lake shooting advice.

kinderbeano

Just looking for some advice on shooting duck on lough corrib.I have sent away for my foreshore license and have access to a boat on the lake (for fishing).I want to go about this properly without trespassing or anything. Are the small islands on the lake included in the foreshore or are they private?..any tips or advice on how i should go about things would be a great help.
Thanks,
Conor.

wildfowler94

Ah good too see more lads getting into lake shooting!:p:)
Well islands are state owened and therefore are covered by your foreshore,:) hit me up with anymore questions you have on duck shooting, ive been at this game for years and im happy to help lads with it!!:D
wf

kildare.17hmr

where do i apply for the forshore licence and does it cost anything? Have a few ducks on my permission but would love to give it a go on the lakes if i could

ClarkyTrd

wildfowler94 wrote: »

Ah good too see more lads getting into lake shooting!:p:)
Well islands are state owened and therefore are covered by your foreshore,:) hit me up with anymore questions you have on duck shooting, ive been at this game for years and im happy to help lads with it!!:D
wf

I would love to shoot ducks this season but I have nowhere to shoot them around the Wicklow area, what exactly does the foreshore licence cover you for?

State lakes only?!

There is a bog nearby that I have permission on but its too awkward retrieving, can the ducks be shot from the beach side of the bog or what way does that work?!

Thanks in advance!
John

wildfowler94

You apply for your foreshore to the npws, download and print the form from there website, npws.ie, Youll find a list of the state owned lakes that you may apply to shoot there, also if shooting on coastal foreshore you must say on the application which counties foreshore eg dublin foreshore cork etc....
you have to write down what you want to shoot, i said ducks and geese so i wasnt restricted to just certain species.
its free by the way!!:p
also about the bog, if you have permission to shoot it then you dont need a foreshore, but as your describing it if its near a beach id be unsure so id say get it to be safe.;)

kinderbeano

good stuff,thanks very much..well what i was planning on was to head out to an island and set up some decoys for a days shooting with a friend and his dog..if we both have our foreshore lisences and everything up to date is there any problem with doing this?

ClarkyTrd

wildfowler94 wrote: »

You apply for your foreshore to the npws, download and print the form from there website, npws.ie, Youll find a list of the state owned lakes that you may apply to shoot there, also if shooting on coastal foreshore you must say on the application which counties foreshore eg dublin foreshore cork etc....
you have to write down what you want to shoot, i said ducks and geese so i wasnt restricted to just certain species.
its free by the way!!:p
also about the bog, if you have permission to shoot it then you dont need a foreshore, but as your describing it if its near a beach id be unsure so id say get it to be safe.;)

That's made it alot clearer anyway, I thought it was only for state lakes!

As long as it covers me to shoot from coastal foreshore, then I'm happy!

May apply for it now so

Many thanks for your help

crackcrack30

Has anyone ever been asked to produce their fs licence? by anyone?

Eddy Hill

crackcrack30 wrote: »

Has anyone ever been asked to produce their fs licence? by anyone?

yes a few times when hunting in westmeath
and I was happy to have it
-one of those rangers who didnt do small talk

wildfowler94

no problem with that, decoys and the right camo and set up is key on the lakes!;)
no problem anytime...
yeah ive been asked by npws rangers on the 1st of september to produce all valid firearm and foreshore certificates.

Hunter21

Forgive my stupidity
I know of a share ponds near mountainy areas, would a foreshore licence grant me permission to shoot these ponds once I got permission to cross farmers A's land? or does the farmer with the land around the water own the ponds. Im guessing a pond and smaller lakes falls under private property

dermot218

i have been asked to produce my foreshore licence at home here in westmeath .id ay it was the same female no nonsence ranger .that asked you e hill

wildfowler94

yeah i was stopped in Westmeath too, my home turf!!:rolleyes:
yeah as regard ponds farmer owns them!! Foreshore is only for state owned lakes and foreshore. no harm in having it its free just encase you intend to venture out!!
get you applications in asap too help having them out before the 1st September!;)

kinderbeano

any tips on decoy setup on the lake?..wind direction,boat camo,distance off shore of decoys etc.?

wildfowler94

kinderbeano wrote: »

any tips on decoy setup on the lake?..wind direction,boat camo,distance off shore of decoys etc.?

