edenman Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 You seem to be effectively secretive whereas in France, we share more spontaneously our observations ! Broadcast you shoot live animals in britain and your an outcast, scumbag. Sad but true..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Windmig, wasn't it you who said "the hunters are more endangered than the ducks"? We can be found easily. We are only 4th down page 1 of a google search for 'wildfowling forum'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Broadcast you shoot live animals in britain and your an outcast, scumbag. Sad but true..... I see where your coming from but I don't think that's strictly true nor the reason UK fowlers naturally err on the side of secrecy. Stick that fact on a non shooting MSG board, or even some shooting ones and there will always be some idiot start typing that your murdering scum. In general though I find most non shooting people to be genuinely interested especially now with all these celebrity chefs waxing on about wild food etc. Most would never want to get out of their comfort zones and try it but it still appeals. I find the most vociferous, aggresive and unmoveable amongst any anti's to always be those who seem opposed to it because they misguidedly believe shooting to be the privilege of the upper classes. As for the secrecy issue I think that's understandable in a country so much smaller than France. Tell someone where the birds are here and they won't be there very long. Most fowlers in UK are approachable and willing to help a novice once they know you are genuine which is a vast improvement on years gone by. In response to the original question I think it is the best part of this forum. I rarely look or post in any other section. I'm also starting to think its slowly building into the best fowling forum on the net. Great to see so many new fowlers asking questions without being made to feel inferior or stupid. Here's hoping it continues to build in that vain Edited September 23, 2012 by Reabrook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Without a doubt this is the best catergory. You can ask questions in here without being belittled and called names and everyone is just generally friendly! You seem to be effectively secretive whereas in France, we share more spontaneously our observations ! Thats because we're such a small place, give too much away about where the birds are flighting and you'll find 5 others in the spot you wanted to be in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 There is the wildfowling forum but its quite hard to find on the net!! It is very good but difficult to access, I think you need to apply for membership, worthwhile if you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) And some members on here are kind enough to take you out on the marsh and show you the sport! Edited September 23, 2012 by Big Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) I think this wildfowling section has been a very good move by Pigeon Watch forum. In the past wildfowling tended to be lost in a dozen other topics and attracted comments for many non wildfowlers who did not understand the sport. This section has been a breath of fresh air of grass roots wildfowling providing a spring board for newcommers and experianced fowlers to learn and contribute. As Others have said there is pure wildfowling forum , its not to open unless you apply to join and have a backer who knows you are a real wildfowler. But this has the advantage that you can talk freely without the antis listening in. This can be important if you are a club intending to buy a marsh or defending wildfowling against some dangers. However in recent years its becoming more and more involved with "Wildfowling Politics " and less with the simple pleasures of a day on the marsh. I know as I am embroiled with a healty argument there about the future direction of our sport in there at the moment. Its a very good forum but rather different to this one , but has the advantage of a number of its members being in the controlling hot seat of wildfowling from club officers to BASC. So when you voice an opinion you know it will be heard by the people who realy matter in our sport and perhaps they will take some note of your posts. I think the two forums compliment each other very well and my only concern is that a few fowlers might be a little more guarded in giving exact locations where you are shooting . To say the area is fine , but pinpoint the creek you have had a good flight in might be giving a little much away. Edited September 23, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 I think this wildfowling section has been a very good move by Pigeon Watch forum. In the past wildfowling tended to be lost in a dozen other topics and attracted comments for many non wildfowlers who did not understand the sport. This section has been a breath of fresh air of grass roots wildfowling providing a spring board for newcommers and experianced fowlers to learn and contribute. As Others have said there a pure wildfowling forum , its not to open unless you apply to join and have a backer who knows you are a real wildfowler. But this has the advantage that you can talk freely without the antis listening in. This can be important if you are a club intending to buy a marsh or defending wildfowling against some dangers. However in recent years its becoming more and more involved with "Wildfowling Politics " and less with the simple pleasures of a day on the marsh. I know as I am embroiled with a healty argument there about the future direction of our sport in there at the moment. Its a very good forum but rather different to this one , but has the advantage of a number of its members being in the controlling hot seat of wildfowling from club officers to BASC. So when you voice an opinion you know it will be heard by the people who realy matter in our sport and perhaps they will take some note of your posts. I think the two forums compliment each other very well and my only concern is that a few fowlers might be a little more guarded in giving exact locations where you are shooting . To say the area is fine , but pinpoint the creek you have had a good flight in might be giving a little much away. I think the forum you refer to is a little "heavy" for beginners in my opinion, politics and stuff, I like it though, as well as this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windmig Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Windmig, wasn't it you who said "the hunters are more endangered than the ducks"? We can be found easily. We are only 4th down page 1 of a google search for 'wildfowling forum'. In my mind, "wildfowling" was supposed to be enough to find a wildfowling community and it is not the case. But it is true that if you add the word forum, it is easier to find you. Thats because we're such a small place, give too much away about where the birds are flighting and you'll find 5 others in the spot you wanted to be in The difference with France is that we are mainly shooting birds from private or semi-private places, especially at night. Therefore, no one is allowed to take your place. This is surely a reason why we share more our observations. I call semi-private a place where shooters are allowed to go at day when nobody's here. It is mainly on these sorts of places that I chase snipes and jacksnipes. But the birds you are shooting, are they local birds or migrating ones ? This may be also a reason why we share observations: the birds we are chasing are often away the day after we saw them... Edited September 23, 2012 by windmig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Apart from canada geese some greylags and mallards the majority of the ducks and geese we shoot are migratory. The only wading birds we shoot are common snipe , woodcock and golden