guy baxendale Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 I have had a long running bet with a mate as to which of us can be the first to bag every quarry species. Having managed to get nicely ahead of him i would like to keep it that way. Pochard is still on the list for me…..barring a trip to Northern Ireland are they are targetable species anywhere else or just an occasional chance encounter? Any help welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 They are relatively common in my neck of the woods, but I don't recall seeing any on marshes. I believe they are more still water birds than sea. I have never shot one either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad63 Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Shot them on the Ouse Washes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) I have shot a handful over the years , none for a good while , all mine were shot inland. Edited December 9, 2014 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 +1 Shot them on the Ouse Washes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 +2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Any gravel pit or large lake/ reservoir will usually have Pochard this time of year along with Tufted and coots. Shot every uk wildfowl species, including Ruddy duck, but never raised my gun to a Pintail, but seen lots shot, so know how you feel. Shoot any of the above areas, and you'll shoot one in no time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Shot one on the Blackwater and another on the Ouse Washes. I would guess the washes would be your best bet, when there is a good bit of water on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Only ever shot a dozen all on the broads and never yet raised my gun to one on the foreshore , though a couple of mates have shot them on the Wash. I have never shot a ruddy duck and unlikely to do so now as they have almost been wiped out by DEFRA , but baged every other shootable quarry wildfowl species including both races of whitefront and bean geese ( before their protection ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy baxendale Posted December 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Thanks all - sounds like the Washes are my best bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 The full house on the foreshore is even harder to achieve. I would say that Tufted would be the most difficult to bag below the MHWM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 During spells of hard weather when the Broads froze over a lot of the diving duck came to the estuary for the open water which in included every duck that was on the list and quite a few that wasn't and going back over 50yrs ago apart from Shelduck very few were protected , or so we were led to believe and most of the old boys couldn't read or write so rules and regulations were far and few between , and with meat in short supply nothing they shot was wasted but how they made a meal out of some of them old Hard fowl I don't know. But they were very independent people and with no food banks and very little benefits any form of meat was very welcome . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Thanks all - sounds like the Washes are my best bet I shot my one and only pochard with Jules on the washes last season. Between us that day, we put five different duck species in the bag. I'm pretty sure I only have shoveller and goldeneye still to add to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Golden Eye for me on the duck and Whitefront with the geese. I shot my one and only pochard with Jules on the washes last season. Between us that day, we put five different duck species in the bag. I'm pretty sure I only have shoveller and goldeneye still to add to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widgeon man Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Managed a full house for duck( both sexes) and geese the last few years. Very lucky, but it doesn't look like I will do it this season! No white front, drake pinny, goldeneye( though I did help a friend shoot his first) or tufted duck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Done the full house of geese and ducks on the foreshore. One memorable flight i shot a pink, a greylag and my one and only whitefront. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I have been lucky and shot snow geese both lesser and greater, canada geese both giant and lesser, egyptian, ross, blue , pinkfoot and whitefronts. But never a greylag!! Did see a lovely pochard shot a few years on the Norfolk Broads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono 4 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Best morning for me 7 drake pochard on the washes normally get a few each year, two guests have had ringed ones, once had a drake of every English species of duck in 15 days, and not long back from getting my drake Scaup in Northern Ireland just Whitefront, Black Cock, Sika and Red deer left. A mate and I had a species challenge last year I won 34 species to 33, it's surprising how many species we are lucky enough to hunt in the UK, he now has to buy dinner for me and my wife with wine of my choice at a restaurant anywhere in the uk, it was great fun and I would recommend it to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Best morning for me 7 drake pochard on the washes normally get a few each year, two guests have had ringed ones, once had a drake of every English species of duck in 15 days, and not long back from getting my drake Scaup in Northern Ireland just Whitefront, Black Cock, Sika and Red deer left. A mate and I had a species challenge last year I won 34 species to 33, it's surprising how many species we are lucky enough to hunt in the UK, he now has to buy dinner for me and my wife with wine of my choice at a restaurant anywhere in the uk, it was great fun and I would recommend it to anyone. Where abouts on the washes mate,seems a bit quiet my end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono 4 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Where abouts on the washes mate,seems a bit quiet my end very quiet Tony, I shoot from one end to the other, but a house build has severely limited the days out this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony G Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 I shoot Earith,Sutton and Mepal The water levels going up and down like mad probably not helped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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