As I consider the current landscape of pigeon shooting, my mind takes me to shuffling across stubble fields on blustery days during harvest, when the wind is warm and there…
Tom Payne
Controlling magpies legally and effectively
Advice on controlling magpies Q: What’s the best way to shoot magpies? Can they be decoyed? I don’t own a firearm, only an air rifle, so I will need to…
Why peas are the best all-around crop for the pigeon shooter
You’ve heard me say plenty of times that peas are a fantastic all-round crop for the enthusiastic pigeon shooter. From drilling to harvest, if you manage the crop protection over…
Using sim days the right way for summer shooting practice
When the season draws to a close, most shooters put their guns back in the cabinet and there they will stay until the autumn. But the introduction of simulated game…
Bird shooting – how to stop missing the ‘easy shots’
Is there such a thing as an ‘easy’ bird? And how would you define easy? You often hear it said that somebody has missed a ‘sitter’, but one person’s sitter may…
Pigeon control – why paying attention to weather matters
The fascination, obsession and reward pigeon control gives the countryman is unrivalled, I believe. I have a good friend who speaks of the elusive silver salmon in the same way,…
Spring pigeon shooting – how is pigeon behaviour affected?
Spring is around the corner — I’m sitting here writing this looking at snowdrops, and daffodils are beginning to make an appearance in the garden. What I’ve actually been concentrating…
How to choose the right shotgun and cartridge for pigeon shooting
Shotguns and cartridges for pigeon shooting It’s taken me a few years to discover the best shotguns and cartridges for pigeon shooting. Here is what I have discovered. (Read how…
How to improve hand-eye coordination when shooting
Hand-eye coordination plays a huge factor in almost all sports. In fact, it is probably the sole priority for most, if not all, sports. Obviously there are other factors depending…
Shooting in the snow – how to adapt to challenging weather
This is a prime time of year for a pigeon shooter. Not in terms of numbers but rather that we can employ all three shooting methods — decoying, roosting and…
Pricking birds: how to reduce the risk
Guns often say to me, “I shot really well at the start of the season, but now I’m not hitting as many birds.” But it may surprise readers to know…
Winter pigeon shooting – tactics for success
As seasons go, this one has been far from plain sailing. Most Guns have struggled for regular sport, and to say shoots have had their issues would be an understatement.…
The Pigeon Shooter’s Code
The conditions were great for an afternoon’s pigeon flighting. We decided to hop into photographer Oli Lees’s pickup as I had chosen to flight the birds, which meant, with the…
Lead when shooting: here’s how to get it right
How to get the right lead when shooting We’ve all been there. You’re in the field on a shoot day and it’s simply not working out. “Give it more lead,”…
Early season pigeon shooting – how to get the most out of it
I won’t keep on about my jaw injury, but it feels like months since I fell out of that ash tree. I was recently speaking to a friend, who is…
What to look for when buying a gun
It always amazes me how people will buy a gun based on its looks, even before they’ve looked at how well it’s built and how it handles. Perhaps some manufacturers…
How to get permission for pigeon shooting
Permission for pigeon shooting can be hard to get. Think about it from the farmer’s point of view. He or she needs to have complete confidence in the person asking…
Inherited gun? How to make sure it fits you properly
There’s a certain prestige in an inherited gun, in using your grandfather’s or great-grandfather’s pair of Purdeys or Bosses, but how often do those lucky people shoot superbly? Not infrequently,…
Hanging woodpigeon – how to handle the birds after you’ve shot them
Hanging woodpigeon Eating woodpigeon you’ve shot yourself is wonderfully satisfying but keeping them in the best condition before cooking is key. Once pigeons have been successfully shot and picked-up, they…