7daysinaweek Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 In all my years of shooting I have never done any duck shooting and had always fancied it. With a very, very kind offer from a good friend he took me to have a do this evening. I took a gun I bought some time ago and had only ever shot a few clays with it on the day I bought it. It is a 30" bettensolli diamond. We met a around 4pm on the ground and just as we arrived the heavens opened and I thought that we were in for a drenching, thankfully after about 15 minutes the rain soon cleared on a lightish wind. I was instructed to get myself hunkered down in a thick cover overlooking a flash of water on an old stubble. Walking over to the flash I pushed up a few hares which was lovely to see. It had become a lovely clear afternoon whilst I walked over with the heavy cloud having moved on. As I approached the water, I could see a fair head of duck on it which lifted off, I hurried up and got myself in to some cover and they came back round in a fair dollop and I let go with both barrels at one with no apparent connection at all. They went way out then circled back in a fair dollop, and I think pushed the gun through a bit more and had two down with one shot. Not only have I never had a duck, I have never had two birds off one shot. I walked out and picked both of them, absolutely ecstatic. Within what seemed like moments, a few came over again, a good way out like the the other two and I picked one and that was in the bag also. I walked out and picked it. I then had a bit of a wait and had the odd crow and pigeon glide over whilst watching the hares. Wonderful! After a good wait I could hear some quacking on its way and I was suddenly aware of a couple, as I stood up quickly to take the shot, I fumbled it and drew a blank. Anxious to get another go, I ended up having a good wait. As the light was beginning to fail, I again became suddenly aware of a single duck, almost directly above me travelling at a fair rate and a good height for me, I stood quickly and let go missing with the first barrel then almost snapping bending backwards with added speed and connected with the second and the bird was down. I walked out and picked that one also. With the light now going I decided to call it a day with four in the bag. I profusely thanked my friend for the gesture and look forward to having another go next season, albeit paid back in some form. I will dress them first thing in the morning. Looking forward to some slow cooked duck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 (edited) Hello, Well done 👍, Nice write up, !!!! I use to shoot over some ponds in my teens with a single 12 ( Cooey ) not many Ducks but was great for high pigeon coming out the woods at first light Edited January 30 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holloway Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 A nice right up sounds like your going to be hooked and nice to see how much you enjoyed it when not shooting especially the Hares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 i bet you are really stoked .....look forward to when you cook them and how they end up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 Excellent 👍 My duck breast recipe. Very easy. Comes out like a nice steak. • Score skin • Heavily season with salt and pepper • Fry in pan with butter for 1 minute each side • Place pan in oven with duck breast skin side down for 8 minutes at 200C • Rest for 5 minutes • Cut across grain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 Nice one well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 Nice story, well done...you will never forget your first duck, I can still still remember my first duck some 56 years later and I can still see the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted January 31 Author Report Share Posted January 31 15 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: Hello, Well done 👍, Nice write up, !!!! I use to shoot over some ponds in my teens with a single 12 ( Cooey ) not many Ducks but was great for high pigeon coming out the woods at first light 3 hours ago, old'un said: Nice story, well done...you will never forget your first duck, I can still still remember my first duck some 56 years later and I can still see the shot. Cheers chaps, some good memories which will now hark with my own. 15 hours ago, holloway said: A nice right up sounds like your going to be hooked and nice to see how much you enjoyed it when not shooting especially the Hares. I may well be. 👍 6 hours ago, ditchman said: i bet you are really stoked .....look forward to when you cook them and how they end up I will post up when I cook them Ditchy. 👍 5 hours ago, Houseplant said: Excellent 👍 My duck breast recipe. Very easy. Comes out like a nice steak. • Score skin • Heavily season with salt and pepper • Fry in pan with butter for 1 minute each side • Place pan in oven with duck breast skin side down for 8 minutes at 200C • Rest for 5 minutes • Cut across grain Thank you for the recipe HP, will certainly give it a go. 👍 4 hours ago, Aled said: Nice one well done. 👍 Bit of a hectic morning after the very enjoyable evening. (sorry no pics of the dressed birds, but will post up when I cook them) Got up this morning, dressed out the ducks out first and now in the freezer, scooted to the bank, then to the fuel station, then haircut, back home shower and shave, went to piano lesson, back home now just getting ready to go to a wedding do this eve. Phew! All go it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago On 31/01/2025 at 14:31, 7daysinaweek said: I Bit of a hectic morning after the very enjoyable evening. (sorry no pics of the dressed birds, but will post up when I cook them) Got up this morning, dressed out the ducks out first and now in the freezer, scooted to the bank, then to the fuel station, then haircut, back home shower and shave, went to piano lesson, back home now just getting ready to go to a wedding do this eve. Phew! All go it is. I find a lot , or most of my days are like that , I find it best to get ahead of any outstanding jobs and then when a job like processing the ducks come along you can do them straight away , I know things are different when you have got a full time job , but life in general consist of work rest and play , do some of each then when you have the time you then do more of what you enjoy most while your body is able to cope with the routine . MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted 4 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 33 minutes ago, marsh man said: I find a lot , or most of my days are like that , I find it best to get ahead of any outstanding jobs and then when a job like processing the ducks come along you can do them straight away , I know things are different when you have got a full time job , but life in general consist of work rest and play , do some of each then when you have the time you then do more of what you enjoy most while your body is able to cope with the routine . MM I do like to do it that way MM. Anything I shoot or get given, I try to get it dressed out and done as quick as possible, as I work long shifts across the 7 days, and I cannot always forecast well in advance. I had a superb day shooting my first duck, and it all worked out grand! It will be stamped in my memory forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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