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One for the wildfowlers


-Mongrel-
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In my usual ars* about ti* fashion, I've gone and joined a fowling club. I do not however know what I need!!!

 

I'm a probationer for a year, so, what am I going to NEED, and what would be nice to have?

 

I'm guessing the list goes something along the lines of:

 

 

Gun.(I have a steel proofed o/u, but, should I be on the lookout for a semi auto?)

Steel carts (sizes? mainly duck I gather)

Camo jacket/hat

Waders? (If so what type?)

Hide? I have some camo nets and poles, is this adequate?

 

What else please?

Edited by -Mongrel-
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In my usual ars* about ti* fashion, I've gone and joined a fowling club. I do not however know what I need!!!

 

I'm a probationer for a year, so, what am I going to NEED, and what would be nice to have?

 

I'm guessing the list goes something along the lines of:

 

 

Gun.(I have a steel proofed o/u, but, should I be on the lookout for a semi auto?) Steel Proofed O/U would be ok to start with, id stick with it for now as you dont want to be shelling out big money for something you may not like.

Steel carts (sizes? mainly duck I gather) Steel, Bismuith, Tungsten, Hevi-shot would be necersary 32g+ 5 - 3 shot is ok for most ducks.

Camo jacket/hat Not essential a green jacket will do, but a good hat/ face veil/ balaclava and gloves are essential as a pink face/ hands will really put off wildfowl

Waders? (If so what type?) Wellie boots i find OK for the marsh, But waders are a must for the foreshore.

Hide? I have some camo nets and poles, is this adequate? Not necersary unless you want to, i usually get dwn the side of a dyke so i am out of the way and dont have to carry tonns of gear.

 

What else please?

 

Make sure you have a hot drink and something to nibble

 

If you are wearing wellies leggins are good.

 

A Dog is essential

 

Pull Through for gun

 

Good Knife

 

Mobile Phone

 

GPS unit can be usefull

 

 

That should do you for a start, but youll find once you have been out a coupe of times youll be able to finetune your bads invantory.

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On top of all that...

 

Duck calls

Decoys

Goose calls

Whistles

A wading stick

Waterproof leggins

 

List goes on mate, you'll find that you build it up over a few years. I've got a garage full of stuff! If you're close to Warrington I've got some cartridge that would do the trick ;)

 

MPK beat me to it, haha!

Edited by Wildfowler12
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my wildfowling kit is not huge but it does me fine

 

chest waders,

thermal underlayers for cold days,

couple of decent waterproof jackets (1 thin and 1 thick),

gun (looking at getting a benelli supernova but used a hatsan last season with good results) your o/u will be fine,

cartridges, i change all the time...32g 5 bismuth, 32g 4 mirage steel, mammoth 36g 3...plenty of choices out there...i will be trying the remington nitro and sportsman steel this year, heard good reports

 

dont worry about decoys and calls.....recon recon recon...get yourself in the right place and you wont need them!

Edited by TJ91
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my list, more or less in order of importance:

 

gun

dog

shells (steel for ducks, hevi shot for geese)

wading stick

neoprene chest waders

waterproof jacket

mobile phone

headover

hat

ducks calls

binoculars

gloves (cold weather only)

mozzie repellent (warm weather only)

rucksack (far better than a game bag) containing paperwork

Flask of tea and a couple of choccy biscuits

small torch

i used to take a dog whistle but the old boys deaf now.

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As above but just to reinforce a dog is vitally important otherwise you'll have to limit the places you choose to shoot.....see how you get on in your first season, seems you'll be out with someone who almost cetainly will have a mutt anyway? then go from there. I'm guessing you're going to be well and truly hooked :yes:

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I thought I was unusual taking bog roll in my bag on the marsh or any early morning shooting for that matter :yes: I did my probabtion year last year, got me hooked, Headed out on the Marsh of the first time by myself last night in the awfull weather two shots two Mallard so happy days! The one thing I wont ever go out without is the gps on my phone....got lost last night in the dark had I not had it who knows where I would have ended up.

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I thought I was unusual taking bog roll in my bag on the marsh or any early morning shooting for that matter :yes: I did my probabtion year last year, got me hooked, Headed out on the Marsh of the first time by myself last night in the awfull weather two shots two Mallard so happy days! The one thing I wont ever go out without is the gps on my phone....got lost last night in the dark had I not had it who knows where I would have ended up.

 

compass (as back up)....never trust this newfangled technology stuff with your life, it could easily die, get wet, etc... always have a plan B!

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Crikey! ...and an amphibious vehicle to lug it all!!!

 

I note that some suggest wellies and leggings while others advocate waders, I'd personally have gone for neoprene chest waders but pros/cons?

 

I will be accompanied for the first year and am hoping to convert my currently keenly retrieving lab into a keen fowl retrieving lab, otherwise we're going up to 3 dogs!

 

Some other good suggestions I hadn't considered...and at least we're all agreed on the bog roll!

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in the warmer part of the season when i am shooting from marsh and not going in water i wear wellies and waterproof leggings

waders when i am trudging through mud and water, sometimes you might be stood in waist high water so obviusly leggings no gud there!

 

other than clothes all you need is compass, gun, carts and fone which will fit in a small ruksack

 

dont worry about decoys and calls when you start out

 

practise walking on mud with someone who knows what ther doing, its not hard to do

 

good luck and enjoy

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Probably the most important thing is your tide table (and don't forget to check the weather forecast before you go) :good:

 

It took 19 posts to get to this? amazing :rolleyes: what you wear and what you carry depends on the individual area, your mentor will advise you! In most areas phone, tide tables, hot drink, food and a stick are required after a gun and shells. Dont buy a load of stuff till you have been out a good few times :good:

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I note that some suggest wellies and leggings while others advocate waders, I'd personally have gone for neoprene chest waders but pros/cons?

 

As you reach advanced years in life this decision is made for you - well by your prostate gland and bladder!

You end up with the old way, pre chest-waders being available, of thigh-boots and waterproof knee length shorts over them. (These 'shorts' allow you full bend of the knee).

Ain't no zip for the thingy on chest-waders!

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Pro's and cons of neo chesties?

 

Pro's:

 

warm

keep you dry

keep you clean, can sit down and not get your backside muddy/wet

 

Cons:

 

can be too warm

can make walking very long distances hard work

can be tricky if you need to negotiate any fences etc

a good way of killing your mobile is to put it in the little front pocket then wade just a bit too deep (done that x 2)

bit of messing around if you need a pee

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Disagree with the tide tables, I never take one with me, I always check what it is going to be before I go, just like I check the weather forecast.

 

Yeah, checking prior thats important. But sometimes out for a morning flight on geese you might be tempted to do a tide flight later on the duck etc. Its when the memory and maths go wrong you have issues, likewise at an evening flight on some flashes when you know the tide will not be an issue and you plan a trip with a mate when out there. 27 ft tides turn into 30 ft + by weather but also by bad memories :good:

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