The pigeon shooter's diary

The PIGEON SHOOTER’S Diary Tom Payne

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Illustration Credits Richard Brigham

Jenny Collins Will Garfit Harry Gladwin Paul Quagliana

Peter Payne

Photographs on pages 11, 13, 18, 24-25, 27 (top), 29, 31-34, 37 (top), 40 (bottom left and right), 41-43, 50, 67, 73-77, 92, 93 (bottom), 94-95, 98-109, 110 (bottom), 111-113, 115 (bottom), 118-119, 129-131, 133, 134 (top right), 136, 138, 142, 143 (top left and right), 146, 149-150, 152, 154-156, 162, 163 (left), 164-166, 168 (left), 170, 172 (bottom) and 174-176 Photographs on pages 45, 97 and 178-179 Painting on page 6 Photograph on page 88 Photographs on title page, pages 12, 16-17, 19-23, 26, 27 (bottom), 28, 35, 37 (bottom), 38-39, 40 (top), 47-48, 51-66, 68-72, 78-86, 91, 93 (top left and right), 96, 110 (top left and right), 114, 115 (top), 117, 120-127, 132, 134 (top left and bottom left and right), 137, 139-140, 143 (bottom), 144-145, 148, 151, 153, 157-161, 163 (right), 168 (right), 171, 172 (top left and right), 173, 177, 180-202 and 209-210 Photograph on page 10

Copyright Š 2016 Tom Payne First published in the UK in 2016

by Quiller, an imprint of Quiller Publishing Ltd British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84689 236 3 The right of Tom Payne to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patent Act 1988. The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge.

All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the Publisher, who also disclaims any liability incurred in connection with the use of this data or specific details. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

Every effort has been made to trace photographic copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The publisher apologises for any errors or omissions in the above list and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

Edited by Paul Middleton Designed by Arabella Ainslie Printed in Malta

Quiller

An imprint of Quiller Publishing Ltd

Wykey House, Wykey, Shrewsbury, SY4 1JA Tel: 01939 261616 Fax: 01939 261606 E-mail: info@quillerbooks.com Website: www.quillerpublishing.com

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Contents

Acknowledgements 7 Foreword by Joe Dimbleby, editor Shooting Times 8 9 Introduction 1 The Wood Pigeon – Our Quarry 2 Gaining Permission 3 Reconnaissance and Flight Lines 4 Weather 5 Basic Kit and Accessories 6 The Mechanics of Pigeon Shooting – Magnets and Flappers 7 Hides Decoying and Decoys 8 9 Preparation 10 Storage and Selling 11 Dispatching Wounded Birds and Dressing 12 Diary Winter Spring Summer Autumn 13 Guns and Cartridges 14 Shooting Technique 15 Memorable Outings

11 17 23 35 45 57 65 75 88 91 97 99 100 129 146 166 177 183 202

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Acknowledgements

T

here are so many people I have to thank. First of all Mum (Anne-Mari) and Dad (Peter) who bought me my first guns and sponsored all the cartridges, let alone the amount of driving me around looking for pigeons. They are still incredibly supportive of my pigeon shooting. Many thanks to Chris Mills, who had to put up with an enthusiastic kid asking questions about everything. However, before I was shooting I have to say I did make a hell of Labrador.

I’ve worked in the shooting world for a long time now and I’ve had the privilege of meeting and learning from some of the very best pigeon shooters, game shots and instructors. I have special thanks for Ed Watson, a dear friend who has helped me learn so much with my own shooting but also instructing, along with Simon Ward, Alan Rose, Jono Irby, Andy Castle and many others.

A special thanks to Shooting Times, a magazine I have read for years. I have fond memories of my grandfather always picking up a copy for me when he would collect the Farmers Weekly. It is a privilege to write for such a household name and to join a short but prestigious list of pigeon shooting experts. The team at Shooting Times are so passionate about the magazine, shooting and the field sports world.

Many thanks to Quiller, Andrew Johnston and his team, for publishing the book and Will Garfit for the great painting. Putting these books together is not an easy task but they have been brilliant from start to finish. Many thanks to all the companies to whom I’m an ambassador. Whether it’s guns, cartridges, tweeds, car or decoying equipment, I completely trust and believe in what I use and it is a privilege to be associated with you all. Many thanks to the photographers, Paul Quagliana, Richard Brigham and Jenny Collins.

Finally, to all the farmers, gamekeepers and landowners who allow me to shoot pigeons on their ground, many of whom are good friends. I can’t thank you enough.

I know you see it as me doing a job but for me it’s you allowing me to carry out my passion. Thank you.

