How Have Your Wildfowl Fared In This Cold Weather ?

[marsh man]

Due to the icy conditions I have only shot the odd duck on my marshes this last week and left them alone where they have found less harsh conditions , the four I shot were in excellent condition apart from a drake Shoveler that had meat on it but wasn't what you would call fat , a drake Mallard I got was as fat as butter and that will be enjoyed over the festive period , I only shot two Teal and to be honest I could had shot Teal every time I went out , the main reason I didn't was they were not as wild as normal and the two I got was enough for me , another reason was the dykes are low and it wasn't worth putting my dog in the freezing water and then he would have got a fair bit of mud over him .

Geese have done a disappearing act and haven't seen any at all for several days now , duck numbers are what you would expect after nearly two weeks of below average temp's , tomorrow should start thawing the ice out and hopefully some good flighting could be had when they start getting back on the marsh land .

[Gerry78]

Lovely MM Drake shoveler brings back memories of my fox red Labrador first ever morning out on a lough here in Northern Ireland many moons ago My first shot that morning with the young dog was a drake shoveler I was apprehensive at first to send the dog out but needn’t have worried he shot out into the water like robin hoods arrow retrieved it no problem Infront of a couple of other wildfowlers the smile on my face lasted all the way the drive home thanks for a lovely post 🍀👍

[marsh man]

Cheers Gerry ...... I seem to get one or two drake Shoveler in full condition around this time of year , and I believe not everyone is lucky , or unlucky however you look at it as they are certainly not the best edible duck to put on the table , so I ask each year and nobody take up my offer if they need one in good condition to set up , if anyone do want one then all you need to do is ask and I will freeze it and send it free of charge anywhere in the country , or come to that , if you need any duck on the list, again just ask .   MM

 

 

 

[Morkin]

Thanks for a very good post MM , I find the wild fowling very interesting and it's always nice to read, and your knowledge of the marshes etc, Thanks agin boi 👍

[Gerry78]

1 hour ago, marsh man said:

Cheers Gerry ...... I seem to get one or two drake Shoveler in full condition around this time of year , and I believe not everyone is lucky , or unlucky however you look at it as they are certainly not the best edible duck to put on the table , so I ask each year and nobody take up my offer if they need one in good condition to set up , if anyone do want one then all you need to do is ask and I will freeze it and send it free of charge anywhere in the country , or come to that , if you need any duck on the list, again just ask .   MM

 

 

 

Thanks MM I haven’t shot a shoveler since then believe it or not it’s strange how seeing photos of ducks unlocks memories thanks for the offer But have mallard 🦆 on standby 😊😊😊What I should have done years back was to get he’s first duck retrieve send to the taxidermist but hindsight a wonderful thing 👍👍

[marsh man]

11 hours ago, Morkin said:

Thanks for a very good post MM , I find the wild fowling very interesting and it's always nice to read, and your knowledge of the marshes etc, Thanks agin boi 👍

Many thanks from a fellow county man , wildfowling is tried by many and only carried on by a few , for some it can and will be addictive and for others it will be quickly put on the back burner , this could be for a number of reasons , like lack of time , family commitments , living away from your fowling grounds, and although not essential but you will only get the best out of fowling if you have got a decent dog that can withstand all the hardships that come as part of the package , then if you are in it for the long term you learn how to get fowl with the conditions what are on offer , earlier on the season you check out the tide times and the dates of the full moon , once the livestock are off you then check out any splashes for the tell tail feathers around the edge , if and when you get a spell of weather like we have just had , the splashes are one of the first pieces of water that will freeze over , then the dykes that don't have any movement on the water , this is when you move onto the branch dykes which feed the fleet dykes because while the dykes are being drained these smaller dykes that feed the main dyke will stay open the longest and will attract a few duck , once they freeze up you will be getting close to a restraint and if you want a few duck then you move on to the tidal rivers where if you know where to look you can get some good shooting , this change into the milder weather have came in the nick of time and if the forecast had been for icy conditions an imposed ban would had came about sometime next week as it have now been at least 14 days of frost in areas up and down the country .

Anyhow we should be alright and I will leave my splashes once they have thawed out till my favorite shooting day of the year , Boxing Day .

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL 

[Krico woodcock]

All the ducks and woodcock I have shot since the frost came are in perfect condition, especially ducks mud fat. It takes the frost to really pack on the fat on birds. In fairness it wasn't that severe, its winter you will get a bought of frost some stage,and during the day most places got sun to thaw place a bit especially hills. yes lakes  and drains were frozen over,  but lots of rivers for the duck,  and woodcock have a very good knack of getting grub even if ground is solid,  they can find where isn't frozen, which there was lots of places. But thaw is on now, its 10° here with a good wind blowing.  The snipe is one bird that seems to get completely disoriented in hard weather.  He can't manage nearly as good as the woodcock.  Any way they be alright now.