Then and now

Peter Theobald reflects on how little has changed since shooting pigeon became regarded as a legitimate form of control

- Peter Theobald

Days gone by

Has pigeon shooting changed greatly over the decades or is it still much the same as it was 60 years ago, wonders Peter Theobald?

We certainly have more gadgets and gizmos now, although the skills involved in building hides and decoying would be familiar to our predecessors.

What has changed, however, is the presence of garden feeders and the prevalence of oilseed rape – as shown here – which have provided the pigeon with a year-round food source.

The humble pigeon is thriving, providing plenty of work for those whose job it is to protect crops.

When the editor speculated on what us pigeon shooters might have to look forward to in 2021, the seed of an article was planted. However, I decided that before I wrote it I would reread Archie Coats’s book to see what it was like in his day, 60-plus years ago, compared with our times.