Six mallard and one teal

Rain forecast for tonight put pay to my lamping plans, I was out on Tuesday night until late too, so it was a reluctantly accepted but needed rest night ahead.

I took the three boys to the rifle club last night and when we arrived it was empty, I had got the time wrong by 8 hours.



As the afternoon ticked on I decided that I didn’t want a second cancelled night in a row, especially considering the forecast for the weekend. So I came home early from work and asked the boys if any one of them wanted to go out to shoot some ducks. They were all tired and looking forward to bed so uniformly said ‘not tonight.’ Resigned to an early bath I settled into my dinner but wasn’t halfway through when my eldest said, actually he wanted to go. Mad panic to get out of the door within 20 mins of arriving home, we made it to the pond at sunset, a little late really.

There were already duck on the pond so we crept in and we took a mallard as they left. Restraint should have been held but I was worried they may be the only duck we saw so let him loose.


We were expecting 45 mins until ETD (estimated time of duck) but It was constant activity and we ended up with six mallard and a teal between us before calling it a night.



So I said next time I won’t bother taking a gun, his .410” single barrel needs upgrading really but I had been in Bamford’s today and spied a birthday present for January.

 

[Cootmeurer]

Well done. And the boy certainly needs a 28 gauge, because everyone needs a 28!

And well done on the teal. They are an unchecked box on my list. I have shot plenty here, but we shoot 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset- anything else is illegal

Last trip over I had a spot swarming with teal but it was dark, raining, the gun wouldn’t shoot where I aimed, the teal were too fast or too slow or ……..

 

[WalkedUp]

Well done. And the boy certainly needs a 28 gauge, because everyone needs a 28!

And well done on the teal. They are an unchecked box on my list. I have shot plenty here, but we shoot 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset- anything else is illegal

Last trip over I had a spot swarming with teal but it was dark, raining, the gun wouldn’t shoot where I aimed, the teal were too fast or too slow or ……..

That time slot is a little restrictive as generally 45 mins after sunset is the peak time for me! On the marsh our rule is 1hr before sunrise to 1hr after. Which is generally the limit of light unless it is a cloudless night with a full moon.

I much prefer teal to mallard, I have no idea why. Perhaps because they are such a perfect little bird, or the way they fly.

 

[Tim.243]

Rain forecast for tonight put pay to my lamping plans, I was out on Tuesday night until late too, so it was a reluctantly accepted but needed rest night ahead.

I took the three boys to the rifle club last night and when we arrived it was empty, I had got the time wrong by 8 hours.

View attachment 439937

As the afternoon ticked on I decided that I didn’t want a second cancelled night in a row, especially considering the forecast for the weekend. So I came home early from work and asked the boys if any one of them wanted to go out to shoot some ducks. They were all tired and looking forward to bed so uniformly said ‘not tonight.’ Resigned to an early bath I settled into my dinner but wasn’t halfway through when my eldest said, actually he wanted to go. Mad panic to get out of the door within 20 mins of arriving home, we made it to the pond at sunset, a little late really.

There were already duck on the pond so we crept in and we took a mallard as they left. Restraint should have been held but I was worried they may be the only duck we saw so let him loose.

View attachment 439935View attachment 439936
We were expecting 45 mins until ETD (estimated time of duck) but It was constant activity and we ended up with six mallard and a teal between us before calling it a night.

View attachment 439934

So I said next time I won’t bother taking a gun, his .410” single barrel needs upgrading really but I had been in Bamford’s today and spied a birthday present for January.

View attachment 439938

good stuff, not been out on the marsh as yet but won't be long.

 

[WalkedUp]

good stuff, not been out on the marsh as yet but won't be long.

You cannot beat sunrise on the marsh, we walk out from England to Wales. One hour thirty minutes there, two hours back. My eldest wants to join me on a dawn trip to the tidal edge of the marsh, but there is no way he has the mental and physical fortitude yet to be able to complete that trudge. Fight the mud and tide. Sit in freezing water for an hour and then be ready to take the one chance you get in the half light. It is magical, but you need some steel in you to get the enjoyment from it.

 

[Tim.243]

You cannot beat sunrise on the marsh, we walk out from England to Wales. One hour thirty minutes there, two hours back. My eldest wants to join me on a dawn trip to the tidal edge of the marsh, but there is no way he has the mental and physical fortitude yet to be able to complete that trudge. Fight the mud and tide. Sit in freezing water for an hour and then be ready to take the one chance you get in the half light. It is magical, but you need some steel in you to get the enjoyment from it.

I like lunch time flights as that is what I have worked out best for ID and that marsh, yes the marsh can be a place not for the young!

 

[Tom270]

My uncle took me duck shooting when I was 15 and just got a single barrel 12g, there was a yard square piece of sky above me and they were teal, mach 6 teal, I shot one for my box of cartridges , but that was over 50 years ago and still a special evening, these memories made last a lifetime as they will for your lad.

 

[WalkedUp]

Just a brief update, my three sons breasted the ducks alongside some pheasants on Sunday. Wish I had taken photographs of the “range” of fillets achieved… directly proportional to how quickly they worked. But I would rather let them learn the skills themselves rather than have their spirits crushed with me over bearing to try and get them neater.

My eldest cooked the duck breasts tonight as a simple meal he prepared. I was late back from work so missed the sitting and so the photograph is of mine, reheated just now from cold. Not the most photogenic but not a scrap was wasted. Very proud of the three of them.

 

[Rookandrabbit]

what a fantastic write up and more memories made ! well done and good shooting!

Regards Rookandrabbit