What are shooting flightlines and how do I spot them?

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What are shooting flightlines and how do I spot them?

By watching pigeons leave their roost wood you can follow their flight path and find out where they are feeding.

By Peter Theobald

Friday, 11 July 2008

I am relatively new to pigeon decoying and I'm really keen to learn all I can. One thing that baffles me are flightlines. Are these regular features, and what should I be looking for?

Pigeon shooting
PETER THEOBALD says:
A flightline is simply the route a pigeon takes when it leaves its roosting wood and heads out to the place it has chosen as a feeding ground.

It is possible to watch a known roosting wood, preferably around midday, and follow the line of any emerging woodies to discover where they may be feeding.

Be prepared to follow them perhaps four or five miles (not always easy, when pigeons don't stick to the main roads).

The easier way is to have some idea where they are feeding, and then watch to see from which direction the birds arrive.

Knowledge of flightlines is essential for successful decoying as they will always determine which part of the field you set up in.