621 of his pests. This does not include the 180 birds two other hunters had shot – that the farmer told us about – plus those same two shot the place between September 13 and September 26. Though we were told they shot a heck of a lot of pigeons when they were there that second time, we did not get a number. So can you imagine how many pigeons plagued that farm before we started? Further, when we quit around noon of September 26, wave after wave of birds was coming back.) I tell you about all these “num-
bers” to indicate the potential shooting possibilities you can have – if you’ll only do some homework – finding the pest pigeons that are certainly in most areas – seeking permission respectfully – and then have at it. In South America I have been on
many good pigeon hunts, but I am reluc- tant to go overboard shooting pigeons there. That’s because those pigeons are not pests like they are around dairy and beef farms here. I think the most pigeons I have ever killed in a morning Down There would be about 40, though I know some shoot hundreds of pigeons a day in Argentina and elsewhere in that vicinity. The doves down there are another matter. They are almost vermin. Many a time I’ve made a dove double, popped my over and under open, dropped in two fresh shells, closed the gun – while in the few seconds it took to do that sometimes more than a thou- sand doves had flown overhead. What I do particularly like about
shooting pigeons in South America is that most outfitters set up so the big birds decoy right to you. I try to decoy pest pigeons from time to time here at home, but most of the time I’m shooting where the pigeons want to be – next to a favored silo or barn roof. So decoys seem unnecessary – at least a lot of the time.
But not always. When we go back
to the farm where more than 500 pi- geons have been killed in less than six weeks, we are going to try a spinning wing Mojo dove decoy. We will set up that decoy right in front of where Jim shoots – where the birds want to come to the barn roof above his stand. Because the pigeons that are left can be
expected to be more wary, that spin- ning wing decoy should offer some added enticement for the birds to fly closer. Jim will augment the spinning wing deal with dead birds – as he kills them and they fall where he can easily get to them. (Epilog #2 – on September 26 those spinning wing decoys were certainly instrumental in helping bring so many birds to Jim’s stand – when he killed the 100.) Another ideal decoying situation
occurs when you see a corn field partial- ly harvested. Say part of the corn field had been cut for silage, but the farmer ran out of time, rain started, whatever, and the corn is still standing in part of the field. With permission from the landowner the standing corn is an ideal hide. Your decoys go just outside your shooting position – where the corn has been cut. In addition to a spinning wing decoy, I also bought a carousel that operates on a motorcycle battery. Two of the carousel’s arms have two special decoys that flutter with motion as the carousel spins. Wood pigeon shooting is very big
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in England, and the outfitters there rely heavily on decoys. I bought two dozen soft fabric silhouette decoys that were designed over there. I augment my decoy spread of a spinning wing decoy and the carousel with these. Further, Avery makes a very large dove decoy that is placed on a stake. Thus in a breeze there can be subtle movement – same for the soft fabric silhouette decoys. With a dab here and there of flat black spray paint I make the Avery dove decoys look more like pigeons. Also from England, I bought a battery- operated pigeon decoy whose head keeps dipping up and down – simulat- ing feeding. As with waterfowling, with a big pigeon decoy set up you have to get up early because you have so much work to do – like a spinning wing de- coy, a carousel, a “feeding” decoy, and dozens of regular decoys. Camouflage is very important
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with pigeons. In addition to camo cloth- ing I also don camo gloves and a camo face mask. As you might guess, motion also is a key to success – or rather the lack of motion on the hunter’s part. Finding a suitable spot from which to shoot also is very important. Of course, the more times you shoot at a farm the more wary the pigeons become. This is a
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