Grandalf Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) Just wondering what each of us would consider the most valuable single wildfowling tip that we were ever given. I think mine would be a very simple 'Be there' given to me by marsh guide Sid Wright, Wash area, way back in the 60's. His simple philosophy was that you had to put the hours in on the marsh so that you never missed that day when the geese did something odd - like flying right over your favourite hide at 20'! How many times since then have people said to me 'you should have been here yesterday' after I had stayed at home because I thought there was not enough wind for a good flight and it was not worth the effort of getting out of a warm and comfy bed in the middle of the night? (That should read single tip) Sid Wright was right... Edited March 13, 2012 by Grandalf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodylt1 Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Mine would have to be ....... "Keep Still"! Told to me in the late 1970's by my old mentor Ted when we spent hours chasing geese in Lancashire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Always be 15 min too early for flight. Better that than to arrive 15 mins too late . You might as well stayed in bed ! Arriving a little early allows you time to move to a better position if neccessary , arrange your hide\ decoys , settle down before the birds start to flight and you are not disturbing other fowlers . The only downside about being early is it also gives you time to get that bit colder , But come on guys we are suposed to be hairy , rough and tough wildfowlers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Don't drink too much the night before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Check barrels for obstructions. Julian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Salt water on cold hands....... warms them up apparently ? I have managed with gloves but would try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 And dont stand still on the mud........learnt that one the hard way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 "whether its 2 birds or 200 coming in, pick your bird before you lift your gun". my uncle always told me this when i started wildfowling, nothing worse as when a decent flock of birds takes you by surprise and you dont know which to shoot and by the time you shoot, its too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 "whether its 2 birds or 200 coming in, pick your bird before you lift your gun". my uncle always told me this when i started wildfowling, nothing worse as when a decent flock of birds takes you by surprise and you dont know which to shoot and by the time you shoot, its too late. Fell fowl to that a few times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 There's a name from the past Sid Wright. I can remember him and Frank Harrison guiding on the wash. My best ever tip. If you stop you sink !! I am sure you experienced guns all relate to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I'm intrigued about the cold hands / salt water one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I was taught by an old fly fishing chum to soak my hands in freezing water until they hurt and I mean HURT then really dry them well with a soft towel. Warm hands for the rest of the day! It did work too. Lampy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Don't drink too much the night before Hear hear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twitchynik Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Don't drink too much the night before But it's ok to cross the streams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 But it's ok to cross the streams. and going backwards up the stairs in your pants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Joking aside, one piece of advice I'd give (in conjunction with no drinking the night before) is...don't fall asleep in the ditch. The only birds that came over that morning were over my peg...but I was fast asleep amongst the reeds. Oops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Double check the tide times would not fancy a long swim in waders Advice i have given don't shoot with out a good gundog The amount of wounded birds i picked up on the marsh you would not believe Well done moderators for adding wildfowling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I'm intrigued about the cold hands / salt water one. A few people i know swear by it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR1960 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 "If you marry her you'll never go shooting again....." Sadly I never heeded it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 :lol: "If you marry her you'll never go shooting again....." Sadly I never heeded it. :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Shoot the freshly flooded areas that drain off the quickest, the ones that drain slower are to be shot when the next tide wont make the former. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 A few people i know swear by it You do the swearing about two minutes after you extract your hands from the almost freezing north sea!! The pain is unbelievable but the method works. After the pain you have just experienced having cold hands is hardly felt at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 My trigger finger got so cold a couple of weeks ago that it took at least a week for the feeling to return to it. The 2nd barrel didn't fire on two occasions and I discovered it was because my finger was so cold i didn't realise I hadn't realised it. Gave me a bit of a scare to be honest and in fact it's not 100% better now. Feels like I've slept on it and the feeling has returned about 90%, but it's struggling to get the rest back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Joking aside, one piece of advice I'd give (in conjunction with no drinking the night before) is...don't fall asleep in the ditch. The only birds that came over that morning were over my peg...but I was fast asleep amongst the reeds. Oops. What a funny morning that was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) You do the swearing about two minutes after you extract your hands from the almost freezing north sea!! The pain is unbelievable but the method works. After the pain you have just experienced having cold hands is hardly felt at all. I always assumed that was how it worked and opted for gloves and lots of tea......which brings me nicely to my next point......dont forget your flask Edited March 14, 2012 by mpk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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