It’s that point of 12 months when hunters begin to get stressed concerning the fall. Looking season remains to be a couple of months away, and the skeet vary and sporting clays course can solely fill the void for therefore lengthy. What many wingshooters don’t notice, although, is that looking season doesn’t have to finish just because the state-mandated seasons come to an in depth. Now, earlier than anybody questions my ethics right here, let me say simply two phrases—pigeon looking.
Pigeons are acrobatic, onerous to hit, decoy readily, and might be hunted nearly in every single place. Right here’s the best way to reap the benefits of one of the crucial thrilling low season wingshooting alternatives within the Decrease 48.
Pigeon Looking: Desk of Contents
- Why Hunt Pigeons
- The place to Hunt Pigeons
- What Sort of Blind Do You Use for Looking Pigeons
- Decoys for Pigeons
- Weapons and Gear for Pigeon Looking
Why Hunt Pigeons?
Most youngsters are hell on one thing. In my youth, which revolved round looking and taking pictures as a lot as humanly potential, I used to be hell on pigeons. In my world, then as it’s now, there are two sorts of untamed pigeons. There are metropolis pigeons—those in metropolitan areas that waddle and coo, defile statues, and peck at cigarette butts—and there are nation pigeons.
Nation pigeons’ day by day battle for survival makes them a cautious and difficult quarry, which is why I’m drawn to looking them. They stay underneath deserted railroad trestles or within the haymows of dilapidated outdated barns out in the course of nowhere.
In case you assist a farmer rid his feedlot of silage-soiling pigeons, you’ll not solely have a superb time; there’s a superb probability you’ll be welcomed again with open arms come turkey season. And better of all, there’s no restrict on pigeons as a result of they’re technically an invasive species.
Lastly, pigeons—grain-eating nation pigeons, that’s—are actually good on the desk. Come out the bone-in breast, slap half a jalapeno on the bone aspect, wrap in bacon, and baste sometimes with some Pabst Blue Ribbon on a scorching grill, and you may’t go unsuitable.
The place to Hunt Pigeons Within the Off-Season
You’ll be able to hunt pigeons both on the roost or at a feeding space. Roosts, although, pose an issue, actually because the roosts themselves can be throughout the metropolis limits and thus, off-limits to any sort of looking. Roosts exterior town limits, even when huntable, could be finest voluntarily declared off-limits in order to not strain the birds out of the fast space. This, then, leaves the next:
Over Feeds
Nation pigeons and metropolis birds making the transition to rural life have a various eating regimen. Nevertheless, a number of the finest shoots I’ve loved through the years have come on just lately reduce winter wheat, hayfields, alfalfa fields, harvested soybeans, and even discipline corn reduce for silage. The widespread denominator right here? Grain crops; pigeons are enormous on grain crops. The important thing to a profitable shoot, although, is harking back to dry floor goose looking. Drive and scout. Scout and drive. Discover a doubtless discipline stuffed with pigeons, get permission, and have at it. It’s not rocket science.
Over Grit
My favourite non-feed pigeon looking spots as a child concerned a decommissioned oil properly website. The wellhead and casing had been nonetheless in place, offering a manner for naturally occurring salty brine to leach upward onto the bottom. As such, nothing grew in that roughly 50’ sq. space; nonetheless, the pigeons completely cherished it. Every morning, the birds would come to choose at this patch of naked grime, and I’d be ready. Like all birds, pigeons want grit to finish the digestive course of, making areas holding materials akin to sand or gravel a particular risk. Once more, it’s a matter of scouting.
In Hog Tons
Hog heaps appeal to pigeons in clouds of birds as a result of quantity of meals obtainable from spilled or residual feed.
Over Silage Piles
Silage piles and pigeons are inseparable. Right here, it’s all about easy accessibility to an excessively considerable meals supply for the pigeons. In addition they really feel extra snug feeding in an open space like a silage pile as a result of there aren’t any hiding locations for lurking predators.
What Sorts of Blinds Do You Use For Looking Pigeons?
Over time, my pigeon hides have ranged from casual to elaborate. Camouflage clothes and a seat within the ragweed have labored, as have a dozen sq. hay bales organized in a box-like trend alongside the sting of a reduce discipline. The reality is your blind doesn’t should be fancy to work, simply so long as you’re hidden.
Wish to set that A-Body blind you utilized in for geese in December? There’s nothing unsuitable with that, and it’d provide you with an opportunity to excellent such a design’s effectivity for the approaching waterfowl season. Two tomato stakes and a bit of anti-aircraft netting can work simply as properly and are simple to pack in, pack out, and transfer if want be.
In circumstances the place there isn’t any cowl, a structure blind serves a two-fold goal: One, it offers the required concealment, and two, it permits for some sit-up-n-shoot apply that many people, myself very a lot included, want in the case of taking pictures from a structure.
No matter the kind of blind used, concealment is essential. A pigeon’s eyesight and pure wariness shouldn’t be underestimated. Throw in looking strain, and people park bench birds can get actually, cautious, actually shortly.
The Finest Decoys for Pigeon Looking
Once I began looking pigeons in 1974, there have been few, if any, pigeon decoys obtainable within the U.S. I solved this by establishing the primary birds I’d shoot within the morning as crude, albeit efficient decoys. On the finish of the morning, I might scoop up my decoys, take them house, and eat them.
Issues are completely different at this time, as a number of outfits supply pigeon decoys, together with Dive Bomb Industries, Tanglefree, and Fortunate Duck. I’m keen on a full-body decoy from Soar No Extra, although I’m certain silhouettes, both commercially made or a easy DIY model, would produce outcomes.
Pigeons, like snow geese, are each gregarious by nature, in addition to ridiculously grasping. When a flock sees what they assume are half a dozen of their brethren consuming one thing—something—they’ll come round.
I usually set three dozen decoys, give or absorb no explicit association. The place allowed by regulation, I’ll all the time throw a spinning wing decoy into the combo. Whereas I personally assume spinning wing decoys are often extra bother than they’re price, they work like a tractor beam in the case of pigeons. MOJO Outside makes an ideal spinning wing pigeon decoy, and I prefer to put a pair of them on taller (6’-8’) poles on the fringe of my unfold.
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The Finest Weapons and Gear For Pigeon Looking
In case you’re taking a look at pigeons to fill the freezer and as a chance to hone your abilities for duck season, then I’d recommend toting the identical shotgun you’ll be taking into the marsh. That stated, I’ve used slightly little bit of every little thing for pigeons, excluding a .410 (though, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work). Be it a 20-, 16-, or 12-gauge, most something you shoot properly will work properly for pigeons.
Pigeons might be powerful prospects to down cleanly although. For that motive, I’m keen on 1 to 1¼ ounces of #6 or #5 lead or metal. Quantity 7½ shot will work too, particularly given the excessive pellet depend and sample density, however #8s are a bit on the small aspect in the case of consistency.
