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Any advice on wildfowling


Joshcup11
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Was out walking the dogs today and came across a lovely gentleman pigeon shooting on one of my perms. I got talking to him and after a good hour talking and quite a few pigeons missed thanks to my presence he got on to wildfowling. After telling him that i had never been he offered to take me out at the start of next season to see if i enjoy it.

Any advice on any of the following is much appreciated

guns/loads

equiptment

i am also quite skeptical due to when walking my dogs on the marsh i get quite worried about incoming tides ect,will this be a problem. And also am i correct in thinking that wildfowling is both walked up shooting AND decoying in?

 

Sorry for all the questions and it is proably quite early yet to be worrying!

 

Thanks

Josh

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Which part of Lincolnshire are you in? I wildfowl in Lincolnshire alot.

 

As for the tides, you can get tide tables which give you a estimate of time and height, although these are quite accurate you just have to keep your wits about you and if it doesnt feel safe then get off the marsh and as one fowler said to me " a duck aint worth your life " Generally if you are sensible it is quite safe, i've not had a problem in the 2 season i've been fowling and thats 40+ flights a season

 

Foreshore wildfowling is usually spent standing in a muddy creek waiting for the birds to flight, sometimes you use decoys sometimes you don't. Depends on the marsh.

Edited by Big Mat
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Keep in contact with the person who has invited you and ask him about your gun and what loads he suggests to use. Rembember it will be non toxic and if your gun will take steel shot

 

There have been many posts about wildfowling equipment, best jackets, best guns etc. Just go with what you have in the cupboard, if you already decoy pigeons you will already have a warm waterproof jacket & trousers seat / cushion, wellies, flask etc and enjoy.

Dont go OTT for equipment for your first outings but once you are bitten by the bug you will be forever smitten.

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i have only done one seasons fowling and i asked similar questions on here before it started.

 

one thing i learned through my first season apart from what gear to buy etc. which you may not need if your only doing one flight was to REALLY listen to the guy taking me... intimate knowledge of the particular area your hunting over is a must, as imprtant as tide times and how high they are.. on the area i hunt over where so many things like which way to walk to avoid certain things, what not to step on etc.. one guy on my area fell last year while out alone and dislocated his shoulder, a couple of years ago another one broke his ankle

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I would aproach one of your local wildfowling clubs and most will take you under their wing and show you the ropes. Now the summer is here its a great time to explore the marsh and find the safe ways on and off the marsh. As for clothes and gear I would wait until you are in the club before thinking too much about them. You will need a gun that is in good condition and not more than 1\2 choke for steel shot . Have a search through your local libary ,most will have a few books about the sport. Alas we used to have a 1st class organisation behind us, BASC , but they seem to worry more about farmers these days than wildfowlers and have seriousy sold the sport down the river. But you will still most of the club members respect and love the sport and their quarry.

 

Good luck , do not expect big bags , but it will provide you with thrills and excitement that no other shooting sport can.

Edited by anser2
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Wildfowling is not about numbers, the sport lies in the anticipation and the fact that it is not easy. Tides are only partly predictable, the trick is to always have a back-up plan. Don't put unproven dogs into water unless you know they can handle it and tether them if your not sure and don't shoot. Most importantly don't shoot tide unless you have been shown how, when and were.

You need a gun the shells appropriate footwear (could be anything from willies to chesties depending on venue), a stick to check mud and for checking for hidden gutters/ water depth and possibly a spade on some spots. Normal shooting gear will do for the rest. Binos can be worthwhile as you will often blank with the gun but very rarely blank with the binoculars.

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Completely agree with Kent, apart from the reference to willies, i find wellies a lot more comfortable :lol:

 

 

You know its my darn computer that auto corrects that one willies, willies, see cant stop it :rolleyes: soon as I press the coma it does its own thing

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