Diamond
member
Reged: 30/12/2009
Posts: 374
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Could I ask that wildfowlers make more posts. Even if it is about recent experiences, or information about availability with regard to day permits via your club etc. I`m sure that there are many shooters out there who would like the experience of being escorted onto the shoreline by an experienced wildfowler.
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robm_22
member
Reged: 24/11/2009
Posts: 73
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i would be one of them shooters
problem with the wildfouling clubs are there are say 100 members in a club but only 15 of the members actualy go shooting on the marsh or shoreline the other 85 just pay there membership and just dont go on !
i was listning to someone talking at the clay shoot the other day " i havent been on for 15 yrs but im still a member "
makes it hard to get in to clubs
im on the wating list for a club now only an estimated 35 yr wating list mind !!!!!!!!!
really buggs me that even more so that i only live about 500 meters from the marsh !
so come on wildfoulers if you dont go to you club let other people enjoy it !!!! please !!!!
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Diamond
member
Reged: 30/12/2009
Posts: 374
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Perhaps clubs should encourage a day share scheme where their unwanted days are shared out to guest shooters for a donation to club funds?
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robkayak
member
Reged: 31/07/2009
Posts: 42
Loc: Ammanford, Swansea
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Wildfowling in my experience takes a lot of local knowledge about tide, bird behaviour & weather conditions. This takes a lot of time & effort to acquire. Rather like fishing. This knowledge is zealously guarded & it takes a truely selfless person to share this knowledge. I have shot 105 duck on the estuary this year & I feel that I have been excessive. Next year I would be quite happy to just quide other club members & not shoot, but I find it an uphill battle to get people up early in the morning in foul weather. A lot of people are keen but have not made the commitment to train a gun dog
-------------------- 6.5x55 T3, 223 Rem LTR, Extrema 2, Old Army Ruger 45. Brown Bess 0.75", XIV 22 Anshultz, 682 Gold 32". Water pistol .001 cal(repeater non toxic, open sights, off ticket)
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Diamond
member
Reged: 30/12/2009
Posts: 374
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The ones that wont make the effort are just not interested enough to bother with! But I`m sure there are plenty out there worth the effort from people like you. After all jealously guarding experience and knowledge means eventual death of your sport. Thankfully there are a few people out there like yourself who will share with those willing to commit. Much respect!
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Christoff
member
Reged: 21/12/2009
Posts: 241
Loc: Guernsey
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I agree Diamond. You have quite a lot of people like us in Guernsey who cant shoot any wildfowl as it was banned about 10 years ago who would certainly jump at the chance of some duck/goose shooting.
I have only had a go once in January this year and will certainly be back later on in the year to have another bash.
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Putnamsmif
member
Reged: 05/12/2009
Posts: 4
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I started shooting over the last couple of months; clays only so far. Next season what I'd like to do is get into wildfowling but you don't make it sound as if it's going to be very easy! There are numerous wildfowling clubs in my area - North Norfolk - are they usually amenable to new members, and are current members willing to take newcomers out and show them the ropes so to speak?
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doyt
member
Reged: 09/10/2007
Posts: 32
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i had a walk down my local shore on sat morning with the hope of ending a pretty good season's wildfowling with a last shot at a goose there were already 2 car's there when i arrived and from the shot's i heard while i was down on the shore they were having a pretty good morning (i had plenty o geese go over me but most were too high and the rest were borderline so i left them alone) when i got back to my car i noticed 8 or 9 pink's hanging in the back o 1 o the car's so i waited for the owners to come back for a crack with a fellow wildfowler they arrived back with another 5 pink's so i tried to engage them in conversation wish i hadn't bothered 2 ignorant so an so's couldn't be bothered to answer with more than 1 word. other fowlers i've met in the past have alway's had the time for a crack an a bit o banter but not this pair i hope not to meet them on the shore again
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robkayak
member
Reged: 31/07/2009
Posts: 42
Loc: Ammanford, Swansea
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They had 9 Pinks? That is more than enough for 2 guns. I wonder if they were using non toxic shot (If they were not it may account for their reluctance to engage with you) & if they plucked the geese or more likely just cut off the breast meat.
