strangford wildfowler Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 There are up to 80000 brent on strangford. The reason they were taken off the list was not to protect the species as a whole but rather the subspecies of pale bellied brent. Strangford is the most improtant wintering ground for the subspecies in europe. However, the numbers of the dark bellied have destroyed what is one of the largest sea loughs in europe. Curlew were only taken off the list two years ago in nireland, the same time as jays were also removed. So much for the political influence of the basc! Doesnt matter I suppose, curlew are rotten to eat once they have been off the hills for any lenght of time. Its the goldies you want to get under strangford. I really dislike brent on strangford because there is probably as you say 50000- 80000 of them at times and they eat every other bird out of house and home during the winter take the wigeon there used to 25 years ago thousands of them nd ow only about hundred if your llucky they drive every bird of the lough. Thus why I dislike them. Have a good day every one, cheers SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Last weekend on the North side of Morecambe bay there were a lot of Pale belly Brents. Very tame, one puddled round me and the dog most of the morning like a pet duck, even if they were not protected I couldn't shoot such a bird. I suppose if they did go back on the list they might be devastated in one full season with this sort of attitude- which is not very sustainable. I mean I could get up and walk around collect the deeks in and it just watched me, the dog I am sure had evil thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Your no gonna want to shoot something that's paddling around your feet but I'm sure they would soon catch on if you started shooting the odd bird. Have to say I've never seen a Brent though so can't say I know how they behave compared to other geese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Very trusting in general. Your no gonna want to shoot something that's paddling around your feet but I'm sure they would soon catch on if you started shooting the odd bird.Have to say I've never seen a Brent though so can't say I know how they behave compared to other geese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Very trusting in general. Trusting..you make them sound human doesn't seem like it would be very good for PR though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Well they are, or they are where I have come into close contact with them. Trusting..you make them sound human doesn't seem like it would be very good for PR though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angrymallard Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 It's not an increase in Brent that have caused the decline in wigeon wintering on Strangford. Yes they do eat the eelgrass but the competition is second to the fact that the birds just simply aren't turning up. Milder weather associated with climate change is reducing the ranges which birds are migrating south, so populations which would have once been destined for strangford are settling on the mainland. I don't see any real benefit to adding them to the quarry list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Your no gonna want to shoot something that's paddling around your feet but I'm sure they would soon catch on if you started shooting the odd bird. Have to say I've never seen a Brent though so can't say I know how they behave compared to other geese. might do but how much might their numbers be reduced by the big bag boys in the meantime. Geese live a long time and have the capability to learn of new dangers from older birds who have been there done that, we might be talking many season before they became sporting quarry. I mean they are seriously trusting a lot more so than swans and those haven't been shot in many years either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 It's not an increase in Brent that have caused the decline in wigeon wintering on Strangford. Yes they do eat the eelgrass but the competition is second to the fact that the birds just simply aren't turning up. Milder weather associated with climate change is reducing the ranges which birds are migrating south, so populations which would have once been destined for strangford are settling on the mainland. I don't see any real benefit to adding them to the quarry list. There is far to many for my liking, but I'm sticking to my guns and saying if there was less competion for food wigeon numbers would pick up but I understand what your saying angrymallard, but I'm sticking to my opinion. Cheers SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 might do but how much might their numbers be reduced by the big bag boys in the meantime. Geese live a long time and have the capability to learn of new dangers from older birds who have been there done that, we might be talking many season before they became sporting quarry. I mean they are seriously trusting a lot more so than swans and those haven't been shot in many years either Interesting to know Have to say I've seen swans flare when flying over the sea wall. Suppose they get shot at in other countries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Interesting to know Have to say I've seen swans flare when flying over the sea wall. Suppose they get shot at in other countries I heard of russians shooting an eating them, my be true my be not, but I've experianced the same thing but near a river. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Interesting to know Have to say I've seen swans flare when flying over the sea wall. Suppose they get shot at in other countries Some years ago the customs at Dublin airport stopped a visiting French shooter who was leaving & found a swan in his bag ! are they on the quarry list in France Edited October 18, 2013 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Brent then perhaps will never be back on the list ? & perhaps not even Curlew ? any guesses with what we will loose next ? I put my money on the Golden Plover ? & after that ?. . or perhaps the Woodcock ? . Edited October 18, 2013 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted October 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Brent then perhaps will never be back on the list ? & perhaps not even Curlew ? any guesses with what we will loose next ? I put my money on the Golden Plover ? & after that ?. . or perhaps the Woodcock ? . Hopefully not Pole Star I still haven't shot the last 2 yet! But I don't understand why curlew where taken off the list was Its because numbers where low at one point? Cheers SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Curlew numbers in some areas got very low back in 80's and 90's. Ditto with lapwings. Curlews seem to have recovered but not the latter. Golden plover numbers around my area are certainly down compared with 80's but maybe they are just not migrating in with the warmer weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Some years ago the customs at Dublin airport stopped a visiting French shooter who was leaving & found a swan in his bag ! are they on the quarry list in France I can't find anything with a quick search. Wouldn't surprise me if they were though. They're just a large goose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted October 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Some years ago the customs at Dublin airport stopped a visiting French shooter who was leaving & found a swan in his bag ! are they on the quarry list in France Don't like swans either they scare other fowl off as well plus the things always chase my dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 I can't find anything with a quick search. Wouldn't surprise me if they were though. They're just a large goose I'm an old grunter so I can't give you the aprox date wildfowler but it was in one of the Irish papers or Shooting mags & there was also a pic of the dead swan .ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 When will we have a case to to demand a return to the quarry list of certain birds that we have lost ? do we have to wait till the numbers recover to pest levels ? & if so will they only be added temporarily & locally until the pest problem is over or are we missing the point some where ? or is wlidfowling dying the death of a thousand cuts . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted October 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 When will we have a case to to demand a return to the quarry list of certain birds that we have lost ? do we have to wait till the numbers recover to pest levels ? & if so will they only be added temporarily & locally until the pest problem is over or are we missing the point some where ? or is wlidfowling dying the death of a thousand cuts . In my area wildfowling is a form of shooting that is loosing Its populartity but I'm not complaining that means less pressure on the wildfowl and Its should also mean some good sport for me and my father. Atb SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 (edited) In my area wildfowling is a form of shooting that is loosing Its populartity but I'm not complaining that means less pressure on the wildfowl and Its should also mean some good sport for me and my father. Atb SW I am pressurising them strangford! I shot 9 mallard tonight not a million miles from you. I will stick a photo up later. Edited October 19, 2013 by Dr D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 (edited) Well can some one say when any of the quarry we have lost apart from Bent will ever come back on ? dose BASC take an active interest in trying to restore any of the missing from our quarry list ? . Why have the numbers of those removed fallen ? , habitat loss ? over shooting ? both of these can be put in reverse through conservation & restraint to make them sustainable or am I barking up the wrong tree or just barking mad perhaps ? . Well to those who would say I am barking mad ( thats the numbers boys ! ) all I will say is I am a lot more sane than the numbers boys who blight wildfowlig & while they are not whipped into line then we will never have any of the missing quarry returned . Ok Dr D so you shot 9 mallard tonight but how many do you think you shoot a season ? , surly even the dense must know that if there is nothing to carry on breeding then a species dies out & becomes extinct correct ? . The same goes for wildfowling ie when we are to small in number then we too will become extinct & that will be at the stroke of a ministerial pen to please a much larger & louder baying anti mob !. Tell you what Strangford wildfowler it might be a sound idea to get some new blood into shooting in your area ? I bet there are some young wannabe newbies who would just jump at the chance if they were given it ? & who knows they might be on PW . ATB Pole Star . Edited October 19, 2013 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Well can some one say when any of the quarry we have lost apart from Bent will ever come back on ? dose BASC take an active interest in trying to restore any of the missing from our quarry list ? . Why have the numbers of those removed fallen ? , habitat loss ? over shooting ? both of these can be put in reverse through conservation & restraint to make them sustainable or am I barking up the wrong tree or just barking mad perhaps ? . Ok Dr D so you shot 9 mallard tonight but how many do you think you shoot a season ? , surly even the dense must know that if there is nothing to carry on breeding then a species dies out & becomes extinct correct ? . The same goes for wildfowling ie when we are to small in number then we too will become extinct & that will be at the stroke of a ministerial pen to please a much larger & louder baying anti mob !. Tell you what Strangford wildfowler it might be a sound idea to get some new blood into shooting in your area ? I bet there are some young wannabe newbies who would just jump at the chance if they were given it ? & who knows they might be on PW . ATB Pole Star . Sums everything up perfectly ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Well can some one say when any of the quarry we have lost apart from Bent will ever come back on ? dose BASC take an active interest in trying to restore any of the missing from our quarry list ? . Why have the numbers of those removed fallen ? , habitat loss ? over shooting ? both of these can be put in reverse through conservation & restraint to make them sustainable or am I barking up the wrong tree or just barking mad perhaps ? . Well to those who would say I am barking mad ( thats the numbers boys ! ) all I will say is I am a lot more sane than the numbers boys who blight wildfowlig & while they are not whipped into line then we will never have any of the missing quarry returned . Ok Dr D so you shot 9 mallard tonight but how many do you think you shoot a season ? , surly even the dense must know that if there is nothing to carry on breeding then a species dies out & becomes extinct correct ? . The same goes for wildfowling ie when we are to small in number then we too will become extinct & that will be at the stroke of a ministerial pen to please a much larger & louder baying anti mob !. Tell you what Strangford wildfowler it might be a sound idea to get some new blood into shooting in your area ? I bet there are some young wannabe newbies who would just jump at the chance if they were given it ? & who knows they might be on PW . ATB Pole Star . Honestly, you want birds back on the list that numbers are still falling? You talk about conservation. Words fail me. You fellas keep perching the wrights and wrongs of shooting some of the most sustainable populations of wildfowl yet you want some of the more rate species back on the list. Mallard are not likely to become extinct. Scaup are red status, gooseander can't be far behind nor the other sawbills. So why would you want them back on the list. You can help with the conservation part. You don't need to add them to the list and be restrained. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) Polestar and karpman. I am not in the habit of getting into an argument on line, but I will make an exception for you both. First pole star, I rarely shoot ducks these days and those 9 mallard were shot in 20 mins. I left the other load alone and the flight was still well underway. So please dont act as judge, jury and executioner when you have no idea of the facts. I dont make comments on the situation in orkney when i have no idea what its like up there!. Karpman, same goes for you. Scaup, for example, are legal quarry here. There are plenty on lough neagh and they feature in the bag regularly Edited October 20, 2013 by Dr D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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