kent Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 With so many social and economic changes and the emergence of so many new bureaucratic bodies like natural england plus the formation of super rich charities like the rspb, anti field sports associations, social media. Not to mention road transport now being available to all social economic groups are Individual wildfowling clubs the way forward over the next 20,50,100 years? From opening my eyes I think not. In many areas membership is tied up w Ithin families, grandkids having thier name put down at birth were there were once council day tickets issued. Many comittes are being staffed with non wildfowlers who seem to just like having a meddle (seriously this is happening). NE negociations can sometimes be complex as can legal,finantial and land matters, is this realy the place for the average wildfowler who is more at home in the mud in the half light of a breaking dawn than sat behind a desk? With the anti and public loosing touch with the natural order can we still operate with a 1950 style of limited membership? Is our recuitment needing a re-focus ? When I was young a school kid couldnt get into such a sport without a familly member now we have "young shots" and as good as it is I cant help noticing that its the same youngsters with connections that are benefiting. These same younsters are heralded as the future of our sport but actually rarely come back to thier home towns after university and will face massive property prices if they ever move back to thier home towns and will need to hold demanding jobs. Hey ho though who is going to keep the clubs going when 25-35 is such a missing age gap in the sport I suppose we can always have comitees based at a local rest home? Myself I dont honestly know the answers but suspect its not the club system of today or a centralised body like BASC who have done little but upset wildfowlers of late. I think the scotish system might well take the route to change under thier current SNP leadership so its likely something might start hatching. The high shooting marsh cowboys often from south of the divide have certainly enphisised the worth of clubs and thier enforcement of. rules Stalking took the dsc route of training / qualifying to shoot, perhaps that sort of arrangement might hold some worth for us? Local management with tickets to all qualfied? Ok so how do we limit over presure on more popular spots and get revenue and interest into the less popular? Its not an easy subject but I remain convinced personally that the current system is not robust enough without change and its comming time we got our thinking caps on like happened post war Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Very interesting post " Kent " , I am sure there will be a up and coming fowler somewhere who will come up with a logical answer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiler23 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Round here it's difficult for newcomers to get into clubs, it's definitely a case of knowing the right people.. Outside of local area to join a club, you need a proposer and a second, but without living in those communities, this causes a problem again.. I'm in one of the local clubs, but would gladly join one or more of others, at 35 years old I'm one of the of the younger lads in area that shoot on marshes... I don't think any of local clubs have a junior section, and there also reducing membership numbers, to below 50... Personally I feel they should be encouraging young uns to join not making it difficult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushandpull Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I do not know where your "round here" is. However, around the Wash and also elsewhere in East Anglia there are a number of good clubs which will accept members from anywhere in the country and without their having to go on a waiting list. You could even join some of them now and shoot this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiler23 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I live in cumbria, barrow, local clubs have talk of 7 year waiting lists, members leave some of these clubs yet they don't recruite new ones, the one that I'm in take on new members yearly(thankfully) so gives newcomers like myself a chance to get out there, I'm hoping to get time for a session down east anglia(Norfolk) this season with the guy I purchased my gun from.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Smiler you belong to the missimg generation in wildfowling past comming from young shots but old and hopefully established enough to take over runnimg things after the post war baby boomers leave us I am in the nwest also and havr managed to get into three clubs but its taken many years my guess is 50 plus is the age of your main membership with a large gap then late teens early twenties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) I am a member of two Norfolk clubs. One is a coastal club , restricted by its landlord to recruit its members from within the local area. There are few vacancies and the club membership has been full for decades. It has the added problem of being under the watchful eye of the conservation agencies and thought the shooting season tourists are a problem so the members have to be squeaky clean and be aware they are in the public eye. This has resulted in the club giving up some very good areas in its lease , but never the less the duck and goose shooting can be very good . The other club is inland and operates an open door policy where