THE PRETEND KEEPER

[jall55]

Our duck shoot is in its third year. This year, we bought day old ducklings and released them at about 3 weeks. It's my job to feed them weekdays and weekends it's the land owner who feeds them. Our main area is a relatively new wetland created about four years ago. This wetland is about five hectares. This year, we have released 600 ducks, and with the wild population, there should be coming up to a thousand ducks by the first shooting day.
This year, we have also released two ducks on a lake on a neighbouring ground. This lake is deep, and the wetland is relatively shallow. Because of the depth of this new lake, we feed the ducks of a raft.
Last year we had a return of over 50% . One of the problems we had was getting the guns to the hunting stands at the same time. It's amazing how people can't even follow clear prited instructions. I've done new signage for this year, hoping that will help.
We have managed to get together a really good retrieving team. Our after hunt food is great as well.

I wonder why with the basis of a great population of wild duck you have gone down the release route ?

 

[Jagare]

I wonder why, with the basis of a great population of wild ducks, you have gone down the release route ?

The first year, there were very few wild ducks. Last year, we released four hundred and fifty, and there were quite a few wild ducks. We also released four hundred and fifty pheasants, but the pheasant shooting was a disaster due to wild boar trashing our game cover. In one of the photos, it shows a low electric fence. This is to stop the boar wading out and eating the duck food. This year, we upped the number of ducks so that we will hopefully get a decent bag for the first three shoots. After about the third shoot, the ducks will just bugger off, at the sound of shooting and then we have evening duck fighting. We have no problem getting them to fly.

 

[jall55]

The first year, there were very few wild ducks. Last year, we released four hundred and fifty, and there were quite a few wild ducks. We also released four hundred and fifty pheasants, but the pheasant shooting was a disaster due to wild boar trashing our game cover. In one of the photos, it shows a low electric fence. This is to stop the boar wading out and eating the duck food. This year, we upped the number of ducks so that we will hopefully get a decent bag for the first three shoots. After about the third shoot, the ducks will just bugger off, at the sound of shooting and then we have evening duck fighting. We have no problem getting them to fly.

Tame ducks chasing about and disrupting the wild ones is perhaps not the best - but i must admit i find driven duck poor when flighting at dusk or dawn is wonderful

 

[Jagare]

Tame ducks chasing about and disrupting the wild ones is perhaps not the best - but i must admit i find driven duck poor when flighting at dusk or dawn is wonderful

Our released ducks seem to get on OK with the wild ducks. We have seen plenty of broods of wild duckling it's a big bit of water with plenty of cover.
It's not driven shooting, no beaters involved, and whilst it may not compare with quality high pheasant shooting, it's certainly better shooting than some of the pheasant shoots I've worked my dogs on in the past.
I've also worked the dogs on duck shoots where the pond water was nothing other than duck shît soup and the ducks far to over crowded.

 

[jall55]

Our released ducks seem to get on OK with the wild ducks. We have seen plenty of broods of wild duckling it's a big bit of water with plenty of cover.
It's not driven shooting, no beaters involved, and whilst it may not compare with quality high pheasant shooting, it's certainly better shooting than some of the pheasant shoots I've worked my dogs on in the past.
I've also worked the dogs on duck shoots where the pond water was nothing other than duck shît soup and the ducks far to over crowded.

Without a doubt your area looks incredible - one of the most beautiful places shooting could ever take place - a place to saviour as you shoot a brace or two - not a place in my opinion to see hundreds of tame duck circling round and round - but each to their own and good luck and all the best

 

[jall55]

Had our birds now for nearly a week - and can honestly say - so far the best we have have ever had - the weather has really helped and the fact i have more time certainly has too as im up filling trays 2/3 times a day - They are eating at an incredible rate
Few casulties with the hawk / buzzard the first night - but not finding anything or any signs now - not in the pens at least - I am fully aware they will be at them as one or two begin to explore.
Thankfully no foxes showing on any camera and none seen on nightly sit outs by me and the team
Anyone had theirs yet ?

 

[Phil fox man]

been down the shoot today,strimming around the pens,got the wire sorted and humped 25l tubs of water out and set the drinkers up.
just cooked a steak each and some chips and now I'm going to unashamedly going to fall asleep watching the news, I'm fcuked.
phil.

 

[jall55]

been down the shoot today,strimming around the pens,got the wire sorted and humped 25l tubs of water out and set the drinkers up.
just cooked a steak each and some chips and now I'm going to unashamedly going to fall asleep watching the news, I'm fcuked.
phil.

