washwildfowler Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) Hi guys ,i just thought i would throw this out there really to see what you guys think. So what's your preferred quarry to shoot and why ? Mine would have to be the little buzzing Teal.a great little sporting bird that gives me nightmares sometimes , i love it's speed , it's agility to turn in any direction on a sixpence at any time .which i have great respect for. Then for the geese it would have to be the mighty pink foot goose , just the sound of the Wink Wink makes my knees shake .they travel hundreds of miles to our shore ,to give many fowlers sleepless nights including myself . So come on guys lets here yours . Edited October 1, 2012 by washwildfowler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) I can't believe how difficult a topic this is. It really does depend what mood I'm in with the ducks, even the Mallard has been top of my quarry list at one time or another. Every now and then I get a rush to the head and target a species and place for a while but in general I'm happy with what comes along. The geese are a little easier to choose from and I'd agree with the OP on Pinks. The sound of pinks coming out of the morning gloom never fails to leave a lump in my throat and a flutter in my chest. Living in the South I only ever see them once or twice a year so perhaps there is some rarity value in that but they remain my favourite goose species. I've had goose fever several times in my life and though they always set the pulses racing I am more of a duck man these days. I'll go and flight geese inland or on the coast and love every minute but if the choice was ducks or geese I'd go with the ducks everytime. Like most things affected by the tide my feelings could shift at anytime!! Edited October 1, 2012 by Reabrook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samyw Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Teal for me they can be the hardest bird to hit with a shotgun especially in the wind sometimes can miss them very easily wildfowling and pigeon shooting are the best parts of shooting for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 It has to be teal for me too! A fantastic sporting bird that tastes great. As for geese, I'd guess that 90% of people will say pinks. Although I've not been lucky enough to bag one (yet), I'd say they are certainly my favourite to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler325 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Pinkys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) It has to be ducks rather than geese for me. Much as i find the sight of a big skien of geese heart stiring once you get a bit of experiance they are a bit too easy. A brace of geese is a good bag , but a dozen becomes rather sickening. Of all the geese the pinks have to be the best at keeping out of the way of wildfowlers , but even they can be very daft at times. There are many times on the coast and inland when I could have shot a trailer load if I wanted to. Last January under the moon I saw about 3,000 pinks feeding on a stubble that all got up at dusk when a squall hit the marsh at dusk and went out to roost. I knew they would come back when the sky cleared and the full moon showed again. Went home , had some tea , but kept one eye on the sky and as soon as the grey clouds started to thin a little I went back to the marsh. As I arrived the cloud cleared and the moon shone through. I shot a pink out of the first skien before i had even set foot on the marsh and within a quarter of an hour had 5 more and was back at the car. And still the geese came , I could have shot a lot more. Geese can be so predictable. But there was a time when I lived for goose shooting below the sea wall. Half a dozen in a season for chaseing them most weekends was a good bag for the season. But geese were few back in the 1970s and well versed in the ways of wildfowlers. Today there a hell of a lot more , so much so that some are regarded as vermin and when in big numbers there is always going to be the odd one or two that make mistakes no matter what the weather . But once you know the game they are a bit to easy and then they lose much of their magic. On the other hand ducks are a very different story , a new flood on the freshes or a small change in wind direction and they act totaly diffrently. Of all the ducks it has to be pintail for me , though teal come a close second , but again if you want a good bird for the table it has to be mallard. Of all the methods of shooting duck it has to be decoying in broad daylight on the tide for me. There is always something happening on the tide , waders being pushed off on the tide , a variety of different duck far out over the waves and keeping one eye on the water hopeing you have read the height right. When they do decoy in daylight you can pick your shots targeting the best plumaged drakes. There is also the satisfaction of capturing the interest of the fowl and bringing them into the right position for a good clean shot. There have been days on the marsh when I have only seen 40 or so ducks moving on the tide an 8-10 lots , but every one has come into the decoys if I get them positioned right. The other thing about ducks is the variety you can shoot. Nice though they are grey geese all look pretty much the same , but the variety of colour of the drakes plumage make day so much more interesting. And unlike geese to shoot a dozen or fifteen seems more acceptable for ducks than geese , I guess because you can always find a home for them even if it means a trip to the game dealer where as if you do shoot a big bag of geese what the hell do you do with them ? Edited October 1, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Wigeon with the punt gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I suppose if i had to choose it would be Teal, but im just happy with what ever comes my way...although looking forward to some geese action in November Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Quite new to wildfowling but never had a feeling like it as when I had Canada's coming in to my decoys last weekend. They were flying past then over my head into the wind. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishfowler Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Mallard! mainly a i have never shot any other fowl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Teal , tuffted , Pintail ,Wigeon ,Mandarin ,Shoveller ,mallard and so on . Don't mind what turns up, all about being out there the beauty off not knowing bit like fishing a river really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 This is a tough one, every species is different and has its own merits. The pinks are truly wonderful sight, think of the miles those birds fly and the time they spend on the wing to grace us with their presence would put them top of my list for foreshore geese. Personally I could not decoy them on stubble etc. But that's just me. I really can't choose what's top of the duck. Widgeon under the moon on a tide with a good hard frost is special, teal on a tide when your on the edge of the green in a muddy half filled creek and how about one of those high mallard coming back over the sea wall....all are testing shots, all need a good dog to find them...but maybe the teal gets the vote, the others come a very close joint second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Teal , tuffted , Pintail ,Wigeon ,Mandarin ,Shoveller ,mallard and so on . Don't mind what turns up, all about being out there the beauty off not knowing bit like fishing a river really Mandarin??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I'd be happy to hit anything at the moment Although i have never shot one, there is something magical about pinkfoots, i could sit there all day and watch them fly by without wanting to shoot at them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) Mandarin??? Yes they would be if i could, can be a pain where i shoot as you have to hold back at time's before you pull the trigger Edited October 1, 2012 by magman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 LOL. Try shooting around Slimbridge!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaddy525 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 pinks every time! or a sly white escapee....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I prefer ducks but am prepared to travel across the country for a go at the pinks. Strange... you never hear of people traveling massive distances for a teal that seems the most popular so far. (maybe because they occur locally in most parts) Something about geese that lures people long distances! Never shot a pintail, so thats my goal for the next few seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcw65 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 had a mandarin in the bag last year when i was picking up,dont know who shot it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I adore teal stunningly beautiful drakes and they taste lovely to but also love it when the pinks come in makes the my hair stand up on end every time but just as happy if I'm out and don't get a shot just love being out there with my dogs....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I agree a lot with what anser2 says. But I would still have to say pinks and then mallard. A good bag of ducks on the mud is much harder to do than geese imo still after a pink under the moon though. can never get the cloud right!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 2 quick questions guys ! What shot size do you prefer for duck and what is the nicest eating water fowl to be had on our shores ? I've only ever had mallard and once goose but I have no idea what breed of goose it was but it was great eating ! ATB Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 2 quick questions guys ! What shot size do you prefer for duck and what is the nicest eating water fowl to be had on our shores ? I've only ever had mallard and once goose but I have no idea what breed of goose it was but it was great eating ! ATB Matt I use 3's, and think teal is the sweetest tasting duck from our shores beyond doubt imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 I use 3's, and think teal is the sweetest tasting duck from our shores beyond doubt imo As above, I use Gamebore Super Steel 32g No.3s for duck and I think teal is THE best tasting fowl on our shores Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margun Posted October 1, 2012 Report Share Posted October 1, 2012 Wigeon for me- decoying on the estuary or flighting them under the moon. There's something evocative about the wheeeoo of their song and the tearing paper sound of their wings as they drop into the pattern 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.