Pheasants in rape

rabbit assassin

Got a call from a concerned farmer at the weekend about the unbelievable amount of pigeons on his fields of rape. I'll be glad to sort that problem out this week :cool:

I did head down to take a look today and brought the dog and gun, yes there was probably a few thousand pigeons moving between 3 or 4 rape fields, so I decided to give them a good walking to try and get a pheasant or two first. I must have walked a good 2 miles, did every ditch around every field as well as some surrounding rough cover fields. I never even came across a single pheasant
I then realised that over the years I dont think I ever remember seeing or shooting a pheasant on a ditch in a field of rape!! I dont know if its just me or has anyone else ever noticed this? I know some people say pigeons almost become "addicted" to the rape and I have often shot some and had the chest nearly explode because it was so densely packed. But as I said, not a sniff of a pheasant

And yes there are a lot of pheasant in the nearby area.

yellowlabrador

I'd rather pigeon than pheasant any day, it's a much nicer meat.
I can't wait for summer.

rabbit assassin

yellowlabrador wrote: »

I'd rather pigeon than pheasant any day, it's a much nicer meat.
I can't wait for summer.

Agreed, highly underrated meat in my opinion

session savage

Yeah pigeon is my favourite meat. MMMMM

landkeeper

well if you were a pheasant would you hang out in a rape field it will be constantly damp with very little to eat

garyc007

do ye eat the pigeons ye shoot lads?like you see people shooting 150/200 pigeon,they hardly eat them do they?

moby30

garyc007 wrote: »

do ye eat the pigeons ye shoot lads?like you see people shooting 150/200 pigeon,they hardly eat them do they?

Its not just me that eats the Pigeons I shoot. Most of my Friend and Family love them too and would always be asking if I have any spare so Its no problem shooting that many. I have one Lady who lets me shoot her land and every year she would ask for about 60-70 for a dinner party she would do. They also freeze very well. Have often shot 300+ and never had a problem getting rid of them.

Tawny Owl

garyc007 wrote: »

do ye eat the pigeons ye shoot lads?like you see people shooting 150/200 pigeon,they hardly eat them do they?

Hello Garyc007 I clocked a few the last weekend.There in the freezer now and yes we well I do eat all the Pigeons I shoot if I get more or asked to shoot on land that has a problem I would give them away as long as there eaten and not dumped.Cheers.:D

extremetaz

Have eaten Pigeon as well - would rate it next best after duck personally.

There aren't too many around me at the moment but I'd shoot any I saw for the taste of them alright.

sonofthegun

pigeon is just the bussiness we have a B B Q EVERY SUMMER game meats only and pigeon breast on cibatta with red onion goes down a storm gas to see the wives tucking into a bit of rabbit or pigeon and drinking bud by the neck life dont get any better
was out for a walk in the rape feilds i shoot today walking with pigeons so thats saturday sorted and be out sunday for a few phesant for the freezer
unreal season is over already
sotg

session savage

sonofthegun wrote: »

pigeon is just the bussiness we have a B B Q EVERY SUMMER game meats only and pigeon breast on cibatta with red onion goes down a storm gas to see the wives tucking into a bit of rabbit or pigeon and drinking bud by the neck life dont get any better
sotg

sounds right good

fodda

Pigeons should never be dumped as the restuarants and game dealers always used to have a demand for them and they are a main part of any "Game Pie".

Perhaps Pies should catch on more in Ireland.........very easy and quick to make.

garyc007

Sounds gud lads. Must giv it a go some day!I always eat wot I shoot too and if they freeze well I'm happy out

Mauser 308

Guys the OP asked about Pheasents in rape, not pigeon's

OP, I hunted a few fields of rape last weekend and put 2 cocks out of it, both were in the ditches surrounding the field's. But both the ditches I put the birds out of had grass and rushes the other side so not sure which fields they were interested in.
Would Pheasents not feed on rape?

rabbit assassin

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Guys the OP asked about Pheasents in rape, not pigeon's

OP, I hunted a few fields of rape last weekend and put 2 cocks out of it, both were in the ditches surrounding the field's. But both the ditches I put the birds out of had grass and rushes the other side so not sure which fields they were interested in.
Would Pheasents not feed on rape?

