dolphin Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 hi all just heard off a local wildfowler 4 lads shot sixteen geese on the marsh this morning but will have to go back down with a dog to find a few as no one had a dog although i dont shoot the marsh myself i personally dont think you should shoot over water unless yourself or somebody in your party has a dog what are others opinions not trying to start an arguement as this is just my opinion atb dolphin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzypigeon Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 only shoot without a dog where you can retrieve yourself, but saying that there are times even a dog cant retrieve, personally i dont shoot at anything unless i should be able to retrieve it or the dog should be able to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I have a dog and know how valuable they are, not just on the marsh but for all types of shooting. I do a bit of picking up on game shoots and its surprising how many birds you can add to the bag that would otherwise be lost. Not everyone can have a dog, room, allergic reactions etc but if you are prepared to shoot something you should either be prepared to take a long walk or get wet. I know one guy who shoots far more wildfowl than the average gun and to my knowledge has never used a dog but loses very few. But I feel a good dog is invaluable but like I said I have the right environment to own a dog. If there is someone with a dog and you don't have one I am sure a fellow sportsman would willingly help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 four lads shot 16 geese? none had a dog? it sounds disgusting on both counts and does this marsh not flood? if they were in the water will they not be gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Would have though that at least one of the four would have had a dog. Hope they like the taste of goose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 yes the marsh does flood but i believe they fell a long way behind them in fields so could now be long gone if only winged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 yes the marsh does flood but i believe they fell a long way behind them in fields so could now be long gone if only winged Every one looses an odd one, even with a dog but this tale is sounding worse and worse. I get the picture of high shooting cowboys with no dogs and excessive bags. I concede you can shoot without a dog but you have to be very careful at what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 So if they fell in the fields why couldn't they find a way to get there sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Ever heard the saying marsh cowboys ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 probably so they didnt spook other birds flighting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I don't have a dog. Not in a position where I can offer a gpod home to a dog. When the time is right and I can offer a proper home i will get a working dog. I shoot on the foreshore...I could have more shots if i had a dog as they would be retrievable For the time being i will stick to shooting over mud/marsh where I know i can pick them. I very very rarely go for doubles as I have to watch any shot birs to mark where it drops and collect it asap Yes a dog is a great thing to have but I don't think its a must, if shots are chosen wisely I have lost a couple of ducks, 1 which even a dog qould not of been able to retrieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) You can shoot without a dog, but you can take shots, shoot other places with a dog more happily. Over water and cover spring to mind straight away. I know one club insist on a dog being available and I fully agree with it, as often shots are taken over water or reeds. Plus its company for the day.... I fully understand not everyone can offer a dog a home but one should be available. 4 lads, 16 geese = 4 geese each. A genuine question, what is the acceptable limit on wild geese? Edited January 30, 2013 by steve0146 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Which marsh was this if you Dont mind me asking dolphin........most clubs have a must shoot with dog rule and tbh I wouldn't even go pigeon shooting with out one. Too much effort chasing a winged pigeon around a field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Our club introduced a rule this season stating that you must shoot with a dog capable of retrieving wildfowl or shoot with some one with such a dog. We lost two long standing members over it but the vast majority supported the ban. We shoot a fast flowing estuary edged with thick reed beds, it is incredibly easy to lose birds both on the water and on dry land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 First: 4 geese to one gun isn't excessive in my opinion. I sympathise with people who can't have dogs,(and accept there are places where you can manage without one) but I wouldn't go out shooting without one. If the brother has borrowed the dog then I just wont go out shooting without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joknob Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Our club introduced a rule this season stating that you must shoot with a dog capable of retrieving wildfowl or shoot with some one with such a dog. We lost two long standing members over it but the vast majority supported the ban. We shoot a fast flowing estuary edged with thick reed beds, it is incredibly easy to lose birds both on the water and on dry land. last time i shot winteringham haven i pricked 3 pinks, and when i got home i told the mrs i would not shoot that part of the marsh again, even with a dog.. you will not pick a goose over that river,every time those geese get back to reeds island.well done for introducing that rule and i wish a few more clubs will follow that example on. craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ghost Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) A