plover. But compartivly few wildfowlers shoot them. Somehow a heavy 3.5 inch gun loaded 36 or 42gr of steel no 3 is not quite the weapon to try and hit a snipe with. Snipe shooters in the UK tend to be specialists. For anyone trying to contact the Wildfowling Forum try this. http://duckandgoosehunting.yuku.com/ , but the guy how runs it is seriously ill at the moment to do not expect an instant reply. Edited September 23, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdev Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) link dont work Robert... This might work... http://duckandgoosehunting.yuku.com/ Edited September 23, 2012 by bigdev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrold Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 I've only been wildfowling a very short time and been a member on here an even shorter time but the amount i've learned on here is amazing. I think its a great way of getting to know other fowlers and asking for advice. its also very nice as a young (ish) lad starting out his wildfowling career to hear that you boys are there to help. I've already had a chap take me out and another has told me to give him a shout if i want. I've scanned back through lots of different threads and have lost many an hour reading about decoys/calls/peoples brilliant stories of adventures/mistakes on the foreshore. Best thing about it is, as mentioned before nobody moaning or kicking off with each other, just good advice and even better banter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted September 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 And some members on here are kind enough to take you out on the marsh and show you the sport! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted September 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 But you are a willing learner Matt. You have the right mentality to make a good Fowler. You just need to learn how to treat your mentor to some of that cake you always scoff while its still dark haha. Good fowler's can see in the dark thought !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Yes there is something magical about wildfowling, i cant put my finger on it, maybe it is being out on the foreshore in the dark, maybe its the solitude although you are out there with other people, but its a great sport and good that we have our own section. Wildfowling and fishing are both sports where i can just unwind and relax, and that is how i explain it to guys wanting to take up a taster flight to find out what it is about.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorchfisher Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) Being new to wildfowling (2nd Season) i find this section really interesting, being in Dorset its a fair way from some of the better known spots but still a cracking part of the country. There are not birds in great numbers but we have a nice small club with sooting in spectacular scenery. Once our season gets underway (we cant shoot until October 1st) i'll hopefully have some reports to post! Edited September 24, 2012 by dorchfisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) But you are a willing learner Matt. You have the right mentality to make a good Fowler. You just need to learn how to treat your mentor to some of that cake you always scoff while its still dark haha. Good fowler's can see in the dark thought !! So can you dog seen as she almost had the lot! Edited September 24, 2012 by Big Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 If the whole forum is called Pigeon Watch, then this should be called Widgeon Watch surely!! Close enough isnt it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I still like the fact we are a sub category, this way it keeps the armchair experts from spoiling a good forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I agree, its great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) This subforum is spot on as it is IMO. Because it IS a sub forum it keeps it a litle bit more under the radar and also away from the forum eejits who troll Off topic/General shoting matters all night long. So far, this has remained unnervingly sensible, it is GREAT to see, long may it continue! Edited September 24, 2012 by -Mongrel- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 It's not that long ago we didn't have our own little area on here but thanks to the mods we now have our bit. The numbers posting have gradually grown and we see new names coming along and joining the interesting debates and topics. I find it brilliant to listen to many views and thoughts from all parts of the country, and abroad too. It's good because I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you and shooting with you. I can't recall any negative comments since we started up, which is a credit to everyone. So for all the above comments I think this is maybe the best thread on here. Thanks to the moderators for creating this area for us, we told you it would be worthwhile. Your thoughts please. I will take a little credit for pushing the Moderators in the right direction. I sent in a very long topic asking for a folwing section and giving all the reasons for it, etc. Most used fowling forum on the internet - fowlers here anyhow - boring the non-fowlers, etc. I got a reply saying it was under review. Three weeks later we had it up and running. Maybe just a coincidence... Super info and very well used by sensible people. But then fowlers always were sensible people... Keep the posts coming lads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodylt1 Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 Its really great to see such a mix of old hands and newcomers on the forum and people seemingly not afraid to share information / advice, its just what's needed to keep Wildfowling alive and well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 Its really great to see such a mix of old hands and newcomers on the forum and people seemingly not afraid to share information / advice, its just what's needed to keep Wildfowling alive and well!! That is exactly what makes wildfowlers different. It is a sport where, in general, people help each other. Maybe it comes from the sometimes harsh environment we operate in. No one is going to ignore a call for help when out on the marsh and it seems that the same principles apply when on dry land. I have been fowling for well over fifty years and I can count the 'bad uns' I've met on one hand. We all keep secret places where we like to think that only we know about. Little creeks and gutters where the birds fly better and lower - But in general fowling is a sport where you can always get good help and advice. Long may it stay that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drone Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 (edited) I'm pretty inexperienced at wildfowling still learning a lot after 51 years. The first 15 were spent learning how to get under the birds, the second 15 years were spent in learning how to hit them. The last 20 years I quit after slaughtering geese up near leven. I guess the things I love about the sport is that I get to go to some wild places like the bridge hotel up on the wash, christ that place is like texas in the 1870s (or was just a 100 years later) OH and getting out on the marsh is pretty sobering. I always had trouble in differentiating between shellies and pintails and so it wasn't until 1990 that I actually harvested a pair of pintails. (BTW I never shot a shellie). Perhaps the most precious find I had was Sid Wright, a man I am so proud to be able to call a chum. I heard of his death second hand and was not able to show my respects. I started off as a client and ended up a mate. What more could you ask from a crazy pastime? Edited September 26, 2012 by drone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.