lakeside1000 Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Its the first day for the wild fowler's tomorrow but are there any geese about, I have not seen any pinks yet, I normally get a few thousand fly over as I'm just south of the wash, It will be my first season this year out on the marshes, Also does anyone know if its acceptable to pop a few pigeons whilst waiting for a duck or goose to fly by, or would this be frowned upon, I don't want to upset anyone as a newbie on the marsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 The geese are unlikely to be here in any real numbers for a few weeks yet . Some clubs will not allow the shooting of anything but the wildfowl , and I would think it may well upset your fellow fowlers if you start shooting away at pigeon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 The first is not really about the bag On fact wildfowling isn't so better not judge things off the bag in your first season full stop I will be out and yes I will endeavour to get a brace of geese and will be out again scouting tonight. Might even stop and sleep in the truck The first is a celebration. A social occasion and a lot of anticipation last season I got my brace this time I might I won't be upset if I don't get a chance but I will see the Marsh wake up and chew the fat with the other guys back at the parking area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Many clubs will point out to you, it's a wildfowling club, not a goose club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted August 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 I appreciate that, having shot many ducks over the years, its just that geese have eluded me for over 50 years, not that I have actually perused them, most of my shooting has been on private land, with friends, its a little strange for me joining a club and shooting with complete strangers, friends are far more forgiving , its important to me to ensure I follow the rules and make a good impression, not so much the shooting of geese, I have always enjoyed shooting all my life, I now have to find some willing volunteers to escort me onto the marshes to obtain my 6 provisional signatures before I am let loose on my own, a very sensible approach as the tidal marshes can be a very dangerous place to be out alone with little or no knowledge. At least with the geese arriving a little later it gives me time to get the lay of the land and perhaps an odd duck for the roasting tin, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Most early season stuff is geese resident ones The migrant duck have mostly still to arrive and certainly this year with so many late broods with not so much surviving the bad summer This means many mallard and the likes should be better left alone till they fly better and are worth plucking Obviously it varies year to year and place to place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Apart from the local population of Greys that mainly live in and around the broads the only other geese you can expect this time of the year are Canada Geese , the Pinks don't normally arrive in any numbers until around the third week in September. If I was you I would use these early weeks to get used to the marshes , no need to take a gun , weigh up where the gates are , bridges ( liggers ) across the dykes , see how far you are capable of walking there and back , as later in the season it will in muddy and cold conditions .as one block of marshes is over two miles there and back and in a very isolated area , better to find out now than in November when the fog close in and your not sure where you are or how to get off the marsh And remember if you haven't got the use of a dog you will need to be at least one marsh from the boundary as there is little or no access on the next door neighbours land , nothing worse than shooting your first goose only to find there is no way over the dyke and the last time you see it was when it was flapping into the darkness and out of sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6.5x55SE Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Apart from the local population of Greys that mainly live in and around the broads the only other geese you can expect this time of the year are Canada Geese , the Pinks don't normally arrive in any numbers until around the third week in September. If I was you I would use these early weeks to get used to the marshes , no need to take a gun , weigh up where the gates are , bridges ( liggers ) across the dykes , see how far you are capable of walking there and back , as later in the season it will in muddy and cold conditions .as one block of marshes is over two miles there and back and in a very isolated area , better to find out now than in November when the fog close in and your not sure where you are or how to get off the marsh And remember if you haven't got the use of a dog you will need to be at least one marsh from the boundary as there is little or no access on the next door neighbours land , nothing worse than shooting your first goose only to find there is no way over the dyke and the last time you see it was when it was flapping into the darkness and out of sight. Very good sound advice there John and inspite of over 40yrs of Wildfowling If I was to shooting your area I would be listening and taking your advice Also if you're club allowed it as soon as I was a confirmed Member I would have been fact finding well before the season started. John good to here you expect the Pinks 3rd week of September. I normally see the first 8th-11th September but as you 3rd week I'd hope to see 800-1500 until October moon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Soon be time for my trip to the prairies after Snows, Ross's, Big Honkers (Greater Canadas), ordinary (Lesser) Canadas, Speckle-bellies (White Fronts) and all sorts of duck, mainly mallard. You can shoot sandhill cranes in Saskatchewan, but I don't think I'll bother, although they are said to eat well. I'll be there early October, and will report. Then back to duty, protecting winter rape fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 . Very good sound advice there John and inspite of over 40yrs