netting pigeons?
netting pigeons?
I got sick of driving 45mins each way to buy pigeons. So i attached a fishing net to a pool skimmer and hit an underpass where i always see pigeons. There was bout a dozen there. as soon as i get in position they fly to the other side. From what i have read everyone says they should be sleeping and you startle them and net them. Well they werent sleeping..maybe cause it is a busy area near a grocery store and other establishments. What is the trick to catch them sleeping?
- Ricky Ticky Shorthairs
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Re: netting pigeons?
Go at night and blind them with a spotlight.
Doug
Doug
Re: netting pigeons?
i had a head lamp with me but didnt seem to phase them. will the spotlight work even if the under pass has plenty of lighting?
- Ricky Ticky Shorthairs
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Re: netting pigeons?
It needs to be 1million candlepower plus. Not sure about how the lit up underpass will effect it.
Doug
Doug
Re: netting pigeons?
If they have any light they are not gonna hold still for you. best a really dark underpass or inside a deserted building or a barn. If your intent on trying in the not dark enough underpass, bring the net from the side of the bird and net it from behind. Pigeons are really good at avoiding a net head on.
I pity the man that has never been loved by a dog!
- ward myers
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Re: netting pigeons?
turning a spot light on them usually blinds them temporarily , something like 1 million candle power
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Re: netting pigeons?
will the 1 million stun them evenwith the lighting?
Re: netting pigeons?
Only way to know it to try it. Like previously mentioned, it works best under dark overpasses and barns. The fact that the overpass is lighted will cause more trouble than its worth. Find another spot.
Chris E. Kroll
CEK Kennels
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CEK Kennels
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785-288-0461
Governments govern best when governments governs least
-Thomas Paine
- ward myers
- Rank: 3X Champion
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Re: netting pigeons?
magspa I used to work with a guy we would catch 300 pigeons in 2 weeks, & sell to the local retriever club for their field trials, I don't know how under passes vary in different parts of the country but there are plenty of unlighted overpasses around here , but we would even catch plenty under the lighted ones .
there is definitely a trick to it , I would hold the light on the birds & bag in other hand , & he would put the net on them from behind ,very fast, they were usually sitting sideways if I remember correctly. the hard part was getting the net to the ground without losing the bird.
we used a pool skimmer handle with a crab net attached & we slit a piece of rubber gas line long ways , & used black electrical tape to wrap it around the metal part of the net. to help prevent net from sliding on the concrete.
we finally quit doing it because we had to start driving further to find birds & the club started to want us to deliver the birds 4 hours away & then they started haggeling on the price .
it got to the point it wasn't worth it anymore.
I am not trying to start any arguments here or step on any ones toes, I am just relaying how we used to catch pigeons back in the day here in florida :
good luck on your pigeon ventures
thanks
there is definitely a trick to it , I would hold the light on the birds & bag in other hand , & he would put the net on them from behind ,very fast, they were usually sitting sideways if I remember correctly. the hard part was getting the net to the ground without losing the bird.
we used a pool skimmer handle with a crab net attached & we slit a piece of rubber gas line long ways , & used black electrical tape to wrap it around the metal part of the net. to help prevent net from sliding on the concrete.
we finally quit doing it because we had to start driving further to find birds & the club started to want us to deliver the birds 4 hours away & then they started haggeling on the price .
it got to the point it wasn't worth it anymore.
I am not trying to start any arguments here or step on any ones toes, I am just relaying how we used to catch pigeons back in the day here in florida :
good luck on your pigeon ventures
thanks
Re: netting pigeons?
I used to do that until an Officer of the Law told me ................or be charged with trespassing.
Re: netting pigeons?
It's not that hard.
The overpasses I use have light but I still flash a light on the bird. I use a fishing landing net attached to a piece of PVC pipe. I put the net, while I am spot lighting them, under them on the concrete beam below the bird. After a moment or two, I drop the flash light (attached to my wrist via a lanyard) and push the net up along the beam. The bird senses/feels the net and takes off flying and ususally into the net. I hold the net against the concrete and drag it down; the bird will most likely fight the net and get tangled in it.
The overpasses I use have light but I still flash a light on the bird. I use a fishing landing net attached to a piece of PVC pipe. I put the net, while I am spot lighting them, under them on the concrete beam below the bird. After a moment or two, I drop the flash light (attached to my wrist via a lanyard) and push the net up along the beam. The bird senses/feels the net and takes off flying and ususally into the net. I hold the net against the concrete and drag it down; the bird will most likely fight the net and get tangled in it.
Re: netting pigeons?
thanks ill have to ditch the head lamp and try a more powerful spotlight.
- AZ Brittany Guy
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Re: netting pigeons?
Ever thought of building a loft and raise homers?magspa wrote:thanks ill have to ditch the head lamp and try a more powerful spotlight.
- Ricky Ticky Shorthairs
- Rank: 5X Champion
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Re: netting pigeons?
Homers are ok, but those wild pigeons flush waaay harder than most homers.AZ Brittany Guy wrote:Ever thought of building a loft and raise homers?magspa wrote:thanks ill have to ditch the head lamp and try a more powerful spotlight.
Doug
- AZ Brittany Guy
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Re: netting pigeons?
Your right but for me, I'm too old to be crawling around an overpass at night netting pigeons. Past my bedtime.. I work 8 dogs and I think I would spend more time catching pigeons than working my dogs.Ricky Ticky Shorthairs wrote:Homers are ok, but those wild pigeons flush waaay harder than most homers.AZ Brittany Guy wrote:Ever thought of building a loft and raise homers?magspa wrote:thanks ill have to ditch the head lamp and try a more powerful spotlight.
Doug
Re: netting pigeons?
get your selef a good size wire basket a stick long string find a place where pigeons feed . then set up the basket throw a little corn or old bread wait awhile for them to go under pull the string gather your birds. as a kid i caught many that way and sold them for 25 cents each long time ago but alot more productive than trying with a nett in the dark one bird at a time jmo
Re: netting pigeons?
The wild birds do flush faster but just start a loft with ferals. I have ferals and homers both. Got started with ferals about 25+ years ago. Naeve had to catch or buy another bird. I even moved a whole loft full here, over 200 mi, and didn't lose any that I could count. If you have the older style traps, the ferals are shaller and fit into the traps better and I've had a few that homed from close to 100 mi and 50 mi was never a problem.
- roaniecowpony
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Re: netting pigeons?
I've trapped them with a common 36x24x8 wire trap with a funnel opening at local parks and markets. But it's still a pain.
- ward myers
- Rank: 3X Champion
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Re: netting pigeons?
there is a commercialy made trap available, ,has the finger door opening ,works best if you prop door open for a day with food inside ,then close the door
Re: netting pigeons?
Finally ordered a trap from lioncountry. Just couldnt net these pigeons. Drove all over checking overpasses and the only overpasses with birds are the lighted ones. They just fly from one end to the other once i get with in about 30' so no way i can net them with my pool skimmer/fishing net. I set my trap this afternoon on top of a parking garage . baited and put water inside, tied the bobs up and will swing by tomorrow and drop the doors. hope this works