-------------------- 6.5x55 T3, 223 Rem LTR, Extrema 2, Old Army Ruger 45. Brown Bess 0.75", XIV 22 Anshultz, 682 Gold 32". Water pistol .001 cal(repeater non toxic, open sights, off ticket)
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doyt
member
Reged: 09/10/2007
Posts: 32
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not sure what they were doing although having talked it over wi a m8 who was down further along the shore he asked what they'd been shooting at as he couldn't see any geese up when he heard the shot's i cant remember seeing any geese in the air at the time o there shot's either
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harrycatcat1
member
Reged: 21/11/2009
Posts: 7
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I have just joined and been accepted (verbally) this club http://www.bigwibb.net/slwc/ I went to a clay shoot a couple of weeks ago and they seem a good group of chaps. I have been promised a couple of trips out and also I met someone at the clay shoot who is in the club that lives within 20 miles of me who said I could tag on with him sometimes which is very good. I have been thinking about it for a while and have finally paid my money. So if you are thinking of doing it get it done, they say the experience is fantastic and I am looking forward to it. Roll on September. I am not looking for big bags just a good experience to say YES I have done it. Oh and by the way I am 1 hour and 50 minutes drive away from the coastal marshes so there wont be many that can beat that drive.
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jedpea
member
Reged: 21/05/2010
Posts: 147
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hmm i watched a wildfowling demonstration at royal cornwall a couple of weeks ago. I was abit dissapointed tbh. Aprt from one of the dogs which was impressive to watch, the other was a novice that just took the piss and got into a fight with a member of the audiences boxer which was a highlight. The guy just seemed on a self esteem mission, woudnt shut up about how hardcore wildfowling was and how difficult it was ect ect. Quite offputting for a beginer and made it seem abit dreary really.
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nabbers
member
Reged: 18/07/2010
Posts: 4
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Jedpea; I saw the same demo at The Great Yorkshire show this week. I must say it grated on me somewhat when the Cornish Countryman said "hands up if there is any Wildfowlers here? " Then "Ah I thought not" and then when on to say how hard it it is to overcome the elements and that nobody wants to get out of their warm bed and go fowling. At the end of his demonstration he said "so go on give it a go".
I've been rough shooting for 30 years now, and all that time I've had it in the back of my mind that I'd love to give fowling a try. In the old books I've read, fowlers just wandered out onto the foreshore and shot, I love the idea of that sort of freedom. But the truth is it seems to me to be almost impossible to break into this sport unless you know people already in a club who will let you tag along. Thats why there weren't any wildfowlers at The Yorkshire show and thats why it's unlikely I'll ever a get a look in unless I go on a guided shooting holiday.
Or am I wrong? Is there anywhere in the UK where a licenced gun owner can turn up before dawn and try his hand without being a club member?
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harrycatcat1
member
Reged: 21/11/2009
Posts: 7
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"Or am I wrong? Is there anywhere in the UK where a licenced gun owner can turn up before dawn and try his hand without being a club member?"
Have a look here,mate.
http://www.basc.org.uk/en/departments/wildfowling/wildfowling-permit-scheme-.cfm
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harrycatcat1
member
Reged: 21/11/2009
Posts: 7
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I was going to edit my last post and say thats why I joined a club because a few day permits is as expensive or nearly in some cases as joining a club.
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nabbers
member
Reged: 18/07/2010
Posts: 4
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Agreed, the permit scheme is a way in and obviously so is joining a club. Anywhere where you can just turn up and shoot, just out of interest? as a right?
Whats the situation in Scotland?
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fowlinboots
member
Reged: 24/07/2010
Posts: 5
Loc: SURREY/SUSSEX
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HI, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN THE SOUTH EAST YOU MAY WANT TO CONTACT THE KENT WILDFOWLERS ASSOC WHO SHOOT BOTH COASTAL N INLAND WATERS, OR WHAT WAS CALLED THE CHICHESTER HARBOUR WILDFOWLERS ASSOC .WE SHOOT FROM EAST HAMPSHIRE AROUND TO SUSSEX ABOUT 35 OR SO MILES OF COASTLINE. WE HAVE NOW JOINED WITH PAGHAM FOWLERS AND EMSWORTH FOWLERS ASSOC ..
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fowlinboots
member
Reged: 24/07/2010
Posts: 5
Loc: SURREY/SUSSEX
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HI TO NABBERS AND ANYONE ELSE HOW IS KEEN TO TRY FOWLING, MOST CLUBS DO DAY TICKETS OR JUST MORNING OR . EVENING FLIGHTS. SWAWMA WILL TAKE YOU OUT ON THE MARSH FOR A VERY MODEST FEE I THINK IT IS STILL £5 A FLIGHT.BUT THERE IS NO GETTING AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT IT IS IN A HARSH ENVIROMENT, ITS WET AND MUDDY AND BLOODY GOOD FUN,EVEN IF YOU DONT SHOOT ANYTHING ..
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