couple of days ago I heard they had about 30 to 45 thousand geese on the Solway (pinks) The Solway Wildfowlers Association (http://www.solwaywil...k/About us.html) work hard to educate shooters so I believe the true shooters in that area would not be very happy at the four involved. I like you find this sort of behaviour barbaric and unacceptable. I now live 250 miles from my home where I shot this marsh, I always had the utmost respect for every bird I killed Edited January 30, 2013 by The Ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) First: 4 geese to one gun isn't excessive in my opinion. I sympathise with people who can't have dogs,(and accept there are places where you can manage without one) but I wouldn't go out shooting without one. If the brother has borrowed the dog then I just wont go out shooting without it. Occasionally it is not (depending on venue) however there were 4 guns in the party and they all took 4 ! I actually shot the season before this dog less, what it meant was a lot of restraint and no tide shooting- I didn't loose a single bird! this year I lost three that I remember. 1. dropped after being pricked at short range and dropped a long long way out across the mud and the pup did not have the experience 2. set its wings landing dead on the far side of a massive gutter at full flow- dog not sent (too dangerous) 3. dropped but I suspect recovered to fly on before the dog sent. Not sure I am totally 100% in favour of a no dog no shoot rule, suppose its down to the venue- but a rule against shooting that which is going to be hard or impossible to retrieve is a good one. Preston wildfowlers have a rule against taking a dog so there are reasons for and against. A club I am in has had issues with a certain member shooting at teal way out over the water (basically prayer shots) without a dog- getting good firm evidence can be hard if your not sat right by him with a second witness who is also on the committee or the likes though! Edited January 31, 2013 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) In an ideal world we should all shoot with a dog . For me a dog makes half the enjoyment in wildfowling. However provided you pick your shots and spot it is possible to shoot without one , but only shooting over an area where fallen birds are obvious and picking the bird at once. Indeed I sometimes think there are times when you should not take a dog. I used to shoot duck on the Wash on neap tides in very wild windy weather lying on my back in the short spartina as there was no real cover for me let alone a dog. Is it realy fair to ask a gundog to sit in the bottom of a very wet and muddy creek in an exposed position in windy and freezing conditions for hours on end? Having said this 99% of the time i shoot with a dog , indeed it must be 20 years ago since I last shot without one. Edited January 31, 2013 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fandango Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Dolphin,,, which marsh was it,,,,,,,, scotch side or SSWA ??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin Posted January 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 well just found out the true story from one of the lads shooting who left when they had 4 birds down it was not on the marsh but only 100 yards from it inland although 2 of the guns have dogs that do work they never took them needless to say when they went back at tea time the geese couldnt be found atb dolphin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 In an ideal world we should all shoot with a dog . For me a dog makes half the enjoyment in wildfowling. However provided you pick your shots and spot it is possible to shoot without one , but only shooting over an area where fallen birds are obvious and picking the bird at once. Indeed I sometimes think there are times when you should not take a dog. I used to shoot duck on the Wash on neap tides in very wild windy weather lying on my back in the short spartina as there was no real cover for me let alone a dog. Is it realy fair to ask a gundog to sit in the bottom of a very wet and muddy creek in an exposed position in windy and freezing conditions for hours on end? Having said this 99% of the time i shoot with a dog , indeed it must be 20 years ago since I last shot without one. Sounds like a normal day on the marsh to me "LOL" training the dog to lie under a cover between my legs through this close season. unfortunately cold wet mud and tide coming into you hole are all part of it for many but its easier to shoot a good bag under these conditions without a dog its just about the recovery not many of us can compete with a dog chasing a cripple in the mud or water. Fully understand were your coming from there are occasions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoggy Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I personally wouldn`t go without one. I`ve been a little restricted this year as my old dog died and my new pup isn`t fully trained. But I always made sure if I went I went with friends who have dogs. For me shooting without a dog just isn`t the same and taking your dog onto the marsh or wash is actually part of fowling for me. But 4 blokes shooting and not one having a dog is bad form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margun Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 I wouldn't go without one on most occasions either, it doesn't feel right without the dog there! I made an exception on 31st Jan though- a few of us shot a mate's lake, the water level was high and was up to my thighs in the pallet hide. Wouldn't have been fair to ask the dog to sit up to her neck in water for 2 hrs. We just chose our shots carefully over the open water and the wind blew the birds to he edges of the reed beds, which we picked by boat after the flight. Didn't lose one. 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.