Yeah no bother!
ducks like to land into the wind!! so you should always try and set up with the wind at your back!! sometimes this varies when ducks just want to be feeding in a certain spot!! if its possible to set up where they are and they keep coming back i say set up regardless of wind direction...
boat needs to be well camoed up, army style pigeon nets are best for this green on 1 side brown on other,i also use a realtree max4 hd net which looks like reeds on front of this net to blend it in with reeds if hiding in them. i also use vegetation stuck in the net to break the outline. i use old piping and a bracket fixed to the boat as poles to hold the net when shooting from the boat, i face the net toward the waterside of the boat and push the boat up against the reeds or ditch and sit in the boat very comfy if your boat is neat and tidy!!;)
if setting up on the island i would throw out my decoys first, id park the boat in and conceal with a net and vegetation so that it dose not stand out and flare birds! i would then use hide poles the 1s for pigeon shooting with a net coupled with the island vegetation ie reeds shrubs, stone walls etc to hide!
boat colour is also important!! use a dark drab colour!!!! dark greens, olives,browns, greys and sandy reed colours work well, coupled with a net and your deadly!
you also need to be well camoed up! face mask and gloves are a must!! you'll be glad of them on those cold winter mornings!! believe me!! :rolleyes::p camo jackets gear etc you know the deal! MOVEMENT is a KILLER....ducks spot it a mile off and will veer rapidly away from you and your decoys. so don't move until you intend to mount the gun and shoot, don't look at birds approaching if there coming to the decoys glance only through the net to gauge there distance and where there going. shoot reload quickly as other birds may rise hearing shots and head for your decoys. sit back down and dispatch any wounded birds before they have a chance of diving or swimming out of range, don't shoot at long birds its pointless and lessens there chance of decoying later!
decoy placement depends on the ducks your shooting! seen as you said the corrib im going to tell you what ducks you'll need decoys for and to expect.
Huge numbers of tufted ducks( black and whites), pochards(rednecks) and golden eyes.... you'll need a nice few of theses say 25 black and whites golden eye included. 10 or so pochard decoys. spaced out well a bout a meter between each decoy, keep black and whites and golden eye to one side your spread should be by the bulk mostly these duck, leave a few meters then pochard. then LEAVE A LAND GAP OF ABOUT 20 meters!! this is essential then place a mixture of wigeon teal about 15-20 of these decoys will do and some mallard decoys about 5 mallard will do! place all decoys any where between 35-50 yards out from your hide in comfortable range. i use 34 gram 4s & 5s with a full choke in my semi, works a treat!;)
ill post a few pics of set ups if i can find some!:)
hope this helps feel free to ask more questions if you need!:)

WF

tfox

wildfowler94 wrote: »

boat needs to be well camoed up, army style pigeon nets are best for this green on 1 side brown on other,i also use a realtree max4 hd net which looks like reeds on front of this net to blend it in with reeds if hiding in them. i also use vegetation stuck in the net to break the outline. i use old piping and a bracket fixed to the boat as poles to hold the net when shooting from the boat, i face the net toward the waterside of the boat and push the boat up against the reeds or ditch and sit in the boat very comfy if your boat is neat and tidy!!;)

WF

Didnt think you're technically allowed shoot from a boat as it is a mechanically propelled vessel :rolleyes:

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/act/pub/0038/sec0044.html

Maybe if you row out you're ok

wildfowler94

tfox wrote: »

Didnt think you're technically allowed shoot from a boat as it is a mechanically propelled vessel :rolleyes:

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/act/pub/0038/sec0044.html

Maybe if you row out you're ok

No your ok as long as your engine is off and your static your grand!;)

tfox

eh ....

