anser2 Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) How to tell a wildfowling dog from a rough shooting dog ! I was out this morning on the coast. The weather was pretty hopeless , still cloudless and warm , but I was hopeing to see if any pinks were coming off the sands for tomorrows flight when a bit of rough weather was forecast. I was somewhat surprised when a big bunch 150 plus of wigeon came up the creek. I managed to drop two before the third shell jammed ( see cartridge section ) . They lay dead feet up on the sand . I kept the dog with me as I expected that shots might flush some more duck from the marsh pools behind me. Shortly afterwards a single wigeon passed over my shoulder and landed out of range further up the creek before I could swing onto it. I left it there in the hope that any more might decoy into it. For an hour no more duck appeared , but there was a steady flight of pigeon over the marsh. I reasoned with luck If I fired a shot the wigeon would take off and fly down the creek past me for the sea. Rather than just waste a shot I picked a high pigeon from the next flock and dropped it on the mud. The wigeon took off ,flew wide of me , but turned to a quick whistle giving me an easy shot and I dropped it next to the pigeon. I sent my lab Meg at once. She quickly retrieved the wigeon. I sent her back for the wood pigeon and when she reached it she paused saw the two dead wigeon on the sands and raced off to pick one. Taking it off her I sent her out again , and she ignored the pigeon and retrieved the third wigeon. Again I sent her for the pigeon. This time she stopped standing over the pigeon , but scanning the sands for any more duck. Only after I commanded her to pick it up twice did she return with the pigeon and instead of delivering it to hand she spat it out by the hide and sat down waiting for more duck. She is used to retrieving pigeons , she had brought back 100s over the years , but she seemed to think this is wildfowling and pigeons were poor reward when there were duck about. Edited October 3, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Sounds like a dog that knows he's priorities. My stupid springer would have tried to get them both in his mouth at the same time then looked at me all gormless. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 What would you rather have in yer gob - Nice duck with lovely feathers that stay in place or a pigeon that leaves half it's feathers in your mouth, nose and any other orifice? My bitch picks pigeons, but it's definitely a labour of love for me and not for the thrill of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 That dog knows what it likes best, I'm here for duck dad not them scanky pigeons. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 They are funny things dogs! I should love to have a 1 2 1 with my current dog, I am sure he might have an interesting take on all things wildfowling! Are duck better than geese or vice versa? What's better chasing down a cripple on land or a long swim for a dead one? Is the best bit of waiting the anticipation of the flight or getting to share some human food? and why don't you let me have a coffee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 That made me chuckle anser. Kent I think that my lab defiantly likes chasing after pricked birds than dead ones, he's made keen to get after them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) I think most dogs have their favoured retrieves. One lab I had went mad after moorhens , another was very much a goose dog , while my old golder retriever was very much a pheasant dog. I guess my present dog likes her duck shooting. God this is my fifth post today , after a dry but blank morning flight its Pi****g down with rain out side and I have nothing else to do ( unless I can avoid it i do not shoot in the rain), Edited October 4, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 I think most dogs have their favoured retrieves. One lab I had went mad after moorhens , another was very much a goose dog , while my old golder retriever was very much a pheasant dog. I guess my present dog likes her duck shooting. God this is my fifth post today , after a dry but blank morning flight its Pi****g down with rain out side and I have nothing else to do ( unless I can avoid it i do not shoot in the rain), It is chucking it down this side of the county as well. Was out last night, only duck i saw where too high and miles away. I will be avoiding going out in the rain as well today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riptide Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) Some of us have to go out side in the rain ,The cattle need tending 365 days of the year !!!!!! , But must admit if its chucking it down will abort going on a flight ,but if already out then just carry on and hunker down a bit as those yanks would say !!!!!!! And as I have a Chessie well she just loves wildfowling !!!!! Edited October 4, 2014 by riptide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 Some of us have to go out side in the rain ,The cattle need tending 365 days of the year !!!!!! , But must admit if its chucking it down will abort going on a flight ,but if already out then just carry on and hunker down a bit as those yanks would say !!!!!!! And as I have a Chessie well she just loves wildfowling !!!!! The rain left and it became very bright and sunny! Off out in the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 Some of us have to travel 2 hours and take what the weather throws at us I thought this was a wildfowling section not one for a bunch of fannies "I dont like going out in the rain" "It might spoil my hairstyle" "I dont want to get dirt in my nails" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 I cant say I enjoy the rain but its never stopped me going out fowling , after all its a winter pastime and adverse conditions is part of the package . In my eyes there is more excuse not going in hot weather like we have just had in September than worrying about a drop of rain , so come on boys and girls its no good having top of the range water proofs if you don't want to get them wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) Sorry Harry , but I can pick my days on the marsh and the weather. I go wildfowling to enjoy my self and sitting in the bottom of a wet muddy creek with rain pouring down is not my idear of fun. You get covered in mud, your hands are wet and everything you handle gets wet, the birds become a mess of wet feathers and mud , plus you cant see a damm thing through your rain splattered glasses and when you get home you have to dry your gear out , sort out a sopping wet semi auto and dry and oil up all unfired cartridges outherwise they go rusty. I have had some good flights in the rain especially at geese and in my younger days when the important thing was bagging a few birds no matter what the weather I would be out there. But these days there are so many more things more important that killing a few brds that I tend to take my days when its not neccessarly the best for bagging a few birds , but more when its a joy to be out there fowling. Windy days I like , and within reason cold is no problem indeed many of my most enjoyable days have been in freezing conditions , snow can be fun, fog mysterious , but driving rain is just misery for me. Having said this i do sometimes go fowling in the rain and if my shooting days were limited I would do it more often. I had a couple of evening flights last january in what can only be described as awful wearther ( heavy driving freezing rain in a north gale , flighting wigeon comming into floodwater ) , but not often if I can avoid it. Edited October 4, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 Sorry Harry , but I can pick my days on the marsh and the weather. I go wildfowling to enjoy my self and sitting in the bottom of a wet muddy creek with rain pouring down is not my idear of fun. You get covered in mud, your hands are wet and everything you handle gets wet, the birds become a mess of wet feathers and mud , plus you cant see a damm thing through your rain splattered glasses and when you get home you have to dry your gear out , sort out a sopping wet semi auto and dry and oil up all unfired cartridges outherwise they go rusty. I have had some good flights in the rain especially at geese and in my younger days when the important thing was bagging a few birds no matter what the weather I would be out there. But these days there are so many more things more important that killing a few brds that I tend to take my days when its not neccessarly the best for bagging a few birds , but more when its a joy to be out there fowling. Windy days I like , and within reason cold is no problem indeed many of my most enjoyable days have been in freezing conditions , snow can be fun, fog mysterious , but driving rain is just misery for me. Having said this i do sometimes go fowling in the rain and if my shooting days were limited I would do it more often. I had a couple of evening flights last january in what can only be described as awful wearther ( heavy driving freezing rain in a north gale , flighting wigeon comming into floodwater ) , but not often if I can avoid it. Only jesting Robert and I suppose if I could pick and choose and live close to the marsh then ................ But Mat? I just dont know what the world is coming to with these young uns He was trained by ayano3 at that ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 It's not rained since the season started so not had the chance to test your theory harry. I remember seeing your book on 'my excuses to shoot the wash' it was thinner than the Jewish book of Christmas presents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 It's not rained since the season started so not had the chance to test your theory harry. I remember seeing your book on 'my excuses to shoot the wash' it was thinner than the Jewish book of Christmas presents. :lol: You are awake then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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