paulthekiller Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 ***UPDATE*** 8th January 2010 BASC is calling for voluntary restraint to be exercised immediately across England and Wales in the shooting of ducks (including reared mallard), geese, waders (including woodcock), coot and moorhen because of the extensive severe winter weather. A statutory suspension of shooting could be brought in for England and Wales on Saturday 16th January if conditions do not improve. In the meantime, voluntary restraint should be exercised according to local conditions. In Scotland a statutory order suspending the shooting of wildfowl and waders took effect from 00:01 am on Tuesday 5th January. The suspension could last for 14 days but should be reviewed after seven days if conditions improve. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has temporarily suspended the shooting of waterfowl (ducks, geese and waders) from 8am on Thursday 7th January. It is important to be on the lookout for unusual movement of birds, or birds in poor condition. Individuals, clubs and syndicates should then take decisions at a local level. Bear in mind that snow-covered ground will create welfare problems for birds. A list of species covered by protection orders can be found in the guidance below. Game birds are not affected, but the shooting of reared duck is prohibited during the suspension. The purpose of the suspension of shooting these species is to provide waterfowl with extra protection and minimum disturbance during the prolonged cold spell, which makes feeding and conserving energy difficult for the birds. BASC also urges all other users of wetland areas such as dog walkers, bird watchers and walkers to do what they can to minimise disturbance until conditions improve. Ducks: mallard (including reared mallard), teal, wigeon, pintail, tufted duck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye, scaup (NI) Geese: greylag, pink-footed, white-fronted, Canada Waders: golden plover, woodcock, snipe, curlew (NI) Others: moorhen and coot Game birds are not affected, but reared duck are included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Just noticed that in my emails, we had already agreed earlier in the week not to shoot ducks tomorrow on our shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin g Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Our shoot has been cancelled for tomorrow,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Just got back in. Had 4 widgeon in fair condition. The zostera beds are mainly covered by ice, not much left by this time of year anyway. Too many Brent Geese! They can't be hungry or they'd be up on the grass fields next the the shoreline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 I shot a pochard, a wigeon and a teal last night and the pochard and wigeon were in beautiful condition but the teal was a bit scrawny. I will not be going again for a few days to see what happens to the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitehackle Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 we have left our woodcock alone all this season and arnt going to shoot any now although this must be my favorite quarry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 I've been doing my bit by deliberately missing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pob Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 I planned to go out this morning , but I thought I'd get advice from more experienced fowlers. The field secretary said that he'd seen Teal in worrying condition, so I decided against going. The club has put a voluntary ban on all marshes now. I'm slightly confused if the ban starts tonight or on Monday, but either way I am going to leave them alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I planned to go out this morning , but I thought I'd get advice from more experienced fowlers. The field secretary said that he'd seen Teal in worrying condition, so I decided against going. Teal seem to suffer more than the other wildfowl. Low body weight and different diet perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Teal seem to suffer more than the other wildfowl. Low body weight and different diet perhaps. I'd go along with that, All the other species that I have seen recently are in prime condition, including greylags, mallard, pochard and wigeon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) Small ducks suffer from the cold mainly due to a simple physics law " Bergmans rule " which stated the larger body ratio to surface area the greater the loss of heat. Simply if you heat up two iron balls one weighing 1 pound and the other 2 pounds. The smaller one will lose heat first because its mass has a larger surface area compared to the larger ball that holds the heat longer. Thats why in many species of duck the females ( which are smaller ) migrate further south in winter than males. For example if you were to sex tufted duck in Denmark in mid winter the vast majority will be males, here in the UK with our usually milder climate we get a pretty even mix of the sexes while go to Spain and most will be females. With the present cold weather the wigeon and teal in my area of Norfolk are starting to lose body condition fast. I have hung up my guns for a while and most of the local clubs have brought in a vol ban. Edited January 11, 2010 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 According to the BASC website we are now in day 0 of the severe weather. I don't know if it is a typo or if we are now out of the severe weather and therefore the voluntary restraint no longer applies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOLLSEYES Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 It has been reset because of the thaw(no longer the severere weather ),but they are asking to carry on shooting with restraint for a few days to enable the wildfowl and waders to recover condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 It has been reset because of the thaw(no longer the severere weather ),but they are asking to carry on shooting with restraint for a few days to enable the wildfowl and waders to recover condition. Does this apply to NI? As far as I am aware the ban started on Thursday and was for 7 days so unless they have stopped it early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 The short thaw has meant that England and Wales will have to have another 2 weeks of freezing conditions before a wildfowling ban can now be brought in. GRRRRRRRRRREAT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie mac Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Does this apply to NI? As far as I am aware the ban started on Thursday and was for 7 days so unless they have stopped it early. Theres no mention of it ending early ollie,still the 7 days is near up http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/other-ind...=d&id=40476 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Theres no mention of it ending early ollie,still the 7 days is near up http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/other-ind...=d&id=40476 Think its only likely to last the 7 days. We have had a massive thaw here in the last couple of days although it was still snowing on the high ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie mac Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 Latest news for N.I http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/other-ind...=d&id=40889 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyboots Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 the ground is still rock hard my way, was out there training my springer in the fields at the back of my house and there still hard so id say the birds will still be getting it hard to feed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 There has been a thaw in my area in the last few days. Although in the mountain there is still a lot of snow, the lower ground has totally cleared. This suspension is only for wildfowl so it would be suitable to shoot woodcock and snipe; the only thing is I think it would be up to the shooter to decide whether the conditions are suitable to shoot them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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