steve0146

Thanks for the comments. The decoys were 20 - 30 yds from the hide. The crows rarely land in the deeks so you need to take your chance when you can. As soon as I get a dead one, it goes on the cradle. A few dead ones make a massive difference and they soon come more confidently. Get the deeks replace with birds as soon as you can. If you wing one, make the effort to get after it straight away as other crows will mob it. Its not nice to watch and it means they are not coming into your deeks! I have tried floaters set close to the ground and these can work. I normally use a jackdaw though as a crow can be a bit heavy for the bouncer. I dont have much luck with a magnet but I reckon a flapper might work. (I have not got one so not sure). Glad a few people are bagging some. Steve

Its a harvest stealth net. But I have a cheap green/brown net over the top of it. I got it from Mole Valley farmers for around a tenner I think. I find the crows can see movement really easy and the two nets help. They are really lightweight and you can still see clearly through them.

A couple of hours on the crows. Only had mid afternoon to shoot, but if I had been able to get there in the morning, it could have been a really good bag. Still ended up with 29. The hints and tips in the video work for me, on the areas I shoot. Hopefully it will help someone bag a couple of crows. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2yTh9MED3w

I have had a great season, with plenty of widgeon and Canada's in the freezer and a handful of teal. Absent is mallard though. Despite being out every Saturday, I have not been under one all season. Tonight I tried a place I have not been to in two years, mainly down to the long walk and the lack of birds during the last visits. After about an hour, a nice high pair of mallard came over and I missed. With the report, some more jumped further along creek and a hen bird fell to an easy shot. As it got dark, a steady trickle of birds were heading from the fields back to the estuary. I was expecting it to be the other way round and had to turn around in the hide. My shooting was on form and I ended up with 5 mallards. 4 drakes and 1 hen. The drake looks like it is a bit of a hybrid though. An excellent finish to the season and the first mallards in the bag. As I walked back, I thought it strange to have such a good flight. However, I dont normally shoot this late into the year and thought it might have something to do with it. However, once I was home, and the was hanging the ducks in the shed, it was apparant they were stuffed with bread! Someone had been feeding them further inland. I now feel a bit guilty, but they were all challenging shots and heading back to the estuary. The guilt will pass Sunday lunch time when one is in the oven though!

well done!

Interesting topic. I live by Dartmoor and our 'wild' ponies get culled each year as there are too many eating the moor. Last year, the culled animals went to the local zoo for food. The local papers tried to cause a stir but in reality, what are you going to do with lots of dead horses/ponies? There is not a market like in Europe for them. I used to live in Germany and also on the Dutch border. They have no problems eating them. Certainly not zoo food there!

Good write up mate. Those pictures bring back memories. I have not shot there for about 18 years. (moved away). I never had a half decent bag all the time I shot there, but I was still learning.

Well done. Ling are really under rated. Really tasty. When we catch them, I'm often the only one taking them back.

City College Plymouth are having a game demo evening in their new restuarant. Looks like a good event. Taught how to do it in the demo kitchen first and then a meal. http://www.cityplym.ac.uk/events/2013/03/13/game-demo-and-dine-night

City College Plymouth are having a game demo evening in their new restuarant. Looks like a good event. Taught how to do it in the demo kitchen first and then a meal. http://www.cityplym.ac.uk/events/2013/03/13/game-demo-and-dine-night

Good filming, however, 50 odd geese in one flight between 3 people...... oh and then shooting one on the ground as it walked past your hide.

There is always next season Nick!

A chilli head cam and a panasonic hdc sd40.

Great offer and well done for trying to introduce new people to wildfowling. I now live in Devon but grew up near Holbeach, so if anyone is thinking about it, go for it! There used to be people traveling for miles to shoot the weekends at Shep Whites, staying in either locally or in caravans, not sure if its the same now?

She is two and half now. She came out last season but more to watch and for the easy retrieves. She still acts like a pup at times but is coming on really well.

There were plenty that didnt get added to video!!

some highlights of my season. My best season for a long time and my dogs first 'real' season out. Some of these clips have been posted on here before but hopefully you will enjoy some of it. (sorry, its a bit long!) Its been a mix of glorious sunrises, foggy mornings and plenty of flooding. My best bag for several years, but only one mallard. Having just been to Slimbridge, they are saying they are in massive decline. I have been very fortunate to have shot with four different clubs in different parts of the country and met some fantastic people. Only a few more flights left but already looking forward to next season! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vN2aCMBqo8

really good, well done

My Saturday was very similar. A long trudge though the mud with my shooting buddy, only to find I had left the motherline in the car. I borrowed a bit of line he had in his bag to make do with. I then managed to drop my duck call somewhere on the marsh in the dark. Gutted. As the flight progressed, everything passed just out of range. My mate then fired at two mallard but missed. I put the 10 bore up and dropped both. Cracking shots and a long way out. The tide was taking them quickly out and I lined the dog up. She looked at me blankly. Slowly got in the water and swam in a circle looking confused. No amounts of encouraging was helping, nor shouting. I was getting more and more angry, but know its not helping. The tide took both ducks. I tried to walk around the creek to get to the other side, only for the dog to get under my feet and trip me up. Straight into the mud. Didnt know whether to laugh or cry. Decided it was one of those days and tried not to let it get to me. I was cursing the dog all the way home. On reflection, she has made some brilliant retrieves this season, and several similar in distance and conditions to this one. I can not let the seson end like this so now have to get out a few more times! On a happier note, I found the call as we walked back!

You can shoot without a dog, but you can take shots, shoot other places with a dog more happily. Over water and cover spring to mind straight away. I know one club insist on a dog being available and I fully agree with it, as often shots are taken over water or reeds. Plus its company for the day.... I fully understand not everyone can offer a dog a home but one should be available. 4 lads, 16 geese = 4 geese each. A genuine question, what is the acceptable limit on wild geese?

I also was wearing a head cam and caught some great shots.........or so I thought. Got home and left the memory card in the computer from the last time

Great pics, well done. They are not the easiest birds to connect with!

Fully agree with the shouting, dog whistle etc.. It almost never happens as well as that, and you would have heard a lot more if the sound had been on for more of the clip! Had 7 trips there last season without firing a shot, so it finally came right. Great end to the season.

Video now sorted

I have a problem with youtube at present but will repost it when its sorted