Chad63

Oh I'll definitely get another one day.

Here's my old boy, lost him three years ago aged 13. He was a tad unpredictable but lived for fowling, he loved it.

I had one and would love another. Just can't justify £1k for a dog at the moment

The advice I'll give you is the same I give whilst on our club stand at country shows etc. Don't get caught up in the gimmicks. Fancy cammo, after market chokes etc are expensive fashion items that bag more fowlers than they do fowl. Keep it simple and you'll be fine

Talk to the little man and get him to load you some or get a proper gun

RC 32g 3's

Where in Somerset are you? At least three clubs in the county.

This is by far the most enjoyable post I've ever read on this forum. Absolutely 100% respect for your perseverance

That's the ones I got.

No digging allowed on our estuary.... One of our members was in almost the same spot as Steve (in the video) one day last week. He had a net up and from about three hundred yards I could just about make it out. That was at 6pm, long before the sun went down, it's well worth doing.

I get the feeling they will eventually perish, especially if left folded or creased for any length of time. I have during the closed season kept them inflated and stored in a dark cupboard and they still look OK. Only time will tell. BTW, I am talking about the full bodied ones.

I had a bit of success using them on the Wigtown merse last January. Not sure how long they'll last though!

Thought as much. Whilst they do get their share of birds over there this time of year it is only one site and there will be birds elsewhere on the estuary. Always a good indicator of what's arriving though....

Mmmm, think you'll find there's a bit more than that here Steve, especially the teal and pintail counts. According to the board in Bowling Green there was over 400 teal using that alone last week and I personally have counted 200 plus pintail on the area you was on yesterday. I've also seen an estimated 500 teal there. The wigeon seems low to me as well, is that the Dawlish Warren count?

"Its a Jack Pyke jacket. Have to say, the weather could not have been any worse and I kept fairly dry. If I lived as close as Andy, I would have gone home! Glad I didn't though." I think it was a morning we can both dine out on for a while Steve

Tidepool used to sell them, not sure if he still does!

I personally feel it all depends on your situation, i.e. where and what you shoot. For the last 3 seasons on my local estuary I've been using an old 2 3/4" chambered SxS choked full & half for 90% of my fowling. I've found that by using standard steel cartridges I'm killing duck (from teal to mallard) as far as I ever could with lead. But, the only geese I'm likely to encounter are Canadas of which I'll usually get enough over me at 30 yards or under to suit my needs throughout the season. I do however carry some bismuth 36gr 3's just in case a greylag puts in an appearance. Different story when I'm chasing proper geese in Scotland though. That's when the 10ga gets an airing.

"Chuffin ell Andy definite brown trouser moment" Got to be honest Bri, I didn't like it We've also had reports of other members out on the club's other estuary witnessing a lightning strike just 50 feet away from them.......... Steve deserved everyone of those ducks for sticking that one out.....

Better than running, I drove all the way back home

http://youtu.be/SaC1zbP4_To I was quite literally feet from this as I was driving past!

Well done Steve I was on my way to the same marsh (after greylags as I've had enough duck this week) but after being within feet of a lightning strike I lost my bottle and went back home. My left ear is still ringing from it, getting it checked out in the morning Did you see the greys BTW?

Heard someone had a greylag there one morning recently!

I've got a box of Nitro BB's you can have Steve. A bit on the large side for the duck but OK for geese.

Still using the 10 then Steve Well done the mallard are lovely eating this time of the year.

As someone who's been fortunate enough to shoot Rockland Broad (and looking forward to going again one day) I would urge as many of you as possible to support this auction whichever way you can. A wonderful set-up managed by a wonderful club in a wonderful part of the world which is there for ALL of us to enjoy If that's not worth preserving, what is?