henry_o Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Hi folks, My mate told me about a photo he had seen yesterday of someone's first evening flight with what I think was 8 guns. The total bag was 186 duck if I remember correctly. Is anyone as annoyed as me hearing this? Mainly mallard, (which are declining in numbers anyway), and all in one night. Surely they must be reared? Either way I think it's ridiculous shooting that number of wild or reared in one go. I'm sure this topic is brought up every season in one form or another but it sounds like slaughter to me as opposed to going out for a couple of memorable shots and having a brace to eat that week? May have just opened the flood gates here but I feel slightly less ****** off after sharing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 I have only recently started shooting. But I often notice a lot of willy waving about bag numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEshooter Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Different people look for different things in there shooting. For some being dropped to a flight pond and shooting massive numbers of reared ducks is how they get their kicks. For me it's about the challenge and being in a demanding yet beautifull environment. Shooting that number of duck in my eyes Is over the top but only the person behind the trigger or shoot captain can make that call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Each to their own as far as I'm concerned. The numbers do seem a bit over the top to me, but if they're paying and the birds keep coming I could see how it could happen. I could never see the point in using a punt to sneak up on dozens and blasting them all with a cannon while they floated on the water, but if that's what floats your boat ( or punt ) then fair enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 If they are reared for shooting then I do not have any issue , but far too many wild duck are shot on fed ponds by some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 To me not an issue if reared, but excessive if wild. I have started to see adverts now for wild duck shooting on fed ponds with big bags implied and a tidy price tag attached. Minimum input maximum return for the seller, zero benefits on a conservation level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klammer Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 A rather arrogant bloke on my site was talking about his 'wildfowling', on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. It turns out him and 2 others shot 68 geese, and 130 duck between all 3. His justification was that it was a bit of land they had permission on, and they had refrained from killing the geese during the summer months, after being asked to, highly commendable you may say, but when I asked what sort of geese he said the Grey ones! I also asked about the species of duck, but was told 'ducks'. This is far too many in my opinion, the same as the OP, and most other posters, no wonder they have been a bit thin in the air! By the way, the 'wildfowling', was on that well known foreshore, the Bedfordshire gravel pits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 What do you do with them after you've shot all that many? I believe you can't sell wildfowl to the game dealers, so if you can't eat them or freeze them for later, don't shoot them. I'm also saddened by the increasing number of "game" shoots that rear tame ducks on their ponds, then shoot them time and again as they repeatedly circle the pond trying to get home, just as a way of boosting the bag. (and are they using steel shot????) It seems an 80-bird day between 9 guns isn't enough. Then the Guns drive off in their 4x4 BMW's back to their city haunts and don't even bother to take a brace with them - they have the pictures of the enlarged bag to put on Facebook, and that's all that matters. The "sporting" side of our sport seems to be getting replaced by boasting about the bag size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 It will never happen but I would be happy to see a ban on the sale of duck bar mallard and also the adoption of the North American laws with regard feeding to attract wildfowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody walloper Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 you cant sell geese . and canadas have gone on the general license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 What do you do with them after you've shot all that many? I believe you can't sell wildfowl to the game dealers, so if you can't eat them or freeze them for later, don't shoot them. I'm also saddened by the increasing number of "game" shoots that rear tame ducks on their ponds, then shoot them time and again as they repeatedly circle the pond trying to get home, just as a way of boosting the bag. (and are they using steel shot? ???) It seems an 80-bird day between 9 guns isn't enough. Then the Guns drive off in their 4x4 BMW's back to their city haunts and don't even bother to take a brace with them - they have the pictures of the enlarged bag to put on Facebook, and that's all that matters. The "sporting" side of our sport seems to be getting replaced by boasting about the bag size. You have more or less described a large shoot local to me. Around 4000 pheasants are reared as they normally are, and who knows how many duck are bought in and fed hard on three large ponds. On shoot days they either get up and burger off at altitude, get up and fly around at all heights as they're shot, or don't get up at all. I have seen dogs and kids in the ponds thrashing the water in attempts to get them airborne. Mixed bags of pheasants and ducks are usually in the region of 350 to 500 for the day, and the most we ever shot on a beaters day was 389; I remember it because I won the sweep that day. With the exception of those taken away by guns and beaters, every single one is collected by a game dealer the following Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 What do you do with them after you've shot all that many? I believe you can't sell wildfowl to the game dealers, so if you can't eat them or freeze them for later, don't shoot them. I'm also saddened by the increasing number of "game" shoots that rear tame ducks on their ponds, then shoot them time and again as they repeatedly circle the pond trying to get home, just as a way of boosting the bag. (and are they using steel shot? ???) It seems an 80-bird day between 9 guns isn't enough. Then the Guns drive off in their 4x4 BMW's back to their city haunts and don't even bother to take a brace with them - they have the pictures of the enlarged bag to put on Facebook, and that's all that matters. The "sporting" side of our sport seems to be getting replaced by boasting about the bag size. You are partly right kitchrat , you cant sell Geese but there is no problem selling any species of duck on the shooting list . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widgeon man Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Is it excessive? 20 ish birds each?? I don't think so, perhaps because it was in 1 shoot? I always allow myself a red letter flight every now and again, remembering the blank flight and quiet times...... However personally the big bags on early season duck doesn't impress me, but education not more legislation is the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 You are partly right kitchrat , you cant sell Geese but there is no problem selling any species of duck on the shooting list . It could be a problem if they shot em with lead shot?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew f Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 It could be a problem if they shot em with lead shot?? dumb rule anyway as fenboy has said before we can fire lead into a river for giggles soon as you shoot at a duck your breaking the law no sense in it what so ever.16 Ducks on a flight i would be lucky to see 6 on a good day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 or you could shoot pigeons and chuck them in a hedge http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/319687-the-pw-field-etiquette-guide/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 It could be a problem if they shot em with lead shot?? You say that , but it would be interesting to know if game dealers have tested duck for lead shot and how many ( if any ) they have rejected ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 You say that , but it would be interesting to know if game dealers have tested duck for lead shot and how many ( if any ) they have rejected ? A lot of ducks must get shot over land in Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 I don't care if they were all reared. Such things are not sport they are murder and ruin our conservation roots and image Feeding duck does have viable reason in conservation Put all the tunnels you want in. Build more habitat but without more food you will run into a dead end nature will see to that With a limit on habitat and homes on flood plains feeding is a logical step marsh or inland Ever seen the tons put down at Martin mere and the likes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 You say that , but it would be interesting to know if game dealers have tested duck for lead shot and how many ( if any ) they have rejected ? It isn't so much the game dealers, I don't suppose they are over bothered, a dead duck is a dead duck!.........it is the test purchases of duck from the game dealers by the anti lead protectionist groups such as the RSPB and the WWT which when subsequently tested reportedly have been 'found' to contain lead shot.......that will probably ultimately lead to the banning of lead shot altogether! That is the problem I was referring to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 I know where your coming from panoma 1 , but policing the lead ban is nigh on impossible and how many people have been caught using lead must be very low compared to the amount of people who go wildfowling . One way to stop the anti lead groups finding a percentage of duck containing lead is for the game dealers to use a scanning device on the duck people take in to be sold . I don't know if there is any law out for game dealers to buy duck with lead shot in , or do they just take peoples word for it , or presume the ducks have been shot with non toxic shot ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 The wildfowl going into game dealers needs tracability , there is little point them taking wildfowl samples and testing for lead if it cannot traced back . Shoots and inland sydicates need to be made responsible for their guns actions , I am sure a hefty fine or two handed out to an estate or sydicate would soon see a better response to abiding by the law and help prevent a total lead ban. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 I don't care if they were all reared. Such things are not sport they are murder and ruin our conservation roots and image I agree. Don't mind someone having a "good day". As long as everything gets used. Don't like excessive numbers though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 A lot of ducks must get shot over land in Scotland I'd say most people stick to steel shot. My biggest problem is getting a supply of decent shells. I have to use justcartridges to get what I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayDT10 Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 (edited) The wildfowl going into game dealers needs tracability , there is little point them taking wildfowl samples and testing for lead if it cannot traced back . Shoots and inland sydicates need to be made responsible for their guns actions , I am sure a hefty fine or two handed out to an estate or sydicate would soon see a better response to abiding by the law and help prevent a total lead ban. your exactly right. Trouble is the rspb and wwt want to tar us all with the same brush so they are happy just to find ducks with lead in them rather than actually find the culprits. I think it's down to us and our shooting organisations the bring these idiots to light. Edited September 5, 2015 by jayDT10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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