Wild fowling run down

[grandad of the woods]

So just wondering if anyone can give me a run down before I start researching more
Never done it before would love to give it ago see what it's all about jistlooking for advice on locations and legality in Kent, south east.
I know we have the wildfowl association but I don't wanna pay £250 for a year for me to maybe only ever do it once, so any advice and information would be great
Such as do you need licences can you only shoot on certain places ect thanks all

 

[Tim.243]

So just wondering if anyone can give me a run down before I start researching more
Never done it before would love to give it ago see what it's all about jistlooking for advice on locations and legality in Kent, south east.
I know we have the wildfowl association but I don't wanna pay £250 for a year for me to maybe only ever do it once, so any advice and information would be great
Such as do you need licences can you only shoot on certain places ect thanks all

I don't think you could make a judgement about wildfowling maybe only ever do it once.
The pleasure of just sitting with your dogs and not firing a shot to a wet miserable muddy day thinking you should have stayed at home.

There is very little room not to have a dog in shooting live bird quarry especially over water, times I don't take the dog is pigeon shooting when it is very hot.
There are permit schemes not that I have used them but again the guide would most lightly have a dog, this is what would be your best chance of a taster.

 

[grandad of the woods]

I don't think you could make a judgement about wildfowling maybe only ever do it once.
The pleasure of just sitting with your dogs and not firing a shot to a wet miserable muddy day thinking you should have stayed at home.

There is very little room not to have a dog in shooting live bird quarry especially over water, times I don't take the dog is pigeon shooting when it is very hot.
There are permit schemes not that I have used them but again the guide would most lightly have a dog, this is what would be your best chance of a taster.

Yer I understand that to have been out many of time and not taken a shot just to enjoy the outdoors, I just wanna be able to give it ago. Not got a hunting dog ....... Well I have but not been trained as a hunting dog lol (wife's spoiled little pup)
What do you mean by a permit scheme?

 

[Tim.243]

Yer I understand that to have been out many of time and not taken a shot just to enjoy the outdoors, I just wanna be able to give it ago. Not got a hunting dog ....... Well I have but not been trained as a hunting dog lol (wife's spoiled little pup)
What do you mean by a permit scheme?

Contact the wildfowling dept at BASC as previously they were WAGBI but Kent wildfowlers have a website to answer a lot of questions

 

[Rasputin]

If BASC still do day tickets I would recommend it was how I got into my local club.

My experience with taking people fowling is that it’s very polarising either they can’t wait to go again or resolutely wouldn’t even step foot on a marsh. Seems to be the environment not the shooting that puts people off.

 

[Basil H]

In many areas you pay a relatively small sub and shoot a relatively small local marsh/foreshore. A number of clubs around the country have permit or "day ticket" schemes. usually with a guide available. These are listed annually in a booklet available as a hard copy or pdf from BASC - see website.
However, in your county there is the Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association which for historical reasons has a great deal of shooting on the coast and inland throughout the county and beyond. They do have a "come and try it scheme" but your best move would be to contact the secretary Dave Thorpe (number on website) and have a chat. Just remember that fowling clubs are not businesses but are run by volunteers who are often busy family men. However they love their way of life and will help new members.

I started fowling on the North Kent marshes as a kid many years ago when Colin Willock et al. were doing their "Gunpunt Adventure" stuff there but have not been back for sixty years so can not give much current information. Do get out there and try it !

 

[grandad of the woods]

If BASC still do day tickets I would recommend it was how I got into my local club.

My experience with taking people fowling is that it’s very polarising either they can’t wait to go again or resolutely wouldn’t even step foot on a marsh. Seems to be the environment not the shooting that puts people off.

Hahahaha I can see how that works, I thing the environment adds to the excitement of it lol I'll have a look through basc

 

[Tim.243]

If BASC still do day tickets I would recommend it was how I got into my local club.

My experience with taking people fowling is that it’s very polarising either they can’t wait to go again or resolutely wouldn’t even step foot on a marsh. Seems to be the environment not the shooting that puts people off.

I remember a chap coming out on a marsh walk, the chap taking the walk gave him precise instructions to walk to the marker stick!
Nope the city boy wandered off and went down to past his knees kept wriggling making it worse. Guess it didn't help saying "**** me the tide is early"
Never saw him again @grandad of the woods

 

[grandad of the woods]

I remember a chap coming out on a marsh walk, the chap taking the walk gave him precise instructions to walk to the marker stick!
Nope the city boy wandered off and went down to past his knees kept wriggling making it worse. Guess it didn't help saying "**** me the tide is early"
Never saw him again @grandad of the woods
View attachment 428402

Hahahaha
IV done some driven shoots with the well to do city folk and there all just a bunch of noobs trying to show of there gear even tho half can't even use it, not into driven game or any of that posh ****
owwww look at that pup that's how they should be lol question always been told the spaniels (I have a sproker) don't make the best wildfowling dogs because eof the power in the jaw and that's why most are labs ? Any comments on that ?

 

[Pedro]

I think any normal gundog has enough jaw power to manage quite comfortably retrieving most wildfowl, be it a spaniel of some sort or a retriever of some sort. Arguably a small Cocker might struggle to convey a good size goose, but from my experience, they do indeed manage and if they do struggle, it won't be their jaw power that's the problem.

 

[Rasputin]

I think any normal gundog has enough jaw power to manage quite comfortably retrieving most wildfowl, be it a spaniel of some sort or a retriever of some sort. Arguably a small Cocker might struggle to convey a good size goose, but from my experience, they do indeed manage and if they do struggle, it won't be their jaw power that's the problem.

My cocker used to just drag big canadas by the neck. Must have brought one nearly 200m once in this manner. To say it was irate when it arrived was an understatement.