Thats what Im trying to find out Mauser308, I know they move into the grass fields after christmas to feed on the new clover as do the pigeons but Im wondering if anyone else has had the same experience as me as regards to not having any luck coming across them in rape fields or surrounding ditches. The gun club released 120 cocks and hens in the area very nearby and they all seem to be hanging round sewn fields and grass with not a sinner near the rape. Just curious really why this is

steyrman2

Hi i spent a good few days pheasant shooting this year and i dont recall shooting any pheasants in rape fields i think its too sour for them im sure other lads will have a better answer

moby30

I always remember my Dad would always look to be in a field of Rape on the first day of the season as he always reaconed it was great for holding Pheasants. I honestly cannot remember a time when we wouldnt put a few birds up off it but they were always out in the middle of it. In saying that i Was out with Dicky82 recently and we spent a few hours in a couple of large Rape fields and we saw nothing but there were Thousands of Pigeons feeding on it. I dont know myself if they are actually feeding on it

landkeeper

moby30 wrote: »

I always remember my Dad would always look to be in a field of Rape on the first day of the season as he always reaconed it was great for holding Pheasants. I honestly cannot remember a time when we wouldnt put a few birds up off it but they were always out in the middle of it. In saying that i Was out with Dicky82 recently and we spent a few hours in a couple of large Rape fields and we saw nothing but there were Thousands of Pigeons feeding on it. I dont know myself if they are actually feeding on it

shoot a couple and see , i know where i roost shoot they will be stuffed to the gills with rape when they are feeding on it and there is non within 4 miles of that wood , if you are shooting them and they are full of it burst and empty the crops cos it goes off very quickly and ruins the bird

garyc007

sorry about all the questions about pigeon but how do you tell the different types apart and can you eat all of them?

rabbit assassin

garyc007 wrote: »

sorry about all the questions about pigeon but how do you tell the different types apart and can you eat all of them?

We have 3 types here, well 2 really ! Woodpigeon, feral pigeon and racing pigeon. We also have doves which can be confused with pigeon quite easily but they are a bit smaller. Woodpigeon are the only ones I eat and shoot. Feral pigeon are the types you see in the towns and citys they are dreadful looking creatures, racing pigeons I dont know a whole lot about but they usually fly in tight flocks that can zig zag or just fly in a fast direct route. They can be rarely low enough to shoot.

All are consumable although Im sure it is an offence to shoot racing pigeons but mistakes do happen.

lb1981

Was` out for a few hrs on Saturday and seen 5 cocks and 2 hens all together feeding in a a plot of rape fields , couldnt get near them they flew the minute i stepped into the field.
I have always walked straight through rape fields and beet with the dogs and then hunt the ditches around them after , what ever birds dont get up in front of you will always run to the ditch .
This has been very sucessful for us through out the years, maybe its just north county Dublin birds that just like the rape and beet.:D

Cork24

Pheasants are no where to be seen this year I feel their are really being over killed when I go out I would take a max of 2 and that's a day but often see people with up to six plus with the cold weather we had the past 3 winters I think their numbers are dropping girl friends dad gets a lot of 11 week old farm pheasants and lets them off 3 months before shooting season

lb1981

Cork24 wrote: »

Pheasants are no where to be seen this year I feel their are really being over killed when I go out I would take a max of 2 and that's a day but often see people with up to six plus with the cold weather we had the past 3 winters I think their numbers are dropping girl friends dad gets a lot of 11 week old farm pheasants and lets them off 3 months before shooting season

That is not the case in Dublin , my da only made the comment on Saturday while we were driving around spotting that he had never seen so many Birds around at the end of a season and i have to agree.

garyc007

rabbit assassin wrote: »

We have 3 types here, well 2 really ! Woodpigeon, feral pigeon and racing pigeon. We also have doves which can be confused with pigeon quite easily but they are a bit smaller. Woodpigeon are the only ones I eat and shoot. Feral pigeon are the types you see in the towns and citys they are dreadful looking creatures, racing pigeons I dont know a whole lot about but they usually fly in tight flocks that can zig zag or just fly in a fast direct route. They can be rarely low enough to shoot.

All are consumable although Im sure it is an offence to shoot racing pigeons but mistakes do happen.

so when lads are out shooting pigeon after the season its only feral pigeon they are shooting?

rabbit assassin

lb1981 wrote: »

Was` out for a few hrs on Saturday and seen 5 cocks and 2 hens all together feeding in a a plot of rape fields , couldnt get near them they flew the minute i stepped into the field.
I have always walked straight through rape fields and beet with the dogs and then hunt the ditches around them after , what ever birds dont get up in front of you will always run to the ditch .
This has been very sucessful for us through out the years, maybe its just north county Dublin birds that just like the rape and beet.:D

North County Dublin ??? Could be shootin the same patch as meself

rabbit assassin

garyc007 wrote: »

so when lads are out shooting pigeon after the season its only feral pigeon they are shooting?

Not 100% sure if pigeon have a season or not. I remember reading that they have the same season as pheasants but I dont think it was on a very reputable website. As far as I know if you have permission from the landowner and the pigeons are damaging crops you can shoot woodpigeon all year round. I do anyways

lb1981

rabbit assassin wrote: »

North County Dublin ??? Could be shootin the same patch as meself

Our club is in North county Dublin but most of our land is in Meath;)

rabbit assassin

lb1981 wrote: »

Our club is in North county Dublin but most of our land is in Meath;)

Haha snap !!