Pigeons — How Can They Fly Off After I SMACKED Them? 🤔

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JungleShooter

JungleShooter

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Sep 5, 2018
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Pigeons — How Can They Fly Off After I SMACKED Them? 🤔


Only recently I have gotten into pesting (mainly feral pigeons) messing with the welfare of both cows and human beings.

Now, recently I've had some less than successful hunts —
🔶and I'm hoping some of you can help me understand what is happening....



BACKGROUND
To the rats with wings at 35 and 45 yards the Skyhawk delivers the JSB 16's (15.89gr) with over 20 FPE.

With that rifle I normally can do sub-1.5" groups at 50y.

However, sometimes there is quite a bit of wind where I pest.




OBSERVATION
Recently, I've been having a lot of fly-offs — after I scored a hit, supposedly.






INTERPRETATIONS


🤔 (1) If I missed completley — there would be no smacking sound (but there is, and it's loud).... 



🤔 (2) If I were only hitting feathers — there would be no smacking sound, but I'd expect feathers to fly (they often don't).




🤔 (3a) If I were hitting the body anywhere — at this speed I surely must have pass-throughs, and there should be feathers flying, I think....
🤔 (3b) Also, not that many pigeons should be able to fly away as if nothing happened, in controlled flight, a straight line, I think....



🤔 (4) I had it a few times that I hit one, I heard the smack, and the pigeon fell straight down.
But when I later went to retrieve it, it was nowhere to be found.
What is going on...?!?





Thanks for giving me some interpretations of what might be happening.
(And yes, I know, if I hit their head every time, this wouldn't be happening.)


Matthias
 
I had the same problem.but my rifle was weak so I got a more powerful one..I think you have enough power,hunting and plinking are very different, when I am hunting and see game a get a "rush"and must try to calm down,it is easier for me to "throw" a shot if I don't calm down.....so then it comes to shot placement ....= follow through.
 
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Anyone who has done a fair amount of pigeon shooting has had fly offs. Or, birds seemingly hard hit not die right away. It boils down to shot placement, distance, field conditions, etc. Some believe that because they shoot tight groups they are good to go. Field conditions are constantly variable, so what you hear or see as good hits, aren’t. Pigeons though fragile, can be remarkably tough.
 
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I’ve found pigeons to be THE hardest to kill of any of the pests that I hunt.

I’ve also found them to be the smartest.

Not sure why but I’ve hit them with a 44 gr pellet out of a 30 cal RAW and had them fly off. I’ve also had then drop on the spot. I think it takes a good HARD well placed shot. Shot placement most important. 

I try to not shoot unless I can get a good hit in front of the chest. Side shots into the wing not good. 

I’m shooting at 70 yards I’m sure closer it would be easier 
 
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Shooting groups is not shooting pigeons. Totally different. Mostly the rest, the bullseye and angle. If you want know where your pellet is hitting go around the barns or silos where you hunt and just shoot wood knots, nail heads and bolts, for example as targets. THEN you will know what kind of shooter you are. I’m not saying you are a bad shot. Try that and it will reveal where you are hitting. You might just be surprised. 

Pigeons are tough and they can “fly dead.” Happy hunting. 
 
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I don’t have many pigeons near, but I have noticed that some of the starlings I shoot fly off after a hard hit. I hit one and watched it fly off strong but it’s legs were down and it dropped after 50 yards or so. I checked it out and it was hit low in the gut. Do you ever notice the legs being down after the pigeons you hit fly off? 
 
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A Texas heart shot on pigeons is IMHO the best way...if possible. These 2 are shot with 10 fp/e at +/- 30 yards. Brake the spine and dammage internals, heart, lungs. FX Vermi.177 , power 2 with AA Fields 8.44 gr. 

download.png


download.png



 
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you have to watch carefully with fallow through as some pigeon snap their toes/fingers to make a popping sound to make you think they were hit, its a defensive behavior some have learned.
Click to expand...

I did not know that. Did YOU know they can read? I’ve had them fly off when I park my car. They know the license plate number on my car. 
 
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Just a little story, in Ww1 there was a carrier pigeon called Cher ami. You can google it, as soon as she was set free to deliver the message she was shot down by Germans. She was able to take flight again, by the time she delivered the message she was missing a leg, shot in the chest and blind in 1 eye. So yea expect fly offs even if you have a good shot. The will to live is exceptionally strong in some animals.
 
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I would stay away from using dome head pellets as they don't cut a good wound channel. I had the same problem as you shooting the JSB 18's with 30 fpe, with many times getting fly offs. To get a better wound channel use a pellet with a flatter head design. What the problem can be with hollow points or wadcutters they don't maintain accuracy and loose energy faster past thirty to forty yards. However since it seems your shots are in that closer range may I suggest using the H&N Terminator which when you shoot paper with it you will see how it cuts a nice sharp edge hole and wound channel too. Polymags would be good too if they would fit your magazine and the Hades have been fantastic for me but that is shooting at 30 fpe plus. To demonstrate the difference in transfer of energy between the JSB's and the Terminators watch this video of me shooting apples, I think you will be surprised. Bill



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKiwlkWlwOc&ab_channel=GunPowder%26AirPower


 
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