of Wildfowling If I was to shooting your area I would be listening and taking your advice Also if you're club allowed it as soon as I was a confirmed Member I would have been fact finding well before the season started. John good to here you expect the Pinks 3rd week of September. I normally see the first 8th-11th September but as you 3rd week I'd hope to see 800-1500 until October moon I joined that club 15yrs ago, and when I got the maps of the different marshes we could go on I went round all the ones I intended to go and marked where the liggers were , had a look at the dyke conditions as a lot of them had been pulled out , and they looked ideal for holding duck , looked at the low bits on the marsh to see if they hold water and weighed up where the sugar beet fields were as they are normally lifted early and drilled straight away , ideal food for when the geese arrive . Knowing the old school fowlers , there helpful but keep the good places quite and to themselves , and who can blame them , I knew it was a waste of time asking where they got there duck and geese from as if I did ask they would have told me a pack of lies , and the only way to find out was to do your home work and find out your self. I will let you know when the first confirmed sighting of the Pinks come down our way, and with the beet season due to start before long and the late wheat harvest there will be plenty of food to keep them going for a while . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norfolk Rogue1 Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 marsh man are out in morning close to home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 marsh man are out in morning close to home No .... I will be out early with both my dogs but minus my gun , but if you are going good luck and hope one or two duck come home in your bag . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted August 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 I always keep an eye out for the first flights of pinks coming down the coast, from the farm at Happisburgh I see them as they leave the wash marshes and travel south along the coast towards Breydon , usually at about 500 feet , quite a sight, For the last 4 years they have settled overnight on a large field at the back of my house at Walcott,100 yards from the beach, the noise as they come in is unbelievable, they will sit watching you as you drive up the road next to the field, some only 30 yards or so from the road side, last year we estimated around 1500 minimum at one time, they were coming over my back yard at about 50 feet on approach to the field, I think they new they were safe, not a gun in sight anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted August 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Apart from the local population of Greys that mainly live in and around the broads the only other geese you can expect this time of the year are Canada Geese , the Pinks don't normally arrive in any numbers until around the third week in September. If I was you I would use these early weeks to get used to the marshes , no need to take a gun , weigh up where the gates are , bridges ( liggers ) across the dykes , see how far you are capable of walking there and back , as later in the season it will in muddy and cold conditions .as one block of marshes is over two miles there and back and in a very isolated area , better to find out now than in November when the fog close in and your not sure where you are or how to get off the marsh And remember if you haven't got the use of a dog you will need to be at least one marsh from the boundary as there is little or no access on the next door neighbours land , nothing worse than shooting your first goose only to find there is no way over the dyke and the last time you see it was when it was flapping into the darkness and out of sight. Thanks for the advice Marsh Man, I will be taking it very steadily to start, no risks, and as Beretta28g pointed out to me NDWA does not have any tidal marsh so I just have to avoid falling in water filled dykes, I have had a look at one or two marshes already, as well as shooting a few pigeons on some of the summer peas on these areas, I will be out looking for flight lines and good hide placements over the next few weeks. Just have to sort out the right equipment now, let me know if you are out on any NDWA marshes in October , I will come and keep you company, just till I get my six signatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6.5x55SE Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 I joined that club 15yrs ago, and when I got the maps of the different marshes we could go on I went round all the ones I intended to go and marked where the liggers were , had a look at the dyke conditions as a lot of them had been pulled out , and they looked ideal for holding duck , looked at the low bits on the marsh to see if they hold water and weighed up where the sugar beet fields were as they are normally lifted early and drilled straight away , ideal food for when the geese arrive . Knowing the old school fowlers , there helpful but keep the good places quite and to themselves , and who can blame them , I knew it was a waste of time asking where they got there duck and geese from as if I did ask they would have told me a pack of lies , and the only way to find out was to do your home work and find out your self. I will let you know when the first confirmed sighting of the Pinks come down our way, and with the beet season due to start before long and the late wheat harvest there will be plenty of food to keep them going for a while . Top Man John. I'm always very interested in the Geese especially White front's. Did you find out about any Banded/Ringed Pinks last season in your area or the Leucistic Pink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushandpull Posted September 1, 2015 Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 Lakeside 1000, I suggest you take a look at a map. The places you mention being at are not exactly south of the Wash but more like fifty or so miles due east. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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