anyone from any where in the country can join. It’s a small club with around 60 members , but it seems to be able to keep numbers up and takes the view the more members it has the more marshes it can hire and buy. Some areas are a little public , but on the whole most of its shooting are in remote areas. However the jewel in the clubs crown is more of a problem and though the guns are away from the public they can still be seen from a distance. This area is also under the control of the local council so again the members must be squeaky clean. Both clubs have a few young members in the 14-20 year age bracket , but it would be good to see more younger fowlers joining. One of the big problems both clubs have is apathy from its young and more importantly members in the 20-35 year age bracket. As each year goes by club meetings are less well attended as older members die off , but few of the younger members step up to replace them. The members in this age bracket seem to want the shooting , but have little interest in the club itself or how its run. Modern life now has so many attractions from computers , other sports and entertainments that very few fowlers under 35 have time for the running of the club. True many will have wives and families to consider , but them so did I at that age , but that still did not mean I did not take an active interest in the club, indeed I was on the clubs committies for may years and served a long stint as club sectary. The problem for wildfowling now is to enthuse these younger members into taking an active role in the club. While it cannot be discounted I feel the danger from conservation bodies is diminished today. Though there are always going to be local issues and exceptions to this. The real problem comes with the opening up of the coast and countryside to people who not understand shooting , rather than organised bodies. However all is not doom and gloom. 45 years ago many shooters doubted if any shooting sports were going to survive into this centaury, but shooting sports as a whole are in better shape now than they were in the 1970s. Most conservation bodies recognise shooting has a role to play in our countryside. I shoot on a coastal NNR and inland SSSIs , my reserve has deer stalking within its woodland NNR and has an agreement with the local landowners for game shooting to take place in the reserve. My own shoot on the Broads is under HLS and ELS agreements with Natural England and their habitat improvements ( ponds and wader scrapes plus raising the water table) have all had positive effects on the quality of our sport today. My wildfowling is as good if not better today than it was back in the 1980s. For it to continue now depends in finding a way to encourage new people into the sport and for them to care enough to contribute to it. Edited August 22, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m greeny Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Smiler you belong to the missimg generation in wildfowling past comming from young shots but old and hopefully established enough to take over runnimg things after the post war baby boomers leave us I am in the nwest also and havr managed to get into three clubs but its taken many years my guess is 50 plus is the age of your main membership with a large gap then late teens early twenties Kent your not far wrong on the age front as 95% of the members are 50 plus with smiler either the youngest or 2nd youngest in the club. One of the clubs wont let you in if your in the other. Another you practically have to wait for somebody to die before they take on and another is literally a closed shop that is trying to get numbers down so will not be taking new comers for a few years yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) Kent,as the saying goes you can't teach old dogs new tricks. It's the 21st century,not prehistoric times,wildfowling needs to change with the times,not be stuck in the past. New blood and keen shooters we need. You have to mentor the new ones to provide for the future, it's a bit like a pension pot,without the young workers paying in their would be no pension for the elderly. Edited August 23, 2015 by Albert 888 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiler23 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Above post is correct.. Locally seems like it's reverse tho.. They don't want new blood, and if you show keenness and get out plenty.. Your slated for it, ya need thick skin.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 That will be the same for the majority of the club's. New blood,new ideas,new,skills are needed but the help and advice form longterm members is needed. A proper permit system to try the sport out would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nic Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I was discussing this with another club member, who said that differently from when we started, wild fowling is now often seen as a way into shooting live game. When we started, pigeon and rough shooting was much more available than now. Therefore you get people joining with different ideas not so stuck in the ways and often then move on to syndicate shoots etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I am a member of two Norfolk clubs. One is a coastal club , restricted by its landlord to recruit its members from within the local area. There are few vacancies and the club membership has been full for decades. It has the added problem of being under the watchful eye of the conservation agencies and thought the shooting season tourists are