If you're new to pigeon shooting or just without pigeon on your permissions, how can you improve your chances of success either on your first day out or when the birds move back into the area and the farmer calls. One thing that you shouldn't do is put your gun away in the cabinet. Clay pigeon will never replicate a real bird in flight but practising shooting them can still have benefits and you won't be wasting your time. Plus it's fun shooting clays.
Anybody who's done any decoying will confirm that during an outing in a hide you will get to take pretty much every shot in the book over the course of a day. So time spent perfecting your gun mount, sight pictures of targets and developing muscle memory will pay dividends when you find yourself in a situation where birds are falling into your decoy pattern with reckless abandon. I guess the only clay target that has no relevance to pigeon shooting is a rabbit clay. Practically every other clay target will help you to improve your shooting in the field.
Moves
There are a few things you should make yourself practise. If you're a keen clay shot and fancy trying some decoying, the temptation will be to shoot in the 'clay style, with your gun partially mounted and your feet set to the direction of the target. There are obvious differences from shooting clays to shooting pigeon. The most obvious is that you don't get to shout Pull! when you're in a hide and then a pigeon appears. Also, you'll have no idea where a bird will appear from next.
Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ?  Logg pÄ
Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg pÄ
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
Roe, rucks and new ground
Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them
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
Fox rot about Charlie
Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane
The sniff of success
Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion
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
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Vet's advice
Gundogs Q&A
No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts
Stop-start!
Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice