Terry P Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 Just finished reading a few of the old time wildfowling books and now planning my travels for the coming season, travelled a fair bit last season and really enjoyed it. It has got me thinking of historical and famous wildfowling haunts and where I would love to have a flight or two before my time is up. What are your must visit marshes, here or abroad that you would like to visit and what has inspired you to want to visit. I've been to a fair few in the uk but have still to visit Lindisfarne, and a couple of the far northern firths plus the wash,and hope to get to Canada, Argentina and south Africa in the coming years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 I have always wanted to viait montrose basin for a flight. Purely because my earliest memory of seeing thousands of pinks was on the way past years ago! The wash and lindisfarne are high up on the list also, I hope to visit them the coming season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 I can sort out the wash trip for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 I've always wanted to shoot at the marsh at Ongar hill, i've lived within a couple of miles for most of my life and have watched the geese pass over my house heading out that way for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 (edited) Just finished reading a few of the old time wildfowling books and now planning my travels for the coming season, travelled a fair bit last season and really enjoyed it. It has got me thinking of historical and famous wildfowling haunts and where I would love to have a flight or two before my time is up. What are your must visit marshes, here or abroad that you would like to visit and what has inspired you to want to visit. I've been to a fair few in the uk but have still to visit Lindisfarne, and a couple of the far northern firths plus the wash,and hope to get to Canada, Argentina and south Africa in the coming years. I had a couple of trips to South Africa shooting various game & wildfowl Terry & loved it have shot spur wing gees , ducks , sandgrouse , rock pigeon & doves , guinea fowl , various ground game & spring buck & lamping jackal . Cant wait to go again the nearest way to describe sandgrouse shooting is like golden plover shooting its a fantastic land go there if you get a chance . oh yes nearly forgot to say no mud ! no cold wind & rain & no blue fingers & shriveled up cold willy . Go if you can it makes a great change shooting in nice sunny weather . ATB . ps I had 125 pigeon in a maize field & sun burn ! , had a young black lad picking up for me & he worked bloody hard & I paid him well & I just hope his dad did not rob him when he got home . pps fishing was good in between shooting , fly fished for a yellow fish on the orange river & two mates caught some nice big catfish , also spun for fish in the farm dams & ponds . Dont do what my mate from Norfolk done & roll up your trouser legs & paddle while fishing because when he came out he was covered in bloody leeches ! & did we slag him for it . Edited June 29, 2013 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edenman Posted June 29, 2013 Report Share Posted June 29, 2013 As a Scot id love to shoot the kent marshes were it seems pintail abound. Would love to shoot the washes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted June 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Thanks for the invite Ayano but you seem to have some crazy hanger on's . I will take you up on that offer. Polestar, I've read a bit about South Africa and it does sound truly awesome. I really have come down with the travelling bug, when you look into it there are so many places to wildfowl in just the uk alone. The excitement as the morning breaks on a new marsh is on a whole new level, but the best thing is the likeminded people I've met over the last couple of seasons, wildfowling seems to be a great leveller, I've met some wonderful people from all walks of life but one thing in common, and that a genuine love of wildfowling. I cannot wait for the season and my new adventures to begin. Right wheres that map Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Australia can be a good place too Terry but the laws are a bit odd ? I had a mate up here last summer from King Island & he told me there have been problems with Cape Barren geese hammering farm land & problems with ducks in the rice fields in Victoria & N.S.W but I have been away from Australia for more than 20years now so I am a bit out of touch with shooting there . Our Australian duck shooting mates get a lot of flak from the antis out there & some of the state governments will do anything for the townie vote , if you ever head out that way best if you get a contact out there . ATB Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Thanks for the invite Ayano but you seem to have some crazy hanger on's . I have to agree with that statement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Every wildfowler has to go to the Solway at least once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Sat down by the river today watching the ducks flit about i got thinkin about this again. Montrose, lindisfarne and the wash are top of the list Solway (as above), been before but will get there again Around the corner, wigtown bay Cromarty Lossiemouth And so many more.. I love wildfowling and i have come to the conclusion, EVERY estuary/marsh is worth a visit, I think i will be doing an awful lot of traveling the coming season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 I worked for Ducks Unlimited for a year when I was younger and was lucky enough to shoot most provinces of Canada. Not wildfowling as we know it, but I would love to go back just to see the sheer numbers of birds again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 The Wash and Lindisfarne are on my list! On the subject of visiting 'unknown' marshes, if anybody fancies a marsh swap this season, give me a PM. The blokes I took out last year had some very good shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 The Wash and Lindisfarne are on my list! On the subject of visiting 'unknown' marshes, if anybody fancies a marsh swap this season, give me a PM. The blokes I took out last year had some very good shooting Thats a very good offer and idea I am sure it will catch on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Hi I was a local at Montrose & can't rate it enough for pink foot goose shooting. Getting on might be a problem as the visitors seem to be the same faces for the same weeks etc. but even late in the season January/February you should be able to still shoot a pink of it it's quite easy fowling. End of September/October is mental with 60thou geese about & geese are very easy to bag. Due to work I'm out of fowling just now but used to be on Montrose basin 2/3 nights a week when tide right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 As I'm a fenland man, I would say the wash around south lincs, cambs and west norfolk is the Mecca of wildfowling along the coast and if inland marsh I would say Whittlesey or Welney. Just a shame they didn't leave a bit of the fens flooded when they drained it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted July 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 I managed to get a permit for the Montrose last season and your right in that to see 40 odd thousand geese is a must see experience in its own right, but as for easy to bag a goose, well I was there for the middle of October and those geese were well aware of what was going on by then, they had been hammered already. I was fortunate to get talking to a local fowler and after a bit of quidence bagged a couple of pinks. I know the rules are there for a reason but being told when to get on and off, must meet in car park etc kind of take away what wildfowling is all about for me. What really bothered me though was the fowlers that turn up late, wonder around then sit about 200m right in front of you. So the best memories I have of there are a little tainted by thoughtless fellow fowlers but still a truly awesome experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Every wildfowler has to go to the Solway at least once. Been there Scolopax & I was a bit saddened too see the usual empty heads wondering why their semi auto pogo sticks could only fire 3 shots & not 8 at geese way out of range !. Heard the same thing goes on in Montrose Basin , sad ! , maybe a trip too spec savers might help em ? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 I managed to get a permit for the Montrose last season and your right in that to see 40 odd thousand geese is a must see experience in its own right, but as for easy to bag a goose, well I was there for the middle of October and those geese were well aware of what was going on by then, they had been hammered already. I was fortunate to get talking to a local fowler and after a bit of quidence bagged a couple of pinks. I know the rules are there for a reason but being told when to get on and off, must meet in car park etc kind of take away what wildfowling is all about for me. What really bothered me though was the fowlers that turn up late, wonder around then sit about 200m right in front of you. So the best memories I have of there are a little tainted by thoughtless fellow fowlers but still a truly awesome experience. Have you been to my neck of the woods yet Terry ? not much true fowling as such but some very good goosing , but alas things starting to change & a few bad types starting to visit . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted July 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Not been to Orkney pal, but hoping to get up there next year in September more of a family holiday as Claire has always wanted to visit(she's a bit of a history buff), so it would be mad not to bring the gun, but it does sadden me to see the huge piles of greylags splashed all over facebook that have been taken decoying. As for the cowboys well there everywhere and judging by the old books I've been reading always have been, to be fair I've never had a problem on most of the places I have visited buy then I try and visit mid week if I can. Anyone ever been fowling in Ireland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Not been to Orkney pal, but hoping to get up there next year in September more of a family holiday as Claire has always wanted to visit(she's a bit of a history buff), so it would be mad not to bring the gun, but it does sadden me to see the huge piles of greylags splashed all over facebook that have been taken decoying. As for the cowboys well there everywhere and judging by the old books I've been reading always have been, to be fair I've never had a problem on most of the places I have visited buy then I try and visit mid week if I can. Anyone ever been fowling in Ireland. Great when you get up Terry give me a call & will sort a go for you , dont know if your a fisherman but September can be a good time on the trout & see fishing is good too . As for the history bit well your wife will love the place so that will keep her out of your hair while you are having a shot . ATB Pole Star ps I lived in Co Wexford for 10 or 12 years before moving to Orkney lots of wildfowl on the Slops but its mostly under the control now by the Office of Public Works & shooting there is pretty much over , you might have better luck in the North . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Thats a very good offer and idea I am sure it will catch on Beware of Harry, he is one of the mad hanger's on lol. He's not a bad ol stick really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 It don't look like I will be getting a holiday in the sun this year so the solway for a flight or two is a real possibility. One marsh I always wanted to shoot was Norwich and when I got the chance last year I went. It was better than I had even envisaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Not sure why you want to shoot the wash. Its the pits. You sit in 2ft deep mud, unable to move your feet. You fall backwards and forwards to keep free and have mud everywhere. You wait and wait until all the tea you have consumed has you dancing on the spot and busting at the seams. The minute you finally liberate the thing that's shrunk because of the minus ten degrees the birds you have been waiting for whistle by you ....you swear to yourself never to drink again and start the wait again...wow geese...you get deeper in the creek and your feel a cold trickle down to you socks...yes the water has got in....as for the geese, they went over someone on the sea wall even though you did all the calling. You wait for the mallard until 10am and they come over you 200 yards up. You get home and she asks why you haven't got anything again.....you sure you want to shoot she wash...I'm having 'if only ' inscribed on my headstone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted July 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 A perfect description of fowling lol, maybe I will change my visit to the washes!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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