(a) any wild animal by means of a mechanically-propelled vehicle, vessel or aircraft, whether it is being so propelled or is stationary,

:rolleyes:

Tackleberrywho

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.,
Meet a ranger without an outboard life is such a dream

kinderbeano

wow thats excelent.thanks very much its a great help to know all that..what about callers?rite now all i have is a mallard caller and mallard and teal decoys.i can use the mallard call quite well but im guessing ill need a teal whistle and something for potchard,goldeye etc. ?

pheasntstalker

same hear in westmeath no small talk with same ranger ,i had no problem with her great to she doing her job:rolleyes:

wildfowler94

Yeah said ranger is a real maggie thatcher:o:rolleyes:!!
yeah callers, id get a teal whistle and wigeon whistle!
don't worry about pochard golden eye and tufted, they are a very quite duck and don't really call outside of breeding!
decoys decoys and more decoys for theses ducks;)

brianfrancis45

Do you have to apply for/renew a foreshore licence each year or once you get it issued is that it .......?

wildfowler94

brianfrancis45 wrote: »

Do you have to apply for/renew a foreshore licence each year or once you get it issued is that it .......?

No a foreshore licence issued to one person is valid for 5 years while a foreshore issued to a gun club or the like is only valid for 1.

WF

djflawless

just after applying for me own foreshore permit.is it just the 1 preference your givin or what?and is possible to bring a guest that has a permit for a different lake?

jimbrowning

wildfowler94 wrote: »

Yeah no bother!
ducks like to land into the wind!! so you should always try and set up with the wind at your back!! sometimes this varies when ducks just want to be feeding in a certain spot!! if its possible to set up where they are and they keep coming back i say set up regardless of wind direction...
boat needs to be well camoed up, army style pigeon nets are best for this green on 1 side brown on other,i also use a realtree max4 hd net which looks like reeds on front of this net to blend it in with reeds if hiding in them. i also use vegetation stuck in the net to break the outline. i use old piping and a bracket fixed to the boat as poles to hold the net when shooting from the boat, i face the net toward the waterside of the boat and push the boat up against the reeds or ditch and sit in the boat very comfy if your boat is neat and tidy!!;)
if setting up on the island i would throw out my decoys first, id park the boat in and conceal with a net and vegetation so that it dose not stand out and flare birds! i would then use hide poles the 1s for pigeon shooting with a net coupled with the island vegetation ie reeds shrubs, stone walls etc to hide!
boat colour is also important!! use a dark drab colour!!!! dark greens, olives,browns, greys and sandy reed colours work well, coupled with a net and your deadly!
you also need to be well camoed up! face mask and gloves are a must!! you'll be glad of them on those cold winter mornings!! believe me!! :rolleyes::p camo jackets gear etc you know the deal! MOVEMENT is a KILLER....ducks spot it a mile off and will veer rapidly away from you and your decoys. so don't move until you intend to mount the gun and shoot, don't look at birds approaching if there coming to the decoys glance only through the net to gauge there distance and where there going. shoot reload quickly as other birds may rise hearing shots and head for your decoys. sit back down and dispatch any wounded birds before they have a chance of diving or swimming out of range, don't shoot at long birds its pointless and lessens there chance of decoying later!
decoy placement depends on the ducks your shooting! seen as you said the corrib im going to tell you what ducks you'll need decoys for and to expect.
Huge numbers of tufted ducks( black and whites), pochards(rednecks) and golden eyes.... you'll need a nice few of theses say 25 black and whites golden eye included. 10 or so pochard decoys. spaced out well a bout a meter between each decoy, keep black and whites and golden eye to one side your spread should be by the bulk mostly these duck, leave a few meters then pochard. then LEAVE A LAND GAP OF ABOUT 20 meters!! this is essential then place a mixture of wigeon teal about 15-20 of these decoys will do and some mallard decoys about 5 mallard will do! place all decoys any where between 35-50 yards out from your hide in comfortable range. i use 34 gram 4s & 5s with a full choke in my semi, works a treat!;)
ill post a few pics of set ups if i can find some!:)
hope this helps feel free to ask more questions if you need!:)

WF

what do you think about decoying on a lake that holds only malard and teal. i was told in the past that malard wont decoy??? what kind of decoys, how many and what calls to use???
sorry for jumping in on a post!

wildfowler94

jimbrowning wrote: »

what do you think about decoying on a lake that holds only malard and teal. i was told in the past that malard wont decoy??? what kind of decoys, how many and what calls to use???
sorry for jumping in on a post!

