Under the moon

[lister1]

Ive had a look at my time table and this saturday is a 7.70 ish at 6.30 am and a full moon.

 

has anyone had much luck under a moon?

 

i was thinking of heading out at 4am or earlier and waiting the tide out.

 

obviously if there is too much cloud it wont be worth it.

 

 

[Barls2-9-12]

Yeh had some great flights under the moon.

 

The october full moon can be a good one depending where abouts you are in the country. You want a bit of cloud cover so you can see the birds white fluffy cloud is good.

 

i think 4 am may be a bit late to go out, you could end up messing up the morning flight as its a bit close to sunrise, i have found you end up pushing the birds off as you walk out and they can take a while to come back in mild conditions. you may be better to go out well before that but then it depends on how keen you are to sit out all night.

 

if you know of a place on the marsh which will hold some pools of water were you can put a few decoys in, it may be worth a go.

 

Good Luck.

[lister1]

I know some good splahes that hve produced sime birds and will certainly have water in.

 

Sounds like its worth a try. But maybe I should bhe on the marsh for 2am and sit it out till the tide pushes me off.

[tigger]

Weather looks poor for this end unfortunately, got Thursday,Friday,Monday off work, I normally go for evening flight then go to the houseboat and head back out around 10:30 I love it nothing better than shooting geese or ducks under the moon something very magical about given the right cloud cover and conditions.

 

I save holidays to have them around the moon everybody thinks I'm a werewolf or vampire like creature or something like that lol.....

Edited October 15, 2013 by tigger

[Barls2-9-12]

Give it a go you can't trust the weather forcast anyhow lol.

 

depending on how long the walk is you can always go back to the car for a bit of sleep if there is no cloud cover..

[lister1]

So if its a full cloud cover is it worth going?

 

Or is it best if there is breaks in the cloud to let the moon shine bright.

[Barls2-9-12]

Yeh you want breaks in the cloud to let the light through. otherwise it will be to dark. but u dont want a totaly clear sky.

[henry d]

Thin whispy cloud is best, so that the flying birds can be silhouetted against it, almost like shooting shadows, but remember to ID positively before squeezing the trigger!

[alan12shot]

going to to have a crack at shooting wigeon under the moon myself this season. spent several nights out chasing pinks under the moon but not yet had a go at the wigeon. fingers crossed for that perfect sky so frustrating having pinks flying over you but you cant see them!

[lister1]

I'm looking forward to Friday night / Saturday am.

 

Hope that cloud is just right.

 

Going to do a bit of training with the dog tonight.

[misser]

had a few decent do's under the moon...something special about shooting a few under the moon

[wildfowler.250]

Thought you were better off waiting for the colder weather

 

 

Tbh I normally gaze out the window..not suitable.. 20 minutes later looks great...lasts about 5 minutes then back to no use..

 

 

Think I'd be better sitting it out for a few hours but never get round to it!

[scolopax]

25 years wildfowling and never done a moon flight!!

 

 

I always thought of it as an activity for the colder months and by that time of the season we have no Pinks left and precious few ducks.

[lister1]

I went outnon the early season at about 3.30am and was in position by 4am and had shots at pintail and teal, beforebthe sun was showing. So I thought bit might be worth a bash under the moon.

 

Thinm I'm going to have a go, cloud permitting.

 

Theres a heavy fog this mron. Wish I was out there now. I had a good skeen of pinks cone over, a little tobfar out, but this fog may just oush them down.

[Penelope]

I had a wonderful moon flight at Pinks on a potato field with about 3 acres of floodwater in the middle, next to the shores of Loch Leven back in the early 90's. Everything came together perfectly. Simply the most magical experience.

[kent]

Moon flighting is good for both Duck and geese. BUT there must be a reason for them to move or its just likely to be a very long wait this is normally going to be feeding / drinking opportunities or tide, I like to do a few every season. I don't like shooting evening flight much with a bright moon anyway as I find the Duck tend to move late and unpredictably and I should not want to sit out on a flash all night waiting their eventual arrival, 2hrs after sunset on a dark moon on eve and you get as much sport a lot quicker imo.

[lister1]

I think because of the big tide this week and the high tide being early it should be worth a bash. Is the weather is goood.

 

Theres only one way to find out!

[anser2]

I always like a dark night with no moon and at least you know the fowl will flight at dawn or dusk. I have spent many, many moonlit nights over the past 40 years and not seen a bird. Some due to the sky blowing clear of cloud and you could not see the birds against the starlit sky, others due to thick cloud making the birds invisable , but most have been due to the birds not moving and flighting the next dawn instead. There have been a few good pink foot flights , but many more blanks and the only time I ever got in amoungst moon flighting wigeon it was in a gale with sub zero temperatures and I was too cold to hit much , ended with 2 duck for a box of cartridges. It just seems that on the marshes ( both coastal and inland ) I shoot the birds do not use the moon much.

Edited October 16, 2013 by anser2

[henry d]

To add to my first post, most of mine has been flighting geese or decoying inland and results are much like dawn or dusk flighting the marsh unless you are where the birds want to be, then it can be hectic sport and restraint is needed.

[lister1]

Im going to give a try and see how it goes.

I'm going to get over the sea wall for 2.30 am ish and sit out the tide.

 

My hope is that if the birds aren't flying under the moon the tide should push them off.

 

Just hope the cloud cover returns. Clear skys here today.

Edited October 17, 2013 by lister1

[tigger]

Looks ideal conditions here at the moment going to give it a bash tonight and see how it goes.....

[Shooting2]

Looks ideal conditions here at the moment going to give it a bash tonight and see how it goes.....

+1

 

Will be out tonight and in place with deeks, tide at 10past 7 and so hope a few will lift later on as the tide goes out, clear skies at the moment though

[lister1]

Hope ya see sime birds.

 

I hope these clouds hang around another day or two.

[figgy]

Went out last night in favourable conditions. Seen a few if skeins of geese way off and very high while waiting for my mate.

 

Got onto marsh into position to wait for the flight and nothing the clouds cleared as it got dark, seen one duck flit past behind and that was it.

 

Plenty of Curlews and Lapwings about, waterfowl nowhere to be seen.

 

Still better than sat in front of the telly.

 

 

Figgy

[Chad63]

Just in from flighting wigeon under the moon, the cream of fowling IMHO