strangford wildfowler Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 A man I know has a flight pond and has told me that he was shooting between 20-30 mallard and teal a week, and I was wondering no wonder there's no ducks on strangford lough, surely this kind of shooting is unsustainable? What are your thoughts, all replies welcome. Atb strangford wildfowler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barls2-9-12 Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 That's nothing compared to some places believe me. surprised they shoot it once a week though. It don't help when they shoot so many duck it has had a negative effect in my area like wise where you are. There is nothing wrong with having a flight pond as long as they shoot responsibly, but most people who shoot on a duck syndicate don't tend to be wildfowlers and shoot them like pheasants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted September 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 Tottally argree barls, like what on earth would you do with 20 odd ducks ( there are no game dealers in N.IRELAND) 2 or 3 ducks for the pot each week is enough surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-Sheen Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 I have seen a lot of unsportsman like acts when out wildfowling, some people regularly take that even on the foreshore and for one i think its unsustainable for the ecosystem, two it makes it harder for other shooting who can only get down perhaps once a week and finally, what can you do with that many birds? It just ruins the sports name, wildfowling shouldnt be about big bags but being out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler325 Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 Iv see 300 mallard and teal shot in one day by 7 people. That just plain stupid. When im out if the shootings good i will take 12 duck at the most as i know i can use 12 duck. Theres always 3 mates of mine who will duck and i also freeze some for during the off season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 20-30 every week? My first thought is bull ****. Shoot a pond every 2/3 weeks and leave with ducks coming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyD Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 20-30 every week? My first thought is bull ****. That was my first thought too. Why would ducks, that have a number of loughs and an uncountable number of ponds available to them, return in numbers to a pond where they are regularly massacred. Even if it is a lie, the nature of the lie indicates that the man is an idiot who should be avoided whenever possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 20-30 every week? My first thought is bull ****. Shoot a pond every 2/3 weeks and leave with ducks coming in. I don't think it is unbelievable to shoot 20-30 a week. If there's plenty of duck there, it can quite easily happen. I know someone who lets out days on his pond. A lot more than 20 are shot per week, but not throughout the entire season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 (edited) That was my first thought too. Why would ducks, that have a number of loughs and an uncountable number of ponds available to them, return in numbers to a pond where they are regularly massacred. Even if it is a lie, the nature of the lie indicates that the man is an idiot who should be avoided whenever possible. The only reason he gets so many is because he feeds It heavily all year, I know what your thinking he would be skint but he's a coal man. I just think this man is a greedy shot for he shoots pheasants every two weeks on a shoots he runs aswell. Edited September 24, 2013 by strangford wildfowler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 (edited) We have a pond between 4 of us and shoot every 2 weeks through the season, a decent night would see a bag of about 10 but it has ranged from 0 - 21. Last season we shot mainly Mallard and a few Teal and Wigeon. To off set what we take (last season's total bag was 78 duck 1 goose) we put down 100 Mallard (which are ringed)in the summer, by the time we start shooting it mid Sept roughly half of these have left the pond, by mid Oct all will have left and behave like wild Mallard sometimes flighting in at dusk to feed. Interestingly last season we shot 21 of our own birds with all the rest being wild birds, but a few of the birds we put down were shot on our club marshes. So what we do i feel is sustainable but i know of other ponds around here that are definately not. Edited September 24, 2013 by silver pigeon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 I start to feel guilty with anything above 3-4 ducks in one session. It's very rare that I will get that many but on one occasion I had four and that was enough for me. Personally, I think some people take way too many ducks in one session and over the season, but as I say they are my views. I do a lot of fishing, I always release everything I catch for them to breed and do my bit for the fish stocks, but I don't think any less of anyone that knocks a few on the head for the pot. It's all about moderation. I think it's more that possible to take 20-30 ducks in a week from a flight pond, when a duck is dead it's not there to breed again like a fish that has been released. I try to keep this in mind when I am shooting. Don't get me wrong if I had a very, very bad season and a flight of a lifetime occurred I would probably take ten or maybe more in that situation. There are a lot of very good shooters and knowledgeable people on here and in wildfowling clubs around the country that are good sportsmen and conservationists, unfortuanately there are a lot of people who do not see the bigger picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Depends on the pond, how much its fed and if duck (mallard) are released there. Its not Wildfowling its duck shooting though wildfowling takes place below the mean high water mark. Still I know someone who shot 74 pintail on the foreshore many years ago (his dad took his gun off him till he learnt the error of his ways). 10 duck even if they are teal is enough for anyone and I should stop short of that personally with large duck like Mallard, case in point most clubs that issue a limit call game over at ten. If ever duck are acting suicidal its better to stop, it is supposed to be sport not meat shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 Its not Wildfowling its duck shooting though wildfowling takes place below the mean high water mark. it is supposed to be sport not meat shopping. Completely agree with the above, and a single bird from the foreshore is more enjoyable than 2 brace from a pond - but flight ponds have there place and if carried out responsibly they are beneficial to all manner of wildlife. We have planted 1 of the islands with wildflower mix that all manner of birds and insects have made the most off through the summer, a pair of kingfishers have taken residence in the earth bank created around the 1 side and lapwings are always there probing the edge of the water for worms, i have also seen signs that water voles are in residence but am yet to see one in the flesh. But the 4 off us in the syndicate are all on the same wavelength and it is not about the mass slaughter of duck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted September 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 I agree with all of you and I personnally have only shot pigeons but have been fowling a few times this season with guns not ever shot most of the time, Its all about the experiance for me, a duck is a bonus I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 Completely agree with the above, and a single bird from the foreshore is more enjoyable than 2 brace from a pond - but flight ponds have there place and if carried out responsibly they are beneficial to all manner of wildlife. We have planted 1 of the islands with wildflower mix that all manner of birds and insects have made the most off through the summer, a pair of kingfishers have taken residence in the earth bank created around the 1 side and lapwings are always there probing the edge of the water for worms, i have also seen signs that water voles are in residence but am yet to see one in the flesh. But the 4 off us in the syndicate are all on the same wavelength and it is not about the mass slaughter of duck. Not against inland shooting and yes it benefits mother nature generally, it just not Wildfowling and the two should be viewed separately as regards bag limits. Due to inland ponds very nature of management they strive to produce surplus to shoot and it becomes a balance of what you put down in the first place, the feeding also help generate that surplus "over population". Wildfowling proper relies largely on migratory birds and provided we do not over exploit the natural occurring recourse and look after their winter home (the saltmarsh) all is good and fair balance is maintained through generations. One might as such reduce bag limits or stop shooting certain birds if numbers were falling, likewise when we are out in summer digging new flashes etc. we hope to increase the natural resource and hence the sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 25, 2013 Report Share Posted September 25, 2013 We agree then Kent - Shame all don't hold the same views Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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