Varminator

Great stuff. Us wildfowlers are a generous bunch. Sounded like a top morning. 😊

I often thought that swapping 30 days inland in September for 20 in February was the way forward but Anser makes excellent points so I say leave well alone. It's amazing we have 5 months when you look at the States short seasons

Keep your eyes out for the Winchester as never heard anyone moan about them. The Hatsans are a massive gamble. Some people swear by them but I know of so many that have had all sorts of issues so I wouldn't risk one. Hope that helps.

Undoubtedly my best season ever as the Broad was excellent with my nephew enjoying his first teal and first shoveller both off the Broad and watching him clean kill a long crossing wigeon that another boat had wounded was one of the highlights. Early season was easily the best for many years with good numbers of mallard about. Had 3 cracking moon flights, one of which I dropped my first and only triple at Pinks. The highlight was watching 20 plus Great Cranes flying about at South Walsham in October - saw them a few weeks later at Horsey. Not many Canadas about this year but had a chance on the last day of the inland season but the shot went wide. Only saw one skein of Whitefront so I think we are a due an influx next year after 2 quiet years for them and in Norfolk it just didn't get cold enough to push the birds off the ponds on to the rivers. Had the last day on a new marsh with a massive tide in the morning and a bigger one in the evening with more Brent kronking about than any other species but great fun watching them come into the teal decoys. Pinks were in early this year but they seemed to head back early for some reason.

Magic 👍

Watched them at Horsey on Sunday Anser and when they flighted they missed Horsey and just kept going North with no roost between there and Wells, well not what I know of. Seemed a long way to come for some grub for the day so guessed they were on their way home.

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Makes my skin crawl 😟

Pob just give me a date next year and come out with me. Pm me later in the closed season and we'll get it penned in. First 3 months this year were magic but when I expected it to pick up the teal didn't oblige. Still had the odd bird each time though 😉

2 dogs back I had a black bitch that always knew better than I did. I became horse one afternoon shouting at her as she sped off to find a wiley old marsh pheasant I had dropped into the edge of a dike. That bird without me seeing had run 200 yards up the dike hit a junction and ran another 200 yards to the left before Sherry pinned it. I was absolutely fuming as that cock bird looked dead and as she came out of that dike I was ready to give her a right ####ing when I was truly humbled by that dog. From that day forward I let the dogs get on with what they know best. Wildfowling without a dog just not the same.

This thread is just getting Seally 😜👍

If you go to the Rockland Wildfowlers Association website you will find the details of how to book one of the 2 BASC boats available. Once a BASC member it is only £35 for the day for 2 people. Simples 😊👍

1 last Saturday night while on my mates pond waiting for the duck but this avo in the wood they'll hopefully be a few more added.

I think it is the fat that makes them taste fishy. I shoot two or three a year and since I have breasted them and used the fillets I have had no complaints. Saying that a guy in our club does them Chinese style and loves them. I believe if the duck happen to be eating something that taints the meat you can't do a lot about it. Tufted are bad at times but a bad Wigeon is by far the worst and completely inedible but for me it's rare I get a bad one.

Would love to shoot off the East Coast of North America at the divers and a go at the Snow Geese to witness a tornado. My favourite shooting is afloat, on the Broad with a light wind after 5 days of ice and with intermittent snow showers, Magic!

With running a shop being so expensive they'd be better to sell the stuff online, maybe by sealed bid 😋

There was an article in the shooting press about this a few years ago just after I had shot my first Wigeon with this problem. In 31 seasons I have only seen it twice, both times in Wigeon. Apparently it doesn't affect the bird and is still edible. I always skin Wigeon now due to this, breast the meat and curry/slow cook them.

Hi marshman, I only know it was a Ross's as I track the birding websites for tips I thought it was a snow but those twitchers know what they're looking at and when I researched it you could see it was a Ross's. When we had that huge influx a few years ago there was a snow with them then (apparently) but could have been the same goose. I'll positively identify it this year when it's a bit closer Hi marshman, I only know it was a Ross's as I track the birding websites for tips I thought it was a snow but those twitchers know what they're looking at and when I researched it you could see it was a Ross's. When we had that huge influx a few years ago there was a snow with them then (apparently) but could have been the same goose. I'll positively identify it this year when it's a bit closer My iPhone has caused a glitch in the Matrix My iPhone has caused a glitch in the Matrix

Teal but have to say the mallard I had last week were great but they'd been feeding on wheat stubbles. Never had a bad Canada but I'd give Egyptian geese a miss.

And there was. Ross's goose hanging around with 6 barnacle messing about with the Pinks last year. I saw it on Haddiscoe island and at Burgh St Peter. Hope it's back this year with several thousand pinks.

Saw three Great Cranes last Thursday at South Walsham. Saw 6 of them 2 years ago when we had the snow. Big birds so wouldn't want to pluck one. Guess they're the ones from Hickling.

I have the same gun and used them all last year through half with no problem. Just bought 100 1's as I think 1's carry enough umpf for me and the extra pellets will net me more geese than the bigger pellet size..... Hopefully I will find out soon

Undoubtedly the best Wildfowling experience there is and I love getting out under the moon but now never bother until November as the days are just too long before. Sadly our club has lost some of the areas best to shoot under the moon but I had a cracker last year taking a couple of wigeon and 4 pinks before calling it a night. I had a constant stream of Pinks coming off the reserve to go to feed and back. On my last moon flight I shot 1 cock wigeon and 1 pink but it's never about the bag size under the moon, it's about the wildness of it all. No other fowlers were out on either night and it was magical. Most fowlers don't bother with the moon and most people probably don't even realise birds fly at night. Good to share the experience if you can though.

Season must be close as I'm back in the wife's bad books again :(

Norwich & District is your best chance (unless you can get someone from Wells to take you but the members only get 6 permits per season and as you can imagine demand for those are high) but it depends on where the geese are heading and you need someone to take you. Day permits are £15. I'd say I would take you but I'm pretty tied up for this season. If you pm your details and I have some spare time I'd be happy to take you out but it would be inland fowling. I think kings Lynn or fenland offer coastal permits and I'm sure one of those boys could help as they are good ole boys