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First day at the lodge and a different start to the day with coyotes howling and squabbling nearby at 5.30. A cold night down to -11 meant with very dry air it was a shock to the system at first but we were pretty well equipped after a trip to Cabelas yesterday. Half hour drive to the stubble field to set up in the dark with a solid hide dressed with fur and black birch. Just like pigeon shooting it’s all about the wait until the birds hit the flight lines and hopefully see the decoys. It was 9.00 before the first Canada’s began to come in and very nervous but occasional skeins came interspersed with duck in their 30’s and 40’s. Some good shooting and testing as the birds flared when the front of the hide dropped and we stood to shoot. An exciting start with 19 Canada’s and 15 ducks before leaving around 11.00. Wall to wall sunshine brought the temperature up in the afternoon when we headed out at 14.30. Stubble again and the intention to use lay out blinds but we couldn’t get them dressed so moved back to the big hides. We were still setting out the decoys when the first ducks came in but hey ho. The ducks continued to come in spotting the goose decoys from half a mile away and curling before dropping in. By about 5.00 we had topped up the duck to our limit of forty for the day before the geese began to flight. They came in skein after skein. Largely the big Canada’s with the odd group of the smaller lessers. Half an hour and we had also hit our 40 limit of Canada’s. The duck were still coming and we had the geese dropping in with forty or fifty duck stacking up above paddles down. About as exciting as it gets. As the sun began to set we had Canada’s pouring in but we were already moving off the field to let them feed and save it for another hunt.

Hi this year will be my first year wildfowling on the Eden Estuary and i was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips or would be willing to take me out and show me either areas to go or areas to avoid (its hard to gain much from google earth). I do a lot of wildfowling near Inverness for duck but would be keen to try and get under some birds whilst at Uni. Any help would be much appreciated Angus

SYNDICATE MEMBERS WANTED We run a small friendly shoot in Northumberland. (Rothbury). This year we have half guns/full gun available. 800 pheasant released Shooting fortnightly on Saturdays (October to February) - 7/8 drives per day Pigeon shooting available, as well as Duck shooting over pond. Prefer members with dogs. Reply to Ad or Contact me for further details: Mandy - 07880573387. Email: Richardsonhogg@hotmail.com

Just a bit of a rant really, Sir Peter Scott was a keen fowler and learned a huge amount of nature out with his gun, yet his Wikipedia entry doesn't mention shooting once, it's ridiculous... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Scott Somehow 'conservationists' imagine that being a fowler and a conservationist are mutually exclusive, which of course couldn't be further from the truth.

A full gun has become available in a well established DIY walk one stand one shoot in Northumberland. 1000 pheasants and 150 ducks released.10 days averaging 50 head. Plenty of opportunity for walked up days on over 2,000 acres including small area with grouse. A friendly shoot showing good quality pheasants and ducks. £650 for a full gun.

Hi to all I have been shooting up the farm now for over 5 years and I am planning to take two of my mates up there tomorrow night the pond has never been shot over. So my question is any advise needed please from what time to get into position should we stand at the pond or stand back as I am new to ducks Thanks again mike

Hi all. Am after some advice regarding ducks. On the shoot I help with we put a few duck on one of the flight ponds. We have done this for a few years now but have the same issue every year when the first shoot day arrives (Mid November). The ducks never seem to want to fly. We try and try but they will only fly a few feet. In the last couple of weeks we've been trying to get them up and flying but have been unsuccessful. Does anyone have any hints or tips that they have heard of or tried. Any help would be greatfuly received. Many thanks in advance.

Hi all, We raise mallard on our small shoot in North Wales. We have two ponds, one by a river and one about 500 yards up a hill from the river (provides a good duck drive). Both ponds have islands and are about knee high in depth. Ducks on the bottom pond were very agitated one day, and I found a headless carcase floating on the water. (See pic) The breast was peeled off completely. This pond was abandoned by the duck and they are all on the top pond now. I have now found two more on the top pond, again beheaded and floating, with bits of damage around the carcase. I would suspect mink with the carcases floating on the water, but I have no experience of mink predation and would be grateful for your thoughts We found tracks of a mink 3 years ago, and shot one. No sign since and no duck predation before this month. Cheers, Spitzer

Hi all, Have five spaces spare on a duck shoot with walked up pheasants, The day is around 100 birds no bag limit,Fourteen guns . The shoot is on the Somerset Devon border. Must prove you have a full uk gun license and insurance, a dog would be a bonus. Good hight on ducks and a few good drives for pheasants so intermediate guns needed. £200 plus tip £20 please email me for any details wildlife@inbox.com 22 and 31 dates Hi again guys after some feedback I will give you some back ground info on the shoot, my dad picks up and helps the shoot all year and in return he gets a couple of days a bit cheaper not a lot but a little. We usually have the same 14 guns but this year due to holidays and work commitments we are five guns short. I live and shoot in Buckinghamshire and my dad shoots and lives in Somerset I have most of the guns coming from bucks and a couple from Somerset. I didn't realise how hard it would be to get 14 guns we new to shoot but its hard when a few people you usually count on cant do it. With this our regular outing and to you a first time to meet us it's a bit worrying as we don't want to lose the deal we get and you want to make sure your getting a good deal. So the best I can say is pm me I will give you my number we can have a chat and go from there. Regards sorry its long winded Nigel.