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Foreword

Q

uite often when I ring Tom to talk about a piece for Shooting Times, the conversation is punctuated by gunshot and I soon realise he is speaking from the hide. Tom is a passionate pigeon shooter, out there all year round protecting farmers’ crops and honing his craft over the many farms and estates he has permission on. The wood pigeon is always uppermost in his mind. I got a lift with him back from the CLA Game Fair one year through unfamiliar country and he was constantly scanning either side of the road looking for the telltale sign of the flight line or deducing why certain groups had congregated.

In his writing, Tom combines his authority as an expert with a talent for communication. One of the country’s top game shots, when he is not out in the fields he is teaching game shooting as a qualified instructor or working as an expert gun fitter.

His desire to share his passion and pass on knowledge to others is inspiring and he possesses the creativity essential to be a good teacher. Whether it’s setting up straw bales to simulate grouse butts or shooting from high towers, he’s always thinking of ways to do things differently.

This untiring enthusiasm comes through in the pages of this book, which is full of fascinating insights into pigeon behaviour gleaned from observing these magical and mysterious birds through the changing seasons. The diary format reflects the wood pigeon’s unique quality as a year round sporting bird whose feeding habits fluctuate hugely depending on the county and the cropping cycle.

I’m delighted that since I commissioned Tom’s first article for Shooting Times he has gone on to establish himself firmly as the magazine’s pigeon shooting columnist.

He is a true countryman with respect for his quarry and the great shooting writers who have gone before him. This book, based on his writing for Shooting Times, will I’m sure become a Bible for both fair weather and year-round pigeon shooter and sit happily on the shelf alongside the likes of Will Garfit and Archie Coates.

Joe Dimbleby editor, Shooting Times

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Introduction

I

remember the first ever pigeon I shot with my father, Peter, at home under one of the old oak trees. It was a left to right crosser and I killed it stone dead. I couldn’t have been much older than ten but at the time who would have thought the journey the wood pigeon would take me on. I spent countless nights at home roosting with dad and I would be out at any given opportunity trying to shoot pigeons. At such a young age I was usually unsuccessful but at that age a couple of dead pigeons was as good as any 100 shot today. I would take them home proudly where Mum, Anne-Mari, would show me the art of plucking, drawing and dressing. One of Dad’s good friends was and still is a keen pigeon shooter named Chris Mills and I spent a lot of time with him learning the basics of recon and field craft. I was thirteen when I shot my first decoyed bag down to my own skills, watched by Chris. I finished on thirteen and I’ve never looked back.

The art of pigeon shooting is endless and when you think you’ve mastered bits the bird gets the better of you. For myself, studying the bird and its behaviour is paramount to being able to achieve success successfully and consistently. I’ve been lucky to learn from many of the top and well-known pigeon shots, some of whom you will have heard of and some who go about their trade quietly on their patches with people none the wiser. Over the years they have passed on their knowledge and I’ve developed techniques in my own way, many times through trial and error.

Be in no doubt that to shoot pigeons consistently and to shoot big bags takes time and effort. There is no contraption that will ever be a short cut to learning the art of pigeon shooting and then working on your own shooting. Reconnaissance, field craft and decoying are key and only when you achieve the first three comes the shooting.

Pigeon shooting is not about bag sizes, it’s about shooting a truly wild bird and, I believe, our country’s finest sporting bird.

In this book I outline in simple form how to achieve success, whether it be understanding reconnaissance, hide building, decoying skills, roosting or flighting. The book will take you from start to finish and show you how to improve your success but also improve your understanding of the bird and its different behaviour at different times of the year on many different crops. Finally it will show you how to work on your own shooting. Enjoy the skill it takes and the sport the wood pigeon offers.

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THE PIGEON SHOOTER’S DIARY

When it Started

Me aged thirteen with my first bag with Chris Mills

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CHAPTER 1

The Wood Pigeon – Our Quarry

The wood pigeon

T

he wood pigeon is, without doubt, the UK’s most formidable airborne predator to agricultural crops. Their inherent greed can cause damage to many crops throughout the year and huge financial loss to many farmers.

However, one farmer’s hate is a pigeon shooter’s love; a fascinating and truly wild bird that offers a truly sporting challenge. A magnificent and versatile flier that offers every possible shooting angle and speed in the book.

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THE PIGEON SHOOTER’S DIARY

The Bird Latin name Columba Palumbus Size

15in long

Colour

Varying greys and blues for main body.

Chest

Varying from dark grey/purple to pink as breast approaches downwards.

Neck

Main white crescent of feathers either side of neck. Upper side of white is a subtle dazzling green.

Movement of the white of feeding birds shows all is calm and safe.

With all heads up indicates to oncoming birds that something could be wrong.

