshire is a big vegetable-growing area, so there are many other crop options that could produce a worthwhile shoot.

Serious wind

The weather earlier in the week was showing 15mph to 20mph winds— perfect for this time of year. This long-range forecast, however, had changed quite dramatically and the perfect 15mph breeze had turned into a 50mph gale. Over the flat ground of the Fens, this was a serious wind.