I remember a chap coming out on a marsh walk, the chap taking the walk gave him precise instructions to walk to the marker stick!
Nope the city boy wandered off and went down to past his knees kept wriggling making it worse. Guess it didn't help saying "**** me the tide is early"
Never saw him again @grandad of the woods
View attachment 428402

Haha yep walk exactly where told at all times or you’re going to be very very miserable.

 

[thistledeyke]

Labs are more suited to foreshore water work generally being bigger than spaniels and with a thicker water shedding coat spaniels just get very wet and cold in winter. If you want a true wildfowling dog get a Chesapeak bay retriever.

 

[jall55]

Hahahaha
IV done some driven shoots with the well to do city folk and there all just a bunch of noobs trying to show of there gear even tho half can't even use it, not into driven game or any of that posh ****
owwww look at that pup that's how they should be lol question always been told the spaniels (I have a sproker) don't make the best wildfowling dogs because eof the power in the jaw and that's why most are labs ? Any comments on that ?

Try driven shooting too mate and have your eyes opened that very little of that is posh *****

Wildfowling behind the sea wall is one of those things where the pleasure is just been there - i have been dozens of times - never fired a shot but seen 10s of thousands of ducks and geese. I like the solitude of sitting watching the world wake up in a totally different environment to the woods or fields - so many different noises and calls - wooshes of wings.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Go to Scotland and the foreshore is still free as far as I am aware, try google. I was long ago a Kent member till I moved to Germany.

 

[enfieldspares]

So just wondering if anyone can give me a run down before I start researching more
Never done it before would love to give it ago see what it's all about jistlooking for advice on locations and legality in Kent, south east.
I know we have the wildfowl association but I don't wanna pay £250 for a year for me to maybe only ever do it once, so any advice and information would be great
Such as do you need licences can you only shoot on certain places ect thanks all

Not for me. When I owned it for near twenty years I could shoot flighted duck, for free, on my own pond. Mallard, teal, wigeon. And then the less usual shoveller and tufted. But I shot to eat and couldn't cook a wild duck to save my life. So I mostly sold the odd evening flight. I won't kill game that I won't eat.

And well even before that stage I won't shoot what if I do kill it I can't collect. So no dog? Then IMHO shoot flighted duck on a pond where you've a boat (as with mine) or don't do it.

My advice therefore would be can you collect the thing after you've shot it and can you do the thing justice once you have and make it produce a good and tasty meal? If not to either question then save your money and buy a reared Aylesbury from the shop.

 

[Tim.243]

Hahahaha
IV done some driven shoots with the well to do city folk and there all just a bunch of noobs trying to show of there gear even tho half can't even use it, not into driven game or any of that posh ****
owwww look at that pup that's how they should be lol question always been told the spaniels (I have a sproker) don't make the best wildfowling dogs because eof the power in the jaw and that's why most are labs ? Any comments on that ?

Yes, don't shoot Geese,

From the other side when the tide is in

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

The BASC permit scheme is going to be your best bet this year (normally around £25 for a flight with a guide) as I would be suprised if you could get into a wildfowling club at his time of year, most clubs will require you to have a minimum of a 1 year probationary period (mainly for your own saftey) where you shoot with another member and most ill want to see you at meetings/ beach clean up days and complete a identification course. Returns are generally not big in regaurds to birds in the bag with a good days consisting of seeing a duck, a fantastic day firing a shot and a red letter day being a duck falling out the sky and if you can keep that in your head it helps. As for the dog its more important than a gun when it comes to wildfowling and a spaniel will be fine but you will need to make sure the dog is super confident on water and can sit still with you for extended periods as nothing will ruin your day more than watching birds flare off as you lift the gun and the dog runs in.
I really enjoy my wildfowling but the rain, wind, cold, mud, more mud and isolation isnt everyones cup of tea but when it all comes together for me it cant be beat

 

[nic531]

All of the advice here is good. In your area the biggest club is Kent Wildfowlers and they should be able to give local advice or pop into your local gunshop and ask about it…..John Forsey in Welling is knowledgable about it as a suggestion ( he specialised in big bore and wildfolwing guns)
Most clubs do guest tickets or have a try trips. If you want a go and are willing to travel i would take you out on the Severn near Glos.
There is some very good fowling to be had in Kent, it was where i got hooked on it while posted to Chatham in the Army.

i shoukd warn you though, it certainly is a marmite section of the shooting sports. I often say if you are not almost as happy coming out without a gun as with, then its not for you.

 

[Liveonce]

Never a shooting practice I have ever wanted to try, but all credit to those that do, can be a very dangerous environment, sand, mud, salt water are no friend of man, dog or firearms.

As said you will love it or hate it, but well done for wanting to try it.

edit to add let’s us know how you get on.

 

[grandad of the woods]

All of the advice here is good. In your area the biggest club is Kent Wildfowlers and they should be able to give local advice or pop into your local gunshop and ask about it…..John Forsey in Welling is knowledgable about it as a suggestion ( he specialised in big bore and wildfolwing guns)
Most clubs do guest tickets or have a try trips. If you want a go and are willing to travel i would take you out on the Severn near Glos.
There is some very good fowling to be had in Kent, it was where i got hooked on it while posted to Chatham in the Army.

i shoukd warn you though, it certainly is a marmite section of the shooting sports. I often say if you are not almost as happy coming out without a gun as with, then its not for you.

Cheers m8 appreciate that I'll contact Kent wildfowlers and John runs a great shop, just something always wanted to give ago. Looked on to the basc days and close one they donin south east is a 2 n half hour drive away (that's doable but prefer somewhere little closer lol)