Wings Across the mid-wing is a transverse white band. It is highly attractive to on coming birds and is an indicator of dangerous situations. With a fast evasive wing beat the wing bars act as a brilliant warning mechanism at distance.

A slow relaxed movement shows no danger.

Tail

A major control factor to the flying ability of the pigeon. The tail can act as the rudder, helping with direction, but also acts as a brake.

Beak

Functional beak capable of picking up small grain to tearing at green crops. The beak is capable of feeding on a varied natural food source.

The wood pigeon is an incredibly, agile and versatile flier

Wing span 26in. The shape and size of the wings allows for incredible agility and speed in flight.

The wood pigeon’s tail acts as a control in flight

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THE WOOD PIGEON – OUR QUARRY Eye

Extraordinary vision. Yellow in colour with small elliptical black pupils.

Diet

Varied. Many agricultural crops, and a large natural food source.

Breeding

Main breeding period through the summer months but can breed in every month of the year. In a good year up to three broods a year.

Habitat

Main habitat are the woods of the UK. Hard woods and fir woods are known as roosting woods but it will nest in many hedgerows or well-protected vegetation with height for breeding.

Behaviour A flock bird during the winter.

Flocks break as the year goes on from small gangs to pairs as you move into the main breeding months of summer. A very sociable bird and not aggressive among their own. Creatures of habit with a huge appetite, which enables us to shoot them with the various methods.

Predators Peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks and the pigeon shooter.

A young wood pigeon (squab)

A winter flock

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THE PIGEON SHOOTER’S DIARY

The Shooting of Wood Pigeons under General Licence The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Advised Guidelines Currently the shooting of wood pigeon is controlled by general licences issued by Natural England for England, Welsh Assembly Government for Wales, Scottish Government for Scotland and in Northern Ireland by the NI Environment Agency (NIEA). No individual application is required for a general licence.

The general licences authorise shooting for specific purposes such as: preventing serious damage to crops, vegetables, fruit and foodstuffs for livestock, and for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety. It is important that any shooting complies fully with the terms and conditions of each general licence.

In Britain the shooting of collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) and the feral pigeon (descended from Columba livia) is also permitted all year round. The stock dove (Columba oenas), rock dove (Columba livia) and turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) are all protected species and may not be shot at any time. In Northern Ireland all doves are protected at all times and wood pigeon and feral pigeon are listed on the general licences but these cannot be shot at night or on Sundays. On the Isle of Man the wood pigeon can be shot under the terms and conditions of their general licence for the prevention of damage and disease only, the feral pigeon for public health and public safety and the turtle dove is fully protected.

The stock dove is often mistakenly called the ‘blue rock’ and great care must be taken as these birds often fly with wood pigeons and feral pigeons and come readily to decoys.

The feral pigeon is descended from the rock dove (which is usually only found on western coasts), and is often seen close to urban areas and feeding in flocks close to farm buildings.

Note: wild-living, former racing and homing pigeons often fly with feral pigeons but these birds are strictly protected as they are still regarded as the property of their original owner. While they normally have leg rings to show their ownership, identification in the field can be difficult so, if in doubt, do not shoot.

Safety Great care should be exercised when siting a hide to make sure you are aware of all footpaths, bridleways, rights of way, roads and dwellings and that the angles of fire [ 14 ]

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THE WOOD PIGEON – OUR QUARRY

are safe before starting to shoot. Consider where your spent shot will fall, remember No.6 lead shot can travel some 350 yards with a strong wind behind it and if shot lands on neighbouring land where you do not have permission to be you are committing constructive trespass. Farm and other boundaries must be respected and shooting should not be undertaken without consideration of buildings, houses or neighbouring land. Always take into consideration the potential noise disturbance when shooting in the vicinity of livestock, horses and residents. Prior notification of your activity to nearby residents, horse owners, etc, may be appropriate.

Be aware of other countryside users such as walkers, horse riders or other vehicles and take care not to cause fear or alarm or in any way endanger them. Don’t forget that you may be concealed from them. It is worth taking into account that during the summer holiday periods and at weekends, the likelihood of people visiting the countryside is higher.

Shooting from a hide often involves taking shots at birds approaching the decoys at or near ground level so it is vital that your shot cannot end up anywhere you cannot see to be safe. In addition, care must be taken over the possibilities of pellets ricocheting off the ground. Do not shoot towards livestock.

If shooting with two people in a hide it is important that both parties are experienced pigeon shots and that only one gun is loaded at a time. Take it in turns to shoot and always make sure the gun not in use is unloaded and placed in a safe place.

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THE PIGEON SHOOTER’S DIARY

My first bag with the Shooting Times

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