THE COUNTRYMAN BAGGING BIRDS ON THE STUBBLES
THE QUARRY
WOODPIGEON
Columba palumbus
PEST STATUS: Woodpigeons congregate in huge flocks that can comprise thousands of hungry birds, devouring crops with ruinous impact.
HABITAT: Woodpigeons are woodland birds, but also roost in gardens, hedgerows and parks.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Pigeon is excellent to eat, and the breast meat is valued by chefs. Successful pest control will be rewarded with some great meat for the table.
Late summer is a prime time for the pigeon shooter. Large flocks of these birds gather to feed on spilt grain left behind after cereal crops are harvested. Birds usually return to dine on seed when farmers sow their autumn drillings in the following weeks. This creates great opportunities for airgun shooters to make bags of these birds, helping farmers reduce numbers of this agricultural pest while harvesting some delicious free-range meat at the same time.
I’m shooting over barley stubble today. The birds have homed in on the easy feeding situation and are likely to destroy the autumn drillings unless their numbers are reduced. My usual approach for this kind of pest control is to head out with a shotgun and take birds on
