You will only be successful if they are very hungry! Food is what dictates to weather a pigeon will do this or that etc. I raised pigeons and can tell you, they are not all alike either. I had racer's, homer's, Birmingham Rollers, Turkish Roller's, California White Race's too. Last year my pigeon feed bill was higher than our dog's feed bill. We had some 400 birds then.
I would put some whole corn and sunflower seeds inside a dog crate like I do. You let them feed that way for 3 or 4 days. Keep the crate dog open all the time, so they can come and go as they please. The one morning before the sun is up, you tie a heavy string to the gate and when a half/dozen or so get inside, you pull that gate shut. Get to the gate quick like and have someone there to help get the pigeons out and then load it up again for the next morning.
Yes, a night time you can pluck them right off the roost alright, using a flashlight and shine it in their eyes quick, grab em and turn off the light. Then start all over on the nexst bird.
