I remember rings like the one you found. Nice pics Jeff. I am very ignorant about " steering caps and pigeon shoots". Can you give some history? Thanks.
Back circa 1930's, 1940's there were allot of Live Pigeon Matches here in Schuylkill County PA.
These Matches had Big Time Betting going on.
I believe the matches actually date back to the 1890's
the Pigeons for the most part were barn Pigeons, But there were also Trainers who
Brought their Pigeons to the Matches, & if there was Big Money on a Particular Match
the trainer would be paid on the side to Slip a ringer in.
These trainers would tie a Few Bottle Caps to the Birds leg or wing,
And if most of the birds were leaving the Traps and heading right,
the trainer knew just how to tie them to the bird to make it take a sharp left.
At least at this particular Field The Trainer used Brand New unused bottle Caps.
If you look at the edge of the cap you can see it was never fastened to a bottle.
I also find caps with Square Holes & string occasionally.
I used to think they trained their Pigeons before the Matches, But occasionally
I also find Pigeon bands with them, so they must have tied the steering caps
on at the matches on occasion