time you see them. Consider this a mixed bag opportunity! There’s another problem with shooting pigeons around
farm buildings – the report of a rifle or boom of a shotgun can startle livestock, such as finicky milk cows, and lead to reduced milk production. High spirited horses also can be- come alarmed about nearby shots and burst through fences or get cut by barbed wire when fleeing. Not good! Learn the farm’s habits and livestock before you uncase a firearm. The opportune time to hunt and shoot around most farm
buildings is after the livestock or horses have been fed and released for the day. Several farms I’ve hunted have turned out animals for the day by midmorning, then closed the gate behind them, and have then told me to be done with the pigeon plinking chore by 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. I’ve been happy to oblige.
Another place to look for pigeons on farms is grain
silos. Make extra notes when you spot one of the modern silos or elevators with metal sides. When the tops are open, pigeons pour in to feed on grains and hang out in the interior framework. Believe it or not, but a hunt here can be much like shooting sporting clays – if you plan properly. Simply send one person around the bottom to kick or
hit the metal sides with a hard object, and the ringing and banging noises flush wary pigeons out the open top. Hunters strategically located around the base of the large “barrel” can shoot out and down fleeing pigeons. Here a shotgun with No. 7½ or 6 shot will bring down a chunky pigeon in short order. This also can be great practice for dove season, and find out if you can bring any bird dog to the farm when engaging in this type of eradication project. When you add in dog training opportunities, pigeons can become a good thing. As pigeons that you miss fly away (if you do miss), take
note of where they go. I’ve had pigeons leave one grain bin and fly to another nearby bin where they glide into an open roof and again take refuge. To flush these survivors out, go to that elevator and start banging and kicking the structure sides while holding a loaded shotgun at the ready in your hand. Repeat at another site as necessary. Pigeons must hatch and mature overnight, or so it
seems, because if you went back to those bins the next day and banged, more pigeons would fly out for you to shoot. If there’s grain in the bin or silo, pigeons will come – period. IN THE TRUCK YARD
If farmers decline to let you shoot around the barn, an-
other top spot to plink a pigeon is where the large farm trucks are parked. Spilled grains are a given here, and pigeons take note and set their wings and glide down in great numbers. A top tactic here is to get inside a truck – or park your personal vehicle there at the right location – and then take shots when presented. You can again also “bait” the area by tossing out extra grain or cheap bird seed. Here the modern air rifles that make a soft “thump”
when you shoot can result in many shot opportunities on pigeons. When one goes down with a fatal shot, the others just stand about and stare. A 22 rifle or similar caliber also can work well here, and they are easy to shoot out of vehicles. Shotguns should be avoided because of recoil and noise when hunting from a vehicle. Again, use caution to avoid shooting tires or breaking any windows. Carry a towel with you and place this on the
PROTECT • HUNT • COMPETE
CZ's new bolt action rimfire allows the shooter to convert their rifle to a new caliber in just minutes.
The CZ 455 retains the accuracy and quality that have made CZ rimfire models favorites with shooters, both in the woods and in competition.
Also available in a .22 LR/.17 HMR 2 barrel combo package.
CZ 455
• Action forged from steel billets • Premium hammer forged barrel
• Trigger adjustable for weight of pull
• Integral scope dovetail • Detachable magazine • Walnut stock
• Rifles and additional barrel kits availabe with or without sights.
• .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR
AMERICAN
Visit us at
www.cz-usa.com
Scan with your mobile device for more info and video
www.varminthunter.org
Page 37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196