harrycatcat 31 Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Monday 11th October 2010 Well the clock went off at 03.15 and I set off at 03.30 for a 2 hour journey to the marshes. Got there and had a sandwich and a drink when my mentor turned up. I met this chap after joining the wildfowling club, he was at a clay shoot and lived not too far away and has 40+ years experience on the marshes. I “tapped†him up and he said that I could go out with him and as he was 68 I thought that I should be able to keep up with him, wherever he goes I should be OK I have got other offers but they are younger than me and tend to want to race off and tire me out. Anyway we got togged up and the next thing I am on the sea wall with gun,hide,poles and haversack and the dog pulling me everywhere. My mentor said wait till your eyes adapt to the dark then go about 50 yards out onto the marsh and make a hide around the gate post as I will go further down the sea wall to a different spot. Well I set off into the darkness and the marsh the next thing was the flippin mud pulling my waders off my feet and I thought “what the f*** am I doing here†I couldn't find/see the efin post and it was like walking through treacle. So I went back to the sea wall in the pitch black to get my breath back even though I had only ventured 50 yards. I did this another twice before throwing the towel in. I eventually got settled in some long grass waiting for the dawn thinking this is the last time I am coming on this jaunt “up at 3.15, tired out, nope not again†The dawn chorus started before it got light with the oyster catchers and others that I could not identify. Two exorcet missiles went past/over me which were the vapour trails from ducks and I did not even get the chance to lift the gun. I saw other duck even faster and the large skeins of geese were a good sight. It was a landscape that I am not used to and it was beautiful. I saw the dawn break and it was a lovely red sun with a clearish sky. I did not fire a shot but before coming for the first time I had said that I intended to use my first season to learn the ropes not to shoot everything that moved. I got my gear together when the creek behind me started to trickle in with water and I thought “time to goâ€. My little terrier loved every minute, she was soaked to the skin and thick with mud but happy. In conclusion it is cold, tiring ,and needs a lot of research as I have never been wildfowling before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back again on the same marsh in a couple of weeks time and if I can keep my eyes open I will post some photos of the dawn breaking on the east coast. My advice is if you get the chance, have a go at wildfowling as it is totally different to shooting ducks inland. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrycatcat 31 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 (edited) A few more photos from this morning edited to say can you see the geese in the last three images? Edited October 11, 2010 by harrycatcat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 harry when you get going there will be no stopping you i have lived on the shores of the estuary ( morecambe bay) all my life and wildfowling is my favouite form of hunting, i have to be restrained from going everyday keep at it it mate, it may seem hard work now......just wait til the depths of winter thanks for sharing sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrycatcat 31 Posted October 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Sean, I cant wait to get back to be honest I thoroughly enjoyed it the more I think about it. The big bug bear is the traveling time involved. I was back at work yesterday at 12 noon. I feel honoured that someone is taking the time to mentor me as it can be a frightening place to be in the dark and the mud monster is pulling at your boots Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 im spoiled here harry, i can walk from home to the shore. but its great that someone is willing to take you and show you the ropes just shows there are still some decent sorts out there. keep us posted on your journey mate.............and bloody enjoy it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wag 13 Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Monday 11th October 2010 Well the clock went off at 03.15 and I set off at 03.30 for a 2 hour journey to the marshes. Got there and had a sandwich and a drink when my mentor turned up. I met this chap after joining the wildfowling club, he was at a clay shoot and lived not too far away and has 40+ years experience on the marshes. I "tapped" him up and he said that I could go out with him and as he was 68 I thought that I should be able to keep up with him, wherever he goes I should be OK I have got other offers but they are younger than me and tend to want to race off and tire me out. Anyway we got togged up and the next thing I am on the sea wall with gun,hide,poles and haversack and the dog pulling me everywhere. My mentor said wait till your eyes adapt to the dark then go about 50 yards out onto the marsh and make a hide around the gate post as I will go further down the sea wall to a different spot. Well I set off into the darkness and the marsh the next thing was the flippin mud pulling my waders off my feet and I thought "what the f*** am I doing here" I couldn't find/see the efin post and it was like walking through treacle. So I went back to the sea wall in the pitch black to get my breath back even though I had only ventured 50 yards. I did this another twice before throwing the towel in. I eventually got settled in some long grass waiting for the dawn thinking this is the last time I am coming on this jaunt "up at 3.15, tired