Wildfowling, Retrieving?

ClarkyTrd

Hi Folks,

Gonna start doing some Wildfowling this season, just looking for some info off people who also do it...

How do you go about retrieving shot ducks and what do you use to shoot them with? Where's the best place to shoot them from?! How many decoys do you recommend using?!

Reason I ask is I wont have my Spaniel ready for this season as he is way too hyper and not trained fully so there wont be a hope of him retrieving any birds this year .

Any info will be greatly appreciated,

Cheers,
John

Birdnuts

10 bore shotgun and my trusty spaniel Lucy and Benson my Golden Lab

I don't bother with a hide or decoys and simply rough shoot as I'm not into numbers, but simply out for a bird for the pot:)

PS: Luckily I have access to prime sites in both Kildare and Mayo thanx to friends and family.

wildfowler94

Ill give you all the answer you need just need to know a few things first.....
1: where are you shooting? big lake, pond, river?
2:have you got and boat?
3:what gear you have?
4:what type of ducks do you intend on shooting?

few simple questions if you could answer them i could get a better understanding, ill be happy to help you with any wildfowling Questions. and hopefully get you a few birds in the bag!;)

ClarkyTrd

wildfowler94 wrote: »

Ill give you all the answer you need just need to know a few things first.....
1: where are you shooting? big lake, pond, river?
2:have you got and boat?
3:what gear you have?
4:what type of ducks do you intend on shooting?

few simple questions if you could answer them i could get a better understanding, ill be happy to help you with any wildfowling Questions. and hopefully get you a few birds in the bag!;)

Cheers for the reply... I'm still trying to find a bit of a pond to shoot on, I can shoot on a bog nearby no problem but the ground is so soft and so awkward to retrieve ducks from it.

I'm in the middle of substituting my O/U for a new Semi Auto so thats the weapon of choice, havent a clue what make or model it is yet.

Have no boat unfortunately.

Mallard, Teal, Widgeon and possibly Greylag as the bog nearby is full of nearly every duck I just mentioned.

Hope that helps

wildfowler94

best thing if your shooting is get the dog going well or it will be difficult retrieve downed birds, no point in trying to decoy a bog id say it pointless. better walking it up or flighting it.
yeah semi auto is a good choice for wildfowling handy loaded in a hide plus the extra shot if needed:p
i use 36 gram 4s 5s and 6s for decoying on lakes full choke.
a nice few hand callers or electric call might bag you a few extra birds if used right.
cant recommend getting a boat a few decoys and decoying big lakes..;)

ClarkyTrd

I've a couple of 36g 5's here so I'l see how I get on with them, I'm gonna have a root around and try find a few lakes or ponds so hopefully I can bag myself a few birds!

Thanks for the help,
John

blackstairsboy

wildfowler94 wrote: »

best thing if your shooting is get the dog going well or it will be difficult retrieve downed birds, no point in trying to decoy a bog id say it pointless. better walking it up or flighting it.
yeah semi auto is a good choice for wildfowling handy loaded in a hide plus the extra shot if needed:p
i use 36 gram 4s 5s and 6s for decoying on lakes full choke.
a nice few hand callers or electric call might bag you a few extra birds if used right.
cant recommend getting a boat a few decoys and decoying big lakes..;)

I always thought it was illegal to use an electronic call for attracting wildfowl????
Even if it is not it is not very sporting.

From the wildlife act of 1976

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act apart from this section, but subject to section 42, a person shall not—


(d) use an electrical or other instrument or appliance (including recording apparatus) emitting or imitating birdcalls or the calls of wild mammals for the purpose of hunting a protected wild bird or a protected wild animal which is a mammal.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to the use of a whistle or similar instrument or appliance imitating, or emitting calls similar to, the calls of plover, wild duck or wild geese, which is operated (whether wholly or partly) manually or orally, for the purpose of hunting any of those wild birds.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the Minister may by order prohibit throughout the State or in any particular area thereof—

(a) the use for hunting wild duck or wild geese of any stuffed or artificial decoy of a particular class or description specified in the order, or

(b) the use of any orally or manually operated whistle or other instrument or appliance (not being recording apparatus) which imitates, or emits calls similar to, the calls of wild duck or wild geese or emits recorded such calls.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, a decoy, or an instrument or appliance, including electrical or other recording apparatus emitting or imitating birdcalls (including distress calls), intended for the purpose of repelling, scaring or capturing a protected wild bird, may be used, pursuant to and in accordance with a licence granted in that behalf by the Minister, for scientific research or for another purpose approved of by the Minister.

(5) The Minister may grant to a person a licence to use as a decoy a live wild bird which is of a species specified in the Third Schedule to this Act and which is confined in a cage or pen and every licence granted pursuant to this subsection shall have attached thereto the following conditions, namely—




From reading that it seems I may be correct in saying you cannot use electronic calls.

Tackleberrywho

And only the DF refer to rifles, shotguns and Pistols and such as weapons

We on here call them Firearms (or our children)

wildfowler94

Tac my own personal weapons are my children, while at work there weapons...;)