Ring collecting
Question:
Pigeon, or dove, are best shot with 12 gauge and number 7 1/2 or 8 shot. If you are trying to collect the bands in the US, there are many who keep the bands as a ‘trophy’. Some are more valuable than others. I think most migratory game bird species are banded, and in the US the band usually says something like bird banding laboratory, Laurel, MD and a 1800 number to call if you shot it. They send you a certificate, thanking you for shooting it. My daughter got a banded goose last year and was thrilled about it. I am sure the same thing exists for doves, too. Before you buy. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Are you referring to a band on the pigion’s leg? If you are, you are probably killing racing homers who are resting during a race or a training flight. That makes your ring collection equivalent to a dog collar collection. You might want to contact the UK pigion racing federation and check on the sources of your rings. I expect you will be very surpised that you have been killing someone’s racing birds. If they are not racing homers but wood pigions, the bands come from a study of the population and I am sure the study sponsers would be delighted to get the rings back or at least learn of the birds fate, date and place of death. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ——Original Message—– Newsgroups: rec.hunting >I’m looking for more information on ring collecting. I’ve got a modest >collection, but pigeons don’t often land in my garden 
I’m looking >for any information about good places to find them, where they usually >stop for rest and such. >I currently use a .177 air rifle to shoot them, which is quite >effective when they are close. I am thinking about getting a shotgun as >it would obviously be more effective at bringing them down when they’re >flying, but I am worried about damaging the rings. Could someone >recommend a suitable caliber? I think 12g would be a bit excessive! >Finally, are there any web resources for this hobby? I’ve done some >searching on the search engines, but they haven’t turned up much. I >apologise for the cross-post, but I really didn’t know where to look! >TIA, >Roger >– >"The Night-rider! Remember his name, when you look at the night sky." >Before you buy. >Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
If the rings you are talking about are on pigeons, then they’re put there by an individual who is caring enough about his pigeons to band for identification purposes. These bands are used to trace the owner for notification in the event the bird becomes lost. In some cases, flighted racing homer pigeons are quite valuable. Champions may be valued in the 4 digit range. Granted, your not likely to find a champion racer sitting on your window sill, but, nevertheless, I would bet the owner would gladly pay for the return shipping cost to recover a missing bird. Fetherz Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
I’m looking for more information on ring collecting. I’ve got a modest collection, but pigeons don’t often land in my garden I’m looking for any information about good places to find them, where they usually stop for rest and such. I currently use a .177 air rifle to shoot them, which is quite effective when they are close. I am thinking about getting a shotgun as it would obviously be more effective at bringing them down when they’re flying, but I am worried about damaging the rings. Could someone recommend a suitable caliber? I think 12g would be a bit excessive! Finally, are there any web resources for this hobby? I’ve done some searching on the search engines, but they haven’t turned up much. I appologise for the cross-post, but I really didn’t know where to look! TIA, Roger Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
I’m looking for more information on ring collecting. I’ve got a modest collection, but pigeons don’t often land in my garden I’m looking for any information about good places to find them, where they usually stop for rest and such. I currently use a .177 air rifle to shoot them, which is quite effective when they are close. I am thinking about getting a shotgun as it would obviously be more effective at bringing them down when they’re flying, but I am worried about damaging the rings. Could someone recommend a suitable caliber? I think 12g would be a bit excessive! Finally, are there any web resources for this hobby? I’ve done some searching on the search engines, but they haven’t turned up much. I apologise for the cross-post, but I really didn’t know where to look! TIA, Roger — "The Night-rider! Remember his name, when you look at the night sky." Before you buy. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
