Pigeon Shooting : Empty spaces

Peter Theobald wonders where all the pigeons on his permissions have gone. Paul, his shooting partner, may have some answers

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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 months are likely to take place. I will usually know when and where to look for a potential shoot, having memorised the crops on the various farms and logged them for future reference.

However, this year looks like being a struggle for the simple reason only one of my farms is growing rape. When pigeons vanished from most of my areas in early October to feast on the bumper crop of acorns, it is usually the draw of rape that brings them back once the natural harvest has been exhausted. Without fields of rape to focus on the pigeons are still foraging under any oaks in the area, clearing the abundance of food that still lies on the ground.

Paul has reported large flocks on permissions just 20 miles away

Normal year