a problem so the members have to be squeaky clean and be aware they are in the public eye. This has resulted in the club giving up some very good areas in its lease , but never the less the duck and goose shooting can be very good . The other club is inland and operates an open door policy where anyone from any where in the country can join. Its a small club with around 60 members , but it seems to be able to keep numbers up and takes the view the more members it has the more marshes it can hire and buy. Some areas are a little public , but on the whole most of its shooting are in remote areas. However the jewel in the clubs crown is more of a problem and though the guns are away from the public they can still be seen from a distance. This area is also under the control of the local council so again the members must be squeaky clean. Both clubs have a few young members in the 14-20 year age bracket , but it would be good to see more younger fowlers joining. One of the big problems both clubs have is apathy from its young and more importantly members in the 20-35 year age bracket. As each year goes by club meetings are less well attended as older members die off , but few of the younger members step up to replace them. The members in this age bracket seem to want the shooting , but have little interest in the club itself or how its run. Modern life now has so many attractions from computers , other sports and entertainments that very few fowlers under 35 have time for the running of the club. True many will have wives and families to consider , but them so did I at that age , but that still did not mean I did not take an active interest in the club, indeed I was on the clubs committies for may years and served a long stint as club sectary. The problem for wildfowling now is to enthuse these younger members into taking an active role in the club. While it cannot be discounted I feel the danger from conservation bodies is diminished today. Though there are always going to be local issues and exceptions to this. The real problem comes with the opening up of the coast and countryside to people who not understand shooting , rather than organised bodies. However all is not doom and gloom. 45 years ago many shooters doubted if any shooting sports were going to survive into this centaury, but shooting sports as a whole are in better shape now than they were in the 1970s. Most conservation bodies recognise shooting has a role to play in our countryside. I shoot on a coastal NNR and inland SSSIs , my reserve has deer stalking within its woodland NNR and has an agreement with the local landowners for game shooting to take place in the reserve. My own shoot on the Broads is under HLS and ELS agreements with Natural England and their habitat improvements ( ponds and wader scrapes plus raising the water table) have all had positive effects on the quality of our sport today. My wildfowling is as good if not better today than it was back in the 1980s. For it to continue now depends in finding a way to encourage new people into the sport and for them to care enough to contribute to it. Its young families both partners trying to work and paying big mortgages I fear more than apathy I fear add in student loans and its yhe 30 somethings that need dubsidised fees not the guy who could take early retirement amf got a cracking pension pot built up in thr boom times and his house paid off at 40 something BTW I am well over my 30s now just saying what I see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 That will be the same for the majority of the club's. New blood,new ideas,new,skills are needed but the help and advice form longterm members is needed. A proper permit system to try the sport out would help.Yes was speaking with someone a few hours ago about that especially with rsgrfs to some of yhe vlosed door clubs. Thing is there is much I am all right jack goimg on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widgeon man Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 I am 29, fowling since I was 14 and one of the rare young fowlers who stick it and have done a fair bit of it up and down the country. The fact is it is a difficult sport to get into unless you you have people who help along the way...I had a long standing family background of fowling and friends... The best way is being shown the ropes by someone and eased into it... New young guns will want to shoot something! I took the lads to a spot they would have some sport and it be a touch easier, as being new to it, they inevitably miss more than they hit, and it's good to keep people keen. They loved it and were hooked by the sights, sounds and having a duck to take home for the pot. So I have successfully introduced 3 young fowlers into BASC and fowling as well as several clubs, they are keen as mustard, I have shown them the ropes and 'ghillied' for them, it's upto them to tak it on their own too, but to learn the art the best and virtually only way to learn is go with someone more experienced and learn the ways and tricks and also get to know and meet other fowlers/shooting buddies! I think it's everyone's responsibility to help 'younger' fowlers out so they know the do's and don't'so of fowling on your patch, not be stand of fish or unhelpful as some often are. This way we grow 'the right sort' we have a young, keen future and not inexperienced marsh Cowboys or people who don't get the knowledge or encouragement and drop out having had little to no success Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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