out, nope not again" The dawn chorus started before it got light with the oyster catchers and others that I could not identify. Two exorcet missiles went past/over me which were the vapour trails from ducks and I did not even get the chance to lift the gun. I saw other duck even faster and the large skeins of geese were a good sight. It was a landscape that I am not used to and it was beautiful. I saw the dawn break and it was a lovely red sun with a clearish sky. I did not fire a shot but before coming for the first time I had said that I intended to use my first season to learn the ropes not to shoot everything that moved. I got my gear together when the creek behind me started to trickle in with water and I thought "time to go". My little terrier loved every minute, she was soaked to the skin and thick with mud but happy. In conclusion it is cold, tiring ,and needs a lot of research as I have never been wildfowling before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back again on the same marsh in a couple of weeks time and if I can keep my eyes open I will post some photos of the dawn breaking on the east coast. My advice is if you get the chance, have a go at wildfowling as it is totally different to shooting ducks inland. well its a great read but i nearly washed the screen on the pc with tea when i read some of it .. i'm pleased you made it down and had a good flight but 50 yards out is not far enough , you need a proper fowler to show you the way lol ... send me a text or call me you got my number and we can sort a trip out onto a proper marsh , i will promise to go gentle with you honest , plenty of pinks about at the mo ... and ducks there is about 700 to a thousand on a field 500 yards up the road from my house and there is more coming down from up north every day now , also with this moon on its way up i would say there will be plenty more making the jounrney down to ..... had 5 pinks now so i'm buzzing its just getting the time to fit all my hobbies in lol ... great stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 good on ya wag top man hows it going down there mate ?.......still quiet here, but its getting better by the week. just need some geese in numbers, they will come, soon i hope cheers sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wag 13 Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 good on ya wag top man hows it going down there mate ?.......still quiet here, but its getting better by the week. just need some geese in numbers, they will come, soon i hope cheers sean its going real well down here sean thanks ,plenty of fowl about about most of my other friend's have been getting amongst them to , there well spread around the wash to ..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrycatcat 31 Posted October 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Monday 11th October 2010 Well the clock went off at 03.15 and I set off at 03.30 for a 2 hour journey to the marshes. Got there and had a sandwich and a drink when my mentor turned up. I met this chap after joining the wildfowling club, he was at a clay shoot and lived not too far away and has 40+ years experience on the marshes. I "tapped" him up and he said that I could go out with him and as he was 68 I thought that I should be able to keep up with him, wherever he goes I should be OK I have got other offers but they are younger than me and tend to want to race off and tire me out. Anyway we got togged up and the next thing I am on the sea wall with gun,hide,poles and haversack and the dog pulling me everywhere. My mentor said wait till your eyes adapt to the dark then go about 50 yards out onto the marsh and make a hide around the gate post as I will go further down the sea wall to a different spot. Well I set off into the darkness and the marsh the next thing was the flippin mud pulling my waders off my feet and I thought "what the f*** am I doing here" I couldn't find/see the efin post and it was like walking through treacle. So I went back to the sea wall in the pitch black to get my breath back even though I had only ventured 50 yards. I did this another twice before throwing the towel in. I eventually got settled in some long grass waiting for the dawn thinking this is the last time I am coming on this jaunt "up at 3.15, tired out, nope not again" The dawn chorus started before it got light with the oyster catchers and others that I could not identify. Two exorcet missiles went past/over me which were the vapour trails from ducks and I did not even get the chance to lift the gun. I saw other duck even faster and the large skeins of geese were a good sight. It was a landscape that I am not used to and it was beautiful. I saw the dawn break and it was a lovely red sun with a clearish sky. I did not fire a shot but before coming for the first time I had said that I intended to use my first season to learn the ropes not to shoot everything that moved. I got my gear together when the creek behind me started to trickle in with water and I thought "time to go". My little terrier loved every minute, she was soaked to the skin and thick with mud but happy. In conclusion it is cold, tiring ,and needs a lot of research as I have never been wildfowling before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back again on the same marsh in a couple of weeks time and if I can keep my eyes open I will post some photos of the dawn breaking on the east coast. My advice is if you get the chance, have a go at wildfowling as it is totally different to shooting ducks inland. well its a great read but i nearly washed the screen on the pc with tea when i read some of it .. i'm pleased you made it down and had a good flight but 50 yards out is not far enough , you need a proper