Yeah decoying a lake with just mallard and teal is tricky, teal will always decoy if things look good to them, ive seen them decoy to every sort of decoy from mallard to black and white!:p
mallard very rarely solely decoy usually they are flighting to feed and your where they want to be, in saying that sometime they do decoy but not like other ducks!:rolleyes: so id say your best option there is to find there feed and roast spots and flight them at dawn and dusk..

About the other question you can but down lots of lakes on your application so if your shooting with someone and want to move lakes but down the same lakes and have the option as its not possible to shoot the lake if you don't have a foreshore for it!

WF

meathstevie

Does this ranger you lads are on about happen to have a first name that starts with S ? If it is this lady I can only say that she's spot on. Knows her stuff, is polite and courteous.

dermot218

meathstevie wrote: »

Does this ranger you lads are on about happen to have a first name that starts with S ? If it is this lady I can only say that she's spot on. Knows her stuff, is polite and courteous.

no,thats a different ranger stevie this ones nt very polite .

kinderbeano

i find that on the river anyway.mallard will turn on a 6pence if u call them right and then if ur decoys are good ur in buisness.but thats only my experience on a small section of the nore...thanks to wildfowler for all that info,realy great advice i wouldnt have got anywhere else.

wildfowler94

kinderbeano wrote: »

i find that on the river anyway.mallard will turn on a 6pence if u call them right and then if ur decoys are good ur in buisness.but thats only my experience on a small section of the nore...thanks to wildfowler for all that info,realy great advice i wouldnt have got anywhere else.

No bother anytime, glad to help!:)

Woodcock man

wildfowler94 wrote: »

Ah good too see more lads getting into lake shooting!:p:)
Well islands are state owened and therefore are covered by your foreshore,:) hit me up with anymore questions you have on duck shooting, ive been at this game for years and im happy to help lads with it!!:D
wf[/QUOTE

Just a word of caution on the above advise...... alot of islands on Corrib are privately owned and not state as stated !

Tackleberrywho

Woodcock man wrote: »

wildfowler94 wrote: »

Ah good too see more lads getting into lake shooting!:p:)
Well islands are state owened and therefore are covered by your foreshore,:) hit me up with anymore questions you have on duck shooting, ive been at this game for years and im happy to help lads with it!!:D
wf[/QUOTE

Just a word of caution on the above advise...... alot of islands on Corrib are privately owned and not state as stated !

Same with Lough Ree, and are signed as such as Landowners are tired or ramblers

kinderbeano

ok,will have a good look around for private property sighns on any island we stop on....just on decoys,where would be the best plase to get them.iv tried to order them cheap enuf frm the states but none of them will post to ireland.

wildfowler94

kinderbeano wrote: »

ok,will have a good look around for private property sighns on any island we stop on....just on decoys,where would be the best plase to get them.iv tried to order them cheap enuf frm the states but none of them will post to ireland.

try cabelas i think they might? where you located btw?
WF

kinderbeano

are they american?..im from kilkenny,going to college in galway tho.wud be getting stuff posted to kilkenny

wildfowler94

yeah american.... they post to Ireland!!:)
duffys fishing and shooting shop street Galway...tyry them or connollys red mills gun shop goresbridge co kilkenny,they have a nice shop!:)

WF

kinderbeano

oh,didnt even know there was a gunshop in goresbridge..was guna try for a deal at the gamefair in birr too

wildfowler94

kinderbeano wrote: »

oh,didnt even know there was a gunshop in goresbridge..was guna try for a deal at the gamefair in birr too

yeah try both!!

WF