doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Tower Pigeon Shoot in Marion, MI This Weekend

Hi,
A pigeon coming out of a box cannot even come close to simulating a high pheasant sailing/curving/diving over tree tops or bursting from a field of cover. Ever step out of your car in a hurry and try to run?

Nor do I understand the math: 28 guns at $145 including lunch leaves about $3,500 for the birds or $3.50 each. Does that make sense? (unless they are homing pigeons and the misses return after the shoot?

Foxy - A squab is just a pigeon of the year, i.e. young; best breasted and pan fried. Old birds can be casseroled until tender and then put in a game pie. I also suggest you change doctors, as pigeon racers like your one usually detest shooters and giving him the rings off birds you shot certainly would tempt him to add something to your medication.

Enjoy your day out; me, I'm off to repair a pen or two and will by up all night shooting your name-sake (with a bit of luck).
Rs,
K.

Kerry,

You're missing my explaination, I've shot driven pheasants before and know how tough they can be. I'm talking about tower shooting pheasants being an attempt at simulating driven shooting. They're just doing one with pigeons for fun because they've got a cheap source of birds.

I'm not the one hosting the shoot, if the guy can make money at that figure then more power to him. I'm just taking a bunch of guns and shells up to have a day of shooting and fun.


Destry

Thanks KerryMan-glad we two "Hibernians" aren't at odds- My Doctor-is also my main man duck and pheasant partner-he knows I shoot "flying barn rats" just as he and his surrent Lady do Sporting Clays- His Grand Dad was an engraver at Beretta in the 1930's and came over to the US about 1938- worked for Remington- He has three beautiful older S series Berettas-and although I prefer side-by doubles, his are indeed fine and well crafted guns- 2 are in 16 gauge, the other in 12 gauge. Squabs sound good, best eating game bird is dove if fixed properly, but here in MI doves are not legal, and you'll see Guinness merge with Manischewitz before we ever get a legal dove season. MH has it right, I also shoot tower pheasants at an area club-not the same as in Europe I know, but it's close, and we have a hard time rounding up beaters and stoppers- The Glorious 12th of August over here means hot summer weather and bass fishing, alas.Foxy

I like your reply and spirit Destry. Sort of like what the late Robert Ruark once said: "Something about the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" I expect we'll hear a lot of that Sunday-looking forward to it. An 8 gauge Churchill- Mama Mia-what a cannon that would be-have to re-read Nash Buckingham's "Are we shooting 8 gauge guns prior to the "pigeon festival" Sunday- see you there- Foxy

P.S. to Kerryman:

You've never shot in a real "live pigeon match". Anybody that says a feral pigeon driving straight out of the box sizzling along 2 feet off the ground headed for the fence isn't a tough target has obviously never done it. A pheasant flushed from cover at reasonable range doesn't even begin to compare. A high curling driven bird is tough for certain but a completely different kind of shooting as it's usually at longer range and you see it coming hence are able to get ready. The pigeons spring from random traps (either five or seven in number) and you've got to get them killed before they get over the boundary which is about 35 yards. It's quick, almost snap shooting, and very tough when you've got good birds.


Destry

You are very, vy right about the toughness of the pigeon ring.

Destry,
You are quite right – I’ve not shot a “live pigeon match” as they have been illegal here for decades, along with dog and cock fighting. Both the latter still occur, available if you know the wrong sort of people, but I do not partake. The type of live pigeon match to which you refer is long gone and cannot be compared to pushing cheap birds out of a box, which is the comparison I made.

I agree with your comment on pheasant speeds - I regard pheasant as lumbering bombers, snipe and woodcock as fighter interceptors. The first are easier to hit but harder to bring down, one pellet is all it takes for the latter. I shoot pheasant because we have a walk-up shoot (a mix of wild and bred birds) also with a couple of drives in it. We take turns at beating. Suits me as I’m getting older and cannot easily spend long days on the bog or across rugged terrain for real shooting. In Kerry I’ve got access to a few good snipe bogs and woodcock territory, where a shot at one woodcock per hour of labour would be a huge reward..
As I said earlier, enjoy your day and do let us know the outcome.

Rs
K
PS nailed one vixen last night, later saw a dog fox but could not get a safe shot.

Dang fOxey I envey you....








Getting to cuddle up with maa'Paaka an all give her a kiss fer me.

Envy- careful there my homeless friend- that's one of the seven deadlies I hear. It's supposed to be snowing in Mid-Central MI starting tonite and during the day tomorrow as well- but as Destry and I are both "Die-Hard" waterfowlers, we'll try to seperate the men from the boys I guess. As far as the "kiss" for Maw-Parker (no relation to Ma Barker of the 1930's?) I'll borrow a line from my favorite movie- "Patton" where George tells the Limey Montgomery- after Patton beat him into Messina- "And I shaved extra close this morning, in case you wanted to give me a kiss-"- not a big surprise from what I have studied abouit Patton, and he shot Parkers too I hear. Will give you a final report come Monday-Foxie

Kerryman,

I've had the pleasure of missing a few snipe on your island, would like to come back one day. In my experience, the snipe is the hardest to hit gamebird on the wing. The old timers here said you had to shoot them between the first squeak and the first zig which I'm not quick enough to do. When I was in Ireland (Northern) it was walked up. I missed one driven on a duck shoot in England, the only chance I ever had at one that way. I've killed a few over the years here and there but sure missed way more than I ever grassed.

I've pulled the trigger on exactly three of your variety of woodcock, missed the first (both barrels) and killed the other two. This was driven and all in the same day, again a trip I'd like to make again. Possibly the best day I ever spent in the field, just a pleasure beyond most others.

My friends across the water all are howling for me to come over again this winter as the exchange rate is so good right now. I'm sure thinking about it.....

Destry