Duck trapping and other methods

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Hi folks,

 

I've been pondering this the last few days, don't ask me where the thought originated from but I've been wondering how people caught ducks before shooting them, or in areas where they can't be shot. I don't intend to do it, it is something that's in my head and won't go away. So are there specific duck traps? Or what techniques were used long ago to catch the little quackers?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Idle on T'interweb.

[Yokel Matt 918]

A cube of pork fat on a piece of string... Not personally of course - just a tall tale i overheard in a beaters cart once

[JohnGalway 1,043]

Cheers for that Local It's an interesting take I'd not considered, though once you mentioned it I remember years back my day co owned a fishing boat with my uncle. I'd always be down at the quay messing around and used to use bits of fish or limpets on fishing line to annoy the seagulls

[andybrock 2]

Hi folks,

 

I've been pondering this the last few days, don't ask me where the thought originated from but I've been wondering how people caught ducks before shooting them, or in areas where they can't be shot. I don't intend to do it, it is something that's in my head and won't go away. So are there specific duck traps? Or what techniques were used long ago to catch the little quackers?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Idle on T'interweb.

 

John,

 

I know years ago they used to have tunnels over narrow dykes / ditches these tunnels were made of fishing net and as they drove the ducks down the ditches the tunnels narrowed so the ducks were penned in at the ends where they could be easily caught. I havn't got a clue what they were called but I'm sure more informed people on here will know and probably give you a better discription of how they worked.

 

Cheers Andy

[JohnGalway 1,043]

I've been Googling, asking elsewhere and receiving PM's about this today. Andy, those types of set up's you describe are called Duck Decoys There's some very interesting reading out there, it just highlights how innovative people can be when options like firearms aren't available.

Edited July 15, 2009 by JohnGalway

[john b 38]

John

 

Duck Decoys were widely used and are still used today to capture and ring wild ducks.

 

There's an interesting account in Richard Keartons 'With nature and a camera' with is available digitally here

 

http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/keacam/keacam09.htm

 

There was also a feature on the Midlands news a few months ago but I can't find that anywhere.

 

There is a working one at the National Trust at Boarstall where they do demonstrations of it.

[Yokel Matt 918]

Cheers for that Local It's an interesting take I'd not considered, though once you mentioned it I remember years back my day co owned a fishing boat with my uncle. I'd always be down at the quay messing around and used to use bits of fish or limpets on fishing line to annoy the seagulls

 

The idea was that the fat went straight through the ducks so that, apparently, you could get several ducks on the same piece of string that you left secured to the bank or something. Seems a bit harsh on the duck but i guess it depends how hungry you are!