marsh man Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Reading some of the posts on here about wildfowling around the wash area, Seals seem to get a mention fairly regular and I often wonder would they have a go at a dog retrieving a duck or goose as one of the chaps said a seal took his first goose . If we see a Seal it is quite a rare event although one do turn up on the river now and again , so have any of you wash fowlers had any problems with Seals fighting your dog ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 i remember reading about a bloke whos lab was attacked by a seal and it killed the dog... im sure it was on here or the stalking directory.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 A fella had one of his killed on the Ythan estuary a few years back if i remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 There has certainly been cases of seals killing dogs , the last I recall was in scotand somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 where I go on the wash it is not rare to have 30+ seals visible as the tide comes in some within 20 feet I have had no trouble with them but don't like them I think the most dangerous time is in the morning when you get right out and one is beached for the night. have seen dead ones and there would not be much of a fight they have a nasty set of teeth, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Well no one mentioned taking a club to beat seals of your dog 😗 This wildfowling lark is starting to be a dangerous sport 😀 All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberFowl Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 (edited) Yes a Labrador had to be put down after getting attacked by a seal on the Ythan estuary (NE scotland) which is my where I do most of my fowling..it happened a couple of seasons back now. The dog had gone in to retrieve a shot bird when the seal attacked. In water, a dog (even the strongest swimmers) do not stand a chance against even half grown seal. I see seals very often when below the mhwm, I do not allow my dog into water deep enough for a seal to swim Edited October 14, 2014 by AberFowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Well no one mentioned taking a club to beat seals of your dog This wildfowling lark is starting to be a dangerous sport All the best Of got a gun under my arm so club is a bit under rated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 got a gun under my arm so club is a bit under ratedCan you recommend a nontoxic load just in case 😚😃All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogc Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 They are pesky creatures. Not wildfowling related but when I used to do a lot of diving, we went on a trip off Pembrokeshire. Seals everywhere, friendly enough but you knew if they wanted they could ruin you day/life. They were playful but as has been said they have enormous power, could easily down a fully grown dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House Boat Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 I have shot the Wash for 35 years and have seen thousands of seals over the years, only last week I had 10 around me 4 on the bank no more than 10 yards from me and 6 in the water, belive me once you move there isn't a seal to be seen they're off like a shot and I have never had any problem with them nor have I ever heard of anyone having any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Thanks for your replies , as I said we don't have problems with Seals, but the one that was up our river a couple of weeks ago had a head that was twice the size of my dogs head and when the chap was saying one took his Goose it got me thinking what would have happened if a dog and a Seal were both going after the same bird from different directions. But as House Boat was saying he have never known or heard of any being a problem so it must be a rare occurrence when something do happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 I have been told of one incident but that is all i have heard about. It is pretty normal to see them where i shoot. One creek in particular always has a pair that come and last on the low bank beside the bend, 50 yards from where i like to sit. Have seen 30+ out on a tide beside some of the bigger creeks. Got a few photos of them on my computer from last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 (edited) For years all we saw were common seals on the N Norfolk coast and they were no problem slipping away as soon as they saw you, but now we mainly see grey seals and now they are a different story. They were the ones who killed the lab in Scotland and they are not scared when they see you. I always try to pick flighting places well away from them to avoid any risk to the dog. Edited October 14, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Winter will be the worse time for any potential seal issues, not only is it season we are out, but it's pupping time now and those ol' grey bulls will be defending territories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy.plinker Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 A friend of mine's sister went canoeing of the NE of Scotland and she had her black cocker spaniel on the bow,the dog often went out like that if it was bonny, one day every seal of the beach followed them out and swam right next to the dog thrashing the water,it scared her and she came back in,she thinks if the dog had fallen in it'd been had it. She never took the dog again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Well no one mentioned taking a club to beat seals of your dog This wildfowling lark is starting to be a dangerous sport All the best Of Don't keep worrying O F , where ever "ayano3" take you it would have been given the Seal of approval in safety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Don't keep worrying O F , where ever "ayano3" take you it would have been given the Seal of approval in safety Hi every confidence in him it was carrying the dam thing back and cooking it that worried me 😗 😃😀 All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 You will see seals but they are friendly if you throw them pilchard sarnies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 I dont know the age of you Wash fowlers, but when i was a youngster seals were shot in the Wash, for their pelts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 I dont know the age of you Wash fowlers, but when i was a youngster seals were shot in the Wash, for their pelts. I have got a book here written by an old wash fisherman who was based out of Lynn. It in he recalls a tale of the old seal mincing boat on the wash. Circa mid 1970s i believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 I have got a book here written by an old wash fisherman who was based out of Lynn. It in he recalls a tale of the old seal mincing boat on the wash. Circa mid 1970s i believe. I know it was going on late 50s and into 60s. Even in those days the antis were about, i remember one boat being burnt out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 I know it was going on late 50s and into 60s. Even in those days the antis were about, i remember one boat being burnt out. I'll dig the book out tomorrow and check. The bloke who wrote the book burnt his own boat out when he was ordered to scrap it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 The boat that was burnt out belonged to a chap called Tommy Lineham , he died recently I believe . I was good friend with his son until his death in a car crash , the third and final child of Tommys to die young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) The lineham family also had fishing boats out of Fosdyke. In fact the cafe in the lay by was once the home of one of them. He had a catering business he run from there after his fishing days on the wash was cut short when he lost an arm in a capstan winch whilst out fishing. They were still shooting seals in 1974 Edited October 17, 2014 by ayano3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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