I’ve got a feeling I ruined my chances of a really good day last Saturday by popping out to pick pricked birds too often.
It was noticeable that traffic dried up for 10 minutes or so each time I left the hide. I dont like to see wounded birds – what advice can you give?
Pigeons
PETER THEOBALD says:
Unless I need shot birds to improve my pattern, or birds are lying on their backs and clearly spooking incomers, I do not leave the hide at all.
Any obvious ‘walkers’ are dealt with by shooting them again before they get out of range.
The extra bang might disrupt the flightline but much less so than constantly dashing from the hide to despatch a pigeon.
Just think, if you leave the hide a dozen times in the day and the flightline is disrupted for 10 minutes a time then you have lost 120 minutes (two hours) of possible shooting time.
And that could represent a lot of pigeons lost to the bag!
BASC unveils the UK’s first fully online DSC1 theory course, offering flexible deer stalking training with Lantra recognition.
With widely used calibres like the .243 affected, shooters could face costly equipment changes, licensing delays and reduced capacity for deer management—raising serious questions about the wider co...
Get the latest news delivered direct to your door
Discover the ultimate companion for fieldsports enthusiasts with Shooting Times & Country Magazine, the UK’s leading weekly publication that has been at the forefront of shooting culture since 1882. Subscribers gain access to expert tips, comprehensive gear reviews, seasonal advice and a vibrant community of like-minded shooters.
Save on shop price when you subscribe with weekly issues featuring in-depth articles on gundog training, exclusive member offers and access to the digital back issue library. A Shooting Times & Country subscription is more than a magazine, don’t just read about the countryside; immerse yourself in its most authoritative and engaging publication.