bumpy22 Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 Looking for some info on ducks. I have a farm where I am thinking of setting up a duck shoot. Field floods regular and is surrounded by ditches that hold duck. Plan is to dig pond in field and put down a few hundred ducks. Obviously this is a very early stages a few basic questions? How big would the pond need to be ? How early do you put ducks down? Any other tips would be great thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 Don't know about these things, but don't you need permission/approval from the - for the want of a better description - the water/environmental agencies as appropriate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/PLANNINGPERMISSION-1.pdf Think you will be OK on planning as its engineering works but part of the agricultural operations of the farm. They are doing it to better manage the surface water and run off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjaferret Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 You can't just dig a hole and expect it to hold water.......what are you going to line it with and how will you clean it out ? Ducks can **** for england Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted November 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 29 minutes ago, ninjaferret said: You can't just dig a hole and expect it to hold water.......what are you going to line it with and how will you clean it out ? Ducks can **** for england There is one or two here on the Somerset levels😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjaferret Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 Crack on then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakin stevens Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 You might find that they dont actually fly once they are on . Wild duck are far better, save your money and feed at dusk and see what turns up . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 I don't think you could run an entire Duck shoot from one pond, you would need a network of ponds to push them around. As someone else said far better dig a nice sized flight pond, feed it every day from August onwards and hopefully build up a good flight of wild duck. Nothing like the buzz of a gang of Teal screaming in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted November 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 There are normally teal and mallard around all the ditches drains. But looking to making it a bit more productive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 Reared duck can only ruin it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFreddysCat Posted November 9, 2019 Report Share Posted November 9, 2019 Maybe just feed the ditches and drains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) If you can put in a pond then go for it, preferably with an island in the centre but I would plant it up properly and improve the existing habitat, put in a few nesting boxes and then just feed it up for evening flights. You will get far better shooting from the wild mallard and teal you pull in. Edited November 10, 2019 by topshot_2k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 19 hours ago, ninjaferret said: You can't just dig a hole and expect it to hold water.......what are you going to line it with and how will you clean it out ? Ducks can **** for england We are on Somerset levels, scrape 2ft off the area making sure water from ditches go in then back out... Keeps it clean that way. Also @bumpy22 id suggest just feeding and flights, putting remote controlled ducks down imo is a bit to easy for the guns... 1 hour ago, topshot_2k said: If you can put in a pond then go for it, preferably with an island in the centre but I would plant it up properly and improve the existing habitat, put in a few nesting boxes and then just feed it up for evening flights. You will get far better shooting from the wild mallard and teal you pull in. This, a few nesting tubes would do the job and much better shooting the flights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 As said above. We used to just release a dozen or so as call ducks on each pond and they rarely got off unless pressed but because we had food there ALL the time it pulled a lot of ducks and it was rare if we didn't flush 40 or 50 teal as well as mallard. Feed almost every day and don't overshoot....once a month is good practise. They learn very quickly. I had an evening on flighting mallard in Denmark a few years ago and as we approached the pool a few ducks departed and I noticed a very large pile of something close to the edge. On examination it was wheat and my friend said they tip about 16ton in one go and the ducks eat their way into it. The two of us shot 35 mallard between us in an hour and a half that evening and they kept coming after we stopped shooting . They only shot that pool once a month and stopped after one hour of shooting. He stayed longer with me as a guest. Regarding the pond/pool , then excavate it and leave a largish island in the centre which you can plant up with bushes and one or two trees....remember trees suck up a lot of water. Tail off one end where it will be shallow for feeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 On our rough shoot there is a pond which we feed and it is frequented by wild ducks throughout the season. Great for flighting first thing in the morning and at dusk, but I wouldn’t entertain putting ducks down on it really. On one of the shoots I used to beat, which had four large ponds, reared ducks would either not get off the water at all, no matter what you did, or just lift off enmasse and disappear. Very rarely did they perform as was wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 12 minutes ago, Scully said: On our rough shoot there is a pond which we feed and it is frequented by wild ducks throughout the season. Great for flighting first thing in the morning and at dusk, but I wouldn’t entertain putting ducks down on it really. On one of the shoots I used to beat, which had four large ponds, reared ducks would either not get off the water at all, no matter what you did, or just lift off enmasse and disappear. Very rarely did they perform as was wanted. Over the years I have only seen the odd reared duck shoot that produced some half decent birds, the rest were just low bird bag fillers and as you say they almost become like park ducks semi tame and reluctant to fly no matter what you do. Give me a well feed pond with wild duck any day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted November 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 Idea came from one I had a invite on this year. Fifty mallard were shot and then time was called. It was a mixture of wild duck but they put down a few hundred aswell. I did not think they were going to fly aswell as they did. But it was some quite interesting shooting.which got me thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 1 hour ago, old'un said: Over the years I have only seen the odd reared duck shoot that produced some half decent birds, the rest were just low bird bag fillers and as you say they almost become like park ducks semi tame and reluctant to fly no matter what you do. Give me a well feed pond with wild duck any day. Ditto. In my experience anyhow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perazzishot Posted November 10, 2019 Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 HyFly and Jenkinson's in Lancashire have an exceptional network of ponds and bomb holes that they release many ducks on and manage to shoot the wholes season with good bags 2-3 times a week, with some of the cheapest and most sporting targets around. If done properly it can be very successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted November 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Perazzishot said: HyFly and Jenkinson's in Lancashire have an exceptional network of ponds and bomb holes that they release many ducks on and manage to shoot the wholes season with good bags 2-3 times a week, with some of the cheapest and most sporting targets around. If done properly it can be very successfully Yes the one I was on said they were booked up and could sell days many times over. Seemed very established and have friends that have shot there for a few years. So got me thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted November 16, 2019 Report Share Posted November 16, 2019 Stick to wild duck if you can m8 , released duck are seldom very good . Can become very tame and dont want to fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 one farm i shoot on they let some one put ducks on, they were tame they had to put the dogs in to get they off the water.they would get off then do a fly round the pond and back in.easy shooting.the owner of the farm said no more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted November 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 9 hours ago, FOXHUNTER1 said: Stick to wild duck if you can m8 , released duck are seldom very good . Can become very tame and dont want to fly. This was my worry mate. Thanks for your input 1 hour ago, mossy835 said: one farm i shoot on they let some one put ducks on, they were tame they had to put the dogs in to get they off the water.they would get off then do a fly round the pond and back in.easy shooting.the owner of the farm said no more. Same again dave. Thanks for your input mate. Hope you are well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 I've seen ducks on ponds with dogs trying to put them off and shots being fired and the ducks just swim about totally unconcerned , very disappointing for the standing guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 I went beating on a local shoot about 10 yrs ago that had a flight pond, ducks wouldn't shift until dogs jumped in the water. 20 plus ducks just sat there and watched us all approach and only a few flew when the dogs entered the water. Pointless, the farmer ended up landscaping the pond and stocking it with fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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