Starting Wildfowling in September - advice please

[harrycatcat 31]

Right I am starting to go wildfowling on the East coast of England this September. I have never been before what advice would you give me ?, what equipment should I have ? All advice about wildfowling accepted. As much info as possible.

 

Thanks is advance.

 

Regards

 

Hcc

[Wildfowler 1]

Right I am starting to go wildfowling on the East coast of England this September. I have never been before what advice would you give me ?, what equipment should I have ? All advice about wildfowling accepted. As much info as possible.

 

Thanks is advance.

 

Regards

 

Hcc

 

Where are you proposing to shoot?

[harrycatcat 31]

I have applied to join South Lincs Wildfowlers South of Skegness East of Boston

[jclay91 12]

I have applied to join South Lincs Wildfowlers South of Skegness East of Boston

 

 

hi there,

i have done a fair bit of wildfowling in scotland inland and on the foreshore.

i am by no means an expert but i would say,

1. know the tide times

2. know the area, study it in daylight a few times before you go out onto any marsh/mudflat

3. warm, waterproof clothing.. waders, good breathable windproof waterproof coat and a decent pair of gloves

4. make sure you use legal cartridges (i use 35gram 5's for duck and 50gram 3's for geese bismuth)

5. get a compass and good map and learn how to use it, it pays when the fog comes in quickly.

 

I am pretty sure i will have missed a few things but theres a few.

i am sure you are aware that safety is the top of any shooting mans list and the foreshore can be a dangerous place!

 

i hope you get some good shooting, wildfowling is by far my favourite sport

[jclay91 12]

i forgot to mention...decoys calls etc

i have never used decoys or calls on the foreshore, i have always tried to get under the flightlines.

my friend who also shoots the foreshore is the opposite and would never venture out without his duck decoys and various calls, i guess it depends on if you can bothered to carry it all (maybe i am lazy but i usually get as many shots as him, be in the right place at the right time and you will get some good shooting.

also... A DOG... i would never go out with my gun onto the foreshore without a good strong dog, the sight of a winged duck floating out into the sea would not be a good one (i arent saying throw your dog into the rapids but then again i wouldnt be shooting near any rough water that my dog couldnt swim in!)

and when coming away from the foreshore the first job is always to dry the dog and get it warm and comfortable!

[harrycatcat 31]

i forgot to mention...decoys calls etc

i have never used decoys or calls on the foreshore, i have always tried to get under the flightlines.

my friend who also shoots the foreshore is the opposite and would never venture out without his duck decoys and various calls, i guess it depends on if you can bothered to carry it all (maybe i am lazy but i usually get as many shots as him, be in the right place at the right time and you will get some good shooting.

also... A DOG... i would never go out with my gun onto the foreshore without a good strong dog, the sight of a winged duck floating out into the sea would not be a good one (i arent saying throw your dog into the rapids but then again i wouldnt be shooting near any rough water that my dog couldnt swim in!)

and when coming away from the foreshore the first job is always to dry the dog and get it warm and comfortable!

 

Thanks for that,sound advice, I suppose its just a bit nervy taking something up that you have never done before, thanks

[markyboy 0]

fowling is a sport that can be quickly given up,being muscled out by local guns who will always know where the birds are and where to be for a shot. these locals are the people that you want to try and be friends with. 5 seasons ago i ventured back into fowling starting from the bottom,walking miles and not getting a single shot or lucky to see anything.

you have to keep at it,try and get in the mix with locals see what the birds are doing. the trouble is you have to really study the shore yourself and work it out for yourself,not alot of people will let on where the birds are feeding and talk crap,well they do on the solway anyway.

good luck with fowling. its not easy to master there are so many things to learn. but if you dont give up on it you will soon master it and enjoy it as much as i do.

 

mark