fowler to show you the way lol ... send me a text or call me you got my number and we can sort a trip out onto a proper marsh , i will promise to go gentle with you honest , plenty of pinks about at the mo ... and ducks there is about 700 to a thousand on a field 500 yards up the road from my house and there is more coming down from up north every day now , also with this moon on its way up i would say there will be plenty more making the jounrney down to ..... had 5 pinks now so i'm buzzing its just getting the time to fit all my hobbies in lol ... great stuff I have to admit I tried to write the post with a bit of humour as I knew you the "duck meister" would read it, thanks for the offers you have been very kind to me and I am enjoying being in the club but I will stick to the old man for now until I have got my "webbed feet". I will tell you where I was, half way to the bailey bridge I think thats what you call it. One of the reasons for my post was to explain from a beginner to wildfowling the excitement of that morning and the lead up to it and even though I have been shooting for over 30 years it is like NOTHING else I have done and I would encourage anyone who has not tried it to give it a go. But make sure you have someone with you that knows what they are doing or join a club. I had to laugh because I bought some waders for £10 from lidl well what a waste of time, I will eat my hat if they last all season and my feet were freezing yesterday, ah well you live and learn. Oh yes and another thing Wag that frightened me to death was your advice at the last clay shoot you said something like "beware of the north wind that brings the tide in and fills creeks in fast behind you" in a voice like the scotsman in Dad Army. Well Monday was a NNE so that put the wind up me. Anyway I had a good laugh, back on 25th October, all being well, its 7.3 metre. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wag 13 Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 . the jounrney down to ..... ... I have to admit I tried to write the post with a bit of humour as I knew you the "duck meister" would read it, thanks for the offers you have been very kind to me and I am enjoying being in the club but I will stick to the old man for now until I have got my "webbed feet". I will tell you where I was, half way to the bailey bridge I think thats what you call it. One of the reasons for my post was to explain from a beginner to wildfowling the excitement of that morning and the lead up to it and even though I have been shooting for over 30 years it is like NOTHING else I have done and I would encourage anyone who has not tried it to give it a go. But make sure you have someone with you that knows what they are doing or join a club. I had to laugh because I bought some waders for £10 from lidl well what a waste of time, I will eat my hat if they last all season and my feet were freezing yesterday, ah well you live and learn. Oh yes and another thing Wag that frightened me to death was your advice at the last clay shoot you said something like "beware of the north wind that brings the tide in and fills creeks in fast behind you" in a voice like the scotsman in Dad Army. Well Monday was a NNE so that put the wind up me. Anyway I had a good laugh, back on 25th October, all being well, its 7.3 metre. ok no worries the offer is there any time , when i was talking about the tides, i meant when your right out the front of the marsh it fills in at the back of the marsh first , i know where you were by the photo's the black bridge goes over a creek what we call the the half way creek ... if you go more to your left from were you was shooting.... there are some nice pools that some time hold some ducks ..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrycatcat 31 Posted October 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 . the jounrney down to ..... ... I have to admit I tried to write the post with a bit of humour as I knew you the "duck meister" would read it, thanks for the offers you have been very kind to me and I am enjoying being in the club but I will stick to the old man for now until I have got my "webbed feet". I will tell you where I was, half way to the bailey bridge I think thats what you call it. One of the reasons for my post was to explain from a beginner to wildfowling the excitement of that morning and the lead up to it and even though I have been shooting for over 30 years it is like NOTHING else I have done and I would encourage anyone who has not tried it to give it a go. But make sure you have someone with you that knows what they are doing or join a club. I had to laugh because I bought some waders for £10 from lidl well what a waste of time, I will eat my hat if they last all season and my feet were freezing yesterday, ah well you live and learn. Oh yes and another thing Wag that frightened me to death was your advice at the last clay shoot you said something like "beware of the north wind that brings the tide in and fills creeks in fast behind you" in a voice like the scotsman in Dad Army. Well Monday was a NNE so that put the wind up me. Anyway I had a good laugh, back on 25th October, all being well, its 7.3 metre. ok no worries the offer is there any time , when i was talking about the tides, i meant when your right out the front of the marsh it fills in at the back of the marsh first , i know where you were by the photo's the black bridge goes over a creek what we call the the half way creek ... if you go more to your left from were you was shooting.... there are some nice pools that some time hold some ducks ..... Thanks again, first time nerves I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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