Nice one Phil
We always did that with water but use IBC - Big water bowsers now - much easier than goodness
Also worth spraying round the pen - saves lot of hassle too mate

 

[Phil fox man]

yeah pens were sprayed a couple of weeks ago,just clearing the dead stuff away bit OCD but hay ho !
not a good idea putting electric wires around a metal section pen with a thunder storm on the way

 

[jall55]

Had a very very very long day yesterday - but it was great and so interesting

Had a day filming up on the farm - showing the benefits of shooting to conservation and how people like us on our syndicate can and do make a difference
We had cameras - drones - interviews all sorts of stuff going on - All as part of being listed in the Schoffel countryside awards as a finalist in the
"Working Conservationist" category !

Then went out to the Curlew and Lapwing nesting areas and managed 2 foxes with the lads - up at 5 this morning to feed the birds and bash some Balsam before the insects make it purgatory !

Happy but tired !

 

[Nickb]

Had a very very very long day yesterday - but it was great and so interesting

Had a day filming up on the farm - showing the benefits of shooting to conservation and how people like us on our syndicate can and do make a difference
We had cameras - drones - interviews all sorts of stuff going on - All as part of being listed in the Schoffel countryside awards as a finalist in the
"Working Conservationist" category !

Then went out to the Curlew and Lapwing nesting areas and managed 2 foxes with the lads - up at 5 this morning to feed the birds and bash some Balsam before the insects make it purgatory !

Happy but tired !

Good luck with the awards

 

[jall55]

Good luck with the awards

Thanks mate
Not until November but found it really good to enter - met some really great people along the journey of them all too

 

[Phil fox man]

What's the difference between a work party on the shoot and a day pigeon shooting.
answer, you don't have an excuse not to go pigeon shooting.
at least I know the job's done right though.
rant over, carry on

 

[stavross]

Well, I had a rare day off today so my plan was to work through the list of job, starting with why the quad won’t start and here starts my problem, it took me almost 5 hours to get it running and it’s now in a million bits and I will have to go and pick it up after work tomorrow on the trailer and bring it down to mine because the harness needs to come out so I still haven’t got any of the other jobs done and the birds will be here in about 5 weeks

 

[jall55]

Well, I had a rare day off today so my plan was to work through the list of job, starting with why the quad won’t start and here starts my problem, it took me almost 5 hours to get it running and it’s now in a million bits and I will have to go and pick it up after work tomorrow on the trailer and bring it down to mine because the harness needs to come out so I still haven’t got any of the other jobs done and the birds will be here in about 5 weeks

Stav
I have tried something called Solulyte for the first time this year - its helps reduce stress and hydrate the birds and has electrolytes in it - helped ours i believe

 

[stavross]

Stav
I have tried something called Solulyte for the first time this year - its helps reduce stress and hydrate the birds and has electrolytes in it - helped ours i believe

Cheers mate, I’ll take a look, funnily enough I’ve just been looking for tonic’s and drinker additives

 

[jall55]

Cheers mate, I’ll take a look, funnily enough I’ve just been looking for tonic’s and drinker additives

Solulyte Plus - is what i used mate - expensive but i do think worth it

 

[Phil fox man]

Stav
I have tried something called Solulyte for the first time this year - its helps reduce stress and hydrate the birds and has electrolytes in it - helped ours i believe

my first batch came on Saturday and this is the first thing I use in the water.you can also put a splash of ribena in to mask any taste of any meds.
mine are all settled in and calm now but it's wet and warm so here come the gapes .

 

[jall55]

my first batch came on Saturday and this is the first thing I use in the water.you can also put a splash of ribena in to mask any taste of any meds.
mine are all settled in and calm now but it's wet and warm so here come the gapes .

I hope not for you pal
We had them a good number of years ago - but have not suffered now for an age as we knocked the trees over in the pens and let the UV light do the job - too late now for you guys this season - but next season get brutal on a saw Phil

 

[stavross]

Been a busy old week, I’m making good progress at the shoot, there’s a few little tidy up jobs to do at the pens but I’ve got the quad repaired, the feeders repaired, elec fence units repaired, I’ve ordered the additive jall recommend, so I’m getting there, still haven’t had a definite date for the birds but hopefully they will be the first week in August

Had a run up there tonight, no foxes seen but the only place I’ve got at the moment is the small grass field next to the farm as none of the crops are off yet, I did see a lovely roe buck but only having the.223 with me I had to let him pass, I might take someone up for a go at him