Most serious decoyers will tell you that they have favourite times of year when it comes to shooting pigeons. It may be the start of the spring drillings, or the…
Peter Theobald
Has avian flu impacted the pigeon population?
As usual at this time of year, I look at the crops being grown on all my permissions to try to ascertain where my pigeon-shooting outings for the coming 12…
The benefits of having a pigeon shooting partner
Regular readers will know that I often extol the benefits of having a pigeon shooting partner who not only shares your passion for pigeon shooting but also goes about the…
How to zero your own rifle
How to zero your own rifle: Set up your rifle on a proper bench rest, making sure it is stable and secure so it will not move.
Shooting practice – how to become a better shot
Every shotgun shooter should have as their new year resolution: “I want to become a better shot.” This is regardless of whether they are shooting at clays or live game.…
Pigeon-shooting: anticipating their behaviour
As usual at the end of each year I like to look back at Paul and my pigeon-shooting outings to see if there is anything we could have done to…
The intelligence of rooks
Quick facts on rooks Distribution: Widespread across much of central and northern Europe, extending to southern Russia and the extreme west of China. An eastern form is also present in…
How did the hot weather affect pigeon behaviour?
While writing this in the last week of August, we in the south-east are still ‘enjoying’ unprecedented levels of sunshine, with daytime temperatures rarely dipping below 25°C. Here in Essex,…
What time of day are woodpigeon most active? When do woodpigeon feed?
I'm just starting out shooting on my local farm and would like to know at what time of day are the pigeons most active?
Why location is crucial for setting up a hide
When I acquired my first shotgun, aged 14, I became obsessed with the pursuit of the few woodies that lived on our farm on Canvey Island. Though the farm was…
A guide to improving decoy patterns
We’ve all been there. Our days of reconnaissance have suggested a field will produce a bumper bag. We constructed the ‘perfect’ hide and the decoys are out, and we await…
Spring pigeon shooting – Peter Theobald on the best drills
Come April, most of the fields due to be planted with spring crops should be drying out nicely and a lot of the lighter soils already sown. Indeed, I saw…
Conflicts with the public in the countryside
Many of my shooting permissions border large urban towns and while I reap the benefit of pigeon flying out to feed in the fields surrounding them, I inevitably come into…
How pigeon feeding habits change with the seasons
Wood pigeon feeding habits We should have a mental picture of the different crops grown on our pigeon shooting permissions. But at what time of the year should we be…
So why would you want a lightweight gun?
I find my 12-bore is getting a bit too heavy to carry game shooting all day, so I’ve changed to a lighter 20-bore.
When is the best time to start pigeon roost shooting? (And other frequently asked questions on the subject.)
When is the best time to start roost shooting, is November too early for the rooks and pigeons?
When pigeons come home to roost
Handy hints for successful roost shooting
Pigeon shooting days – how they have changed!
Shooters of my age often lament that things were better in “the good old days”, when all you had to do was throw an old stuffed grey sock out on a likely looking field and…
The myth of pigeon pattern
As you would expect, I spend a lot of time watching pigeons, from picking up flightlines to trying to find their favourite field at any given time of year. I get plenty of opportunity to…
Pigeon shooting: 6 pieces of kit you won’t want to be without…
Pigeon shooting expert, Peter Theobald, runs through his list of ‘must have’ decoying accessories.