southeastpete Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Hi, I recently got a new permission, or several fishing lakes, surrounded by grazing. At the moment im trying to rid a few canadas before they nest. But i thought i would start to swot up up wildfowl ID before next season. There are so many different ducks about, when you have a few flying in on a foggy/ ark morning say, how do you know they are ones you can shoot? Is it a case of knowing that all the ducks you have on your ponds are legal quarry? Also the only reports i read on here are of people shooting, widgeon, teal, pintail or mallard. Do people not shoot gadwall, goldeneye, pochard, shoveler, and tufted duck? Where do people stand on coots and moorhen/ I asked about moorhen once, and some people said they taste horrible, some said they were alright. Some said they didnt shoot them, others said they did as they destroy duck eggs. What about coots? Im glad im learning all this now, as if i left it close to season id be lost, and left only shooting mallard and teal, there are so many different ducks on these lakes though. Many thanks for any help/guidance. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Hi, I recently got a new permission, or several fishing lakes, surrounded by grazing. At the moment im trying to rid a few canadas before they nest. But i thought i would start to swot up up wildfowl ID before next season. There are so many different ducks about, when you have a few flying in on a foggy/ ark morning say, how do you know they are ones you can shoot? Is it a case of knowing that all the ducks you have on your ponds are legal quarry? Also the only reports i read on here are of people shooting, widgeon, teal, pintail or mallard. Do people not shoot gadwall, goldeneye, pochard, shoveler, and tufted duck? Where do people stand on coots and moorhen/ I asked about moorhen once, and some people said they taste horrible, some said they were alright. Some said they didnt shoot them, others said they did as they destroy duck eggs. What about coots? Im glad im learning all this now, as if i left it close to season id be lost, and left only shooting mallard and teal, there are so many different ducks on these lakes though. Many thanks for any help/guidance. Pete You learn from experience what they look like when they are flying and silhouetted. I also know from experience that I'm only likely to see X,Y and Z depending on where I am shooting. Coots and moorhens have a season but are shot cause they destroy eggs. They other ducks are shot although the diving species tend not to taste as good as say mallard,(due to the dietary differences). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 expierience and knowing what is likely to be seen, you also quite often hear them call or the noise the wings make before they are sighted. Normally it is a case of not pulling the trigger because something in your head tells you it just doesn't look/sound right. The RSPB site has a good identification section and also has the calls to listen to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted March 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Cool thanks guys. If it is some fishing lakes with lots of duck already, would it be worth my while throwing a few handfuls of corn in the shallows a couple of times a week in the run up to season to ensure they keep coming back, or would that bother the fishery, or is it unnecessary with good numbers already? I may shoot the coots and moorhens to help the duck numbers, and give it a go myself, but probably dry it and make dog chews... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 wouldn't bother feeding and I don't think you can shoot the coots or moorhens till Sept Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 I did complete a wildfowl ID on here some years ago, just search by my name You need to understand and learn all about all the breeds which are visiting the ponds and get use to their calls as SP3 as suggested. You dont want to be encouraging the ducks and geese by feeding as the fisherman will not be to happy, we have Canadas nesting on one of our lakes, nice to see but they dont half make a mess. You want to check that there is no night fishing going on and what time guys do fish from/to as we fish our ponds Dawn/Dusk you got to think about the safety side of this. If it was me i wuld visit the lakes a couple of times a week and just start watching what is going on, and then use what ever material you have to learn about the species etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 http://www.basc.org.uk/en/utilities/document-summary.cfm/docid/A02E67BD-A03F-4878-BBA235E27B7A97BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 (edited) There are three ways i would use to ID the ducks you are likely to see and shoot. First get a good bird book such a Collins Bird guide , second go out with an experianced wildfowler for a few flights and see how he IDs the quarry species and finaly make several visits to a wetland bird reserve and get to know the birds in flight as well as on the water. I am guessing you are very new to shooting and the countryside. I grew up in the country side and knew the difference between a moorhen and coot or a mallard and tufted before I was 6 years old . The reason why you do not hear much about tufted \pochard\gadwall ect is they are much less common than mallard \ teal \ wigeon ect or are mainly found on big areas of water and thus much less likely to be shot . If I was you I would leave your canadas alone until next Season when they can provide you with brilliant sport and very good eating. Get out there and watch the wildfowl and it will all come togeather given a little time. Edited March 8, 2013 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted March 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Oh no, I've shot a while and I'm a country boy through and through. Just not from near water. Can tell most things, but not a goldeneye for instance. The guys fish all day and night, but I always go round them first and check they don't mind the odd bang, as I don't want to lose the permission as fishing is the guys income. There is enough space round the lake for me to pick my angles and have safe shooting. I had intended to print off some pics, and go down to watch and learn whilst waiting for Canada's. I won't bother feeding, I didn't think it would be necessary but thought I'd ask. I also know that I need to wait till sep for moorhen and coots as well as the ducks and other geese species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted March 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 I'm sure it will come with time, when rough shooting I can tell instantly from the wing flap if a pigeon, partridge or pheasant is about to go up. I've never had this much access to wildfowl though. I have one permission with a stream that gets snipe and woodcock and teal. I can ID those alright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Flight pattern hasn't been mentioned so far so I will its a primary ID along with call after sunset and before sunrise. Shell duck can look a bit like mallard from some angles and in early season juveniles can look like mongrel mallard (also common inland) but the wing -beat gives them away- they are protected and rumoured to taste like garbage anyhow. Ask an experienced fowler how he knew what the bird he just shot was and most will say " because it is" what they mean is it wasn't one thing that ID it. If any doubt exists do not shoot, we all get that at times- it isn't worth the risk and its 50/50 your wrong with a guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Goldeneye make a whistling noise with their wings when they are flying and tend to fly low to water. It's quite obvious once you've seen it once Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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