STARTING OUT IN PIGEON SHOOTING
If you are new to this great sport of woodpigeon shooting then you are going to need a basic knowledge, before you get yourself sorted out with the basic kit.
It goes without saying that you will need a shotgun. Everyone has different wants and need in this area, so get to your local gun shop and seek advice.
As for cartridges for pigeon shooting, an ounce load of sixes is fine, some may want to go heavier but if you get a ‘hot’ day in a pigeon hide, perhaps shooting 300 cartridges, then your shoulder will soon let you know if your choice of cartridge has been too potent! Most people tend to go for either 12 or 20 bore, personally I use the latter, but its up to you.
If you have not done so already, get proficient on the clays, get well used to your gun and hitting targets before you even think about trying to shoot live quarry, especially pigeons! There is nothing worse than missing bird after bird apart from when you actually connect and only wound them. Become confident with your gun and shells and you will have a much more enjoyable day.
Okay, so we’ve got the guns and ammo sorted, now you need a suitable farm with a suitable crop, with enough pigeons hitting it to make a days shooting worthwhile. Land and crops will be the subject of other articles, so lets assume you are in the field and ready to go.
Standing in the middle of a field trying to shoot a good bag of woodpigeons is akin to trying to get a straight answer out of a politician, in other words, usually a waste of time.
You are going to need some decent cammo gear, and most importantly, a mesh face mask or floppy hat. Pigeons will spot the flash of a human face from half a mile away, so don’t let them!
A hide is next, not the pop-up tent ones as they are useless due to the fact that you can’t swing your gun. Get some decent camouflage netting and a good set of hide poles. You also need some decoys, and a set of 10 flocked shells is as good a start as any. For now, as an absolute beginner, this is all the kit you will need to start shooting pigeons. We will discuss the merits of all the other available equipment in future articles, but when a bird commits to your pattern, remember the golden rule: KEEP AS STILL AS POSSIBLE until its time to fire the shot or the bird will be away in a flash!