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Harvest is complete and the 1st of September has arrived which sees our attention move from decoying pigeons to the beginning of the waterfowl and duck shooting season in the UK. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or a newcomer to this thrilling experience, understanding legal waterfowl species and duck shooting regulations is crucial to a sustainable future for duck shooting.
Understanding The Duck Shooting Season
Waterfowl, which include ducks, geese and waders can legally be shot in the UK during the open season. The duck shooting season in the UK usually runs from September to January or February, allowing hunters to partake in this traditional activity. It is essential to be aware that there is also a closed season for many of these waterfowl meaning it would be illegal to shoot them out of season. The closed season ensures that waterfowl are able to move freely between their wintering grounds for successful breeding, an extremely important process in ensuring a sustainable and healthy population of wildfowl for the future. It is important to note that depending on where you find yourself throughout the UK, some species of waterfowl are included on the general licences, which as you know from our previous article regarding general licences, you must abide by them to remain compliant with the law whilst shooting. The previous article on general licences can be seen HERE. For instance, in England, Canada and Egyptian geese can be found on the general licence. In Scotland, Canada, Greylag geese and the Ruddy duck are included on the licence. In Wales, Canada geese. Observing these guidelines is not just a regulatory requirement but also promotes responsible shooting practices.
Ducks and Geese can legally be shot during the season in various locations and scenarios. Throughout the UK it is popular to shoot ducks over flight ponds that can be fed with supplementary feed, splashes on marshland or flooded areas and even on the foreshore. There are numerous wildfowling clubs around the UK that accept memberships for shooting ducks and geese on the foreshore. Seasons can differ depending on 'HOST' - Height of an ordinary spring tide. Details on this can be found over on the BASC website. The season ends January 31st for inland shooting and February 20th for areas below the high water mark.
A very important note to make regarding shooting wildfowl is that you must comply with the law relating to the use of non toxic shot over and near water. To comply with the law, why don't you head over to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and read their article regarding the law on using non toxic shot for wildfowling.
Legal Waterfowl Species
During the duck shooting season in the UK, there are several legal species of ducks and geese that shooters can target. Understanding the characteristics and being able to identify each of these species is vital for a successful and compliant hunting experience. It is important to keep up to date with recent and relevant information regarding the breeding season of legal waterfowl species as a poor breeding season or adverse weather conditions can sometimes result in voluntary "no shooting" policies being advised throughout the shooting season. The UK typically has a population of resident birds that stay and breed year round and migratory birds that will tend to arrive in the UK at a later date, so it is important to research and understand your intended target species to ensure sustainable shooting is being carried out. Some of the prevalent species include:
Mallard Ducks
Known for their distinct green heads, mallard ducks are one of the most common species found and hunted during the season.
Teal Ducks
With their small size and rapid flight, teal ducks provide an exciting challenge for hunters.
Wigeon Ducks
Recognizable by their unique whistling calls, wigeon ducks are a prized game bird during the season.
Canada Geese
These large waterfowl are legal to shoot in the UK and offer a rewarding hunting experience.
Pintail Duck
Slightly bigger than a Mallard, Pintail can be identified by their distinctive long, narrow, tapering tail feathers.
Gadwall Duck
This small, compact dabbling duck can be recognised by its obvious black and white rear end and white wing bars.
Greylag Goose
Greylag Geese can be characterised by their large, heavy size and blueish - grey colouring.
Pink-footed Goose
The Pink-footed geese do not breed in the UK, however vast numbers of these geese spend the winter here.
Although some of the species above are the more prevalent species to be found during the duck shooting season, there are other species that can be found and legally shot during the duck shooting season in the UK. Some of the other species that can be found are Common Snipe, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Pochard, Shoveler and Tufted duck. It is important to note that certain species of waterfowl are protected and must not be shot. Identification is crucial to ensure you are targeting legal quarry during low light conditions, whether it be during early morning shooting on the foreshore or shooting over a flight pond during the evening sunset. Amazon has a very inexpensive, simple but informative guide in book form to identify wildfowl on their store front here https://amzn.to/3ANg3fF that will aid you in identifying species.
Gear Up This Duck Shooting Season
Waders vs Wellies
Depending on where you carry out your duck and geese shooting will determine whether you choose to go with waders or wellies. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so you will want to choose wisely to ensure you are comfortable throughout the season when conditions get cold, wet and very muddy!
Wellies can be a good choice if shooting over a flight pond or shallow splashes. Flight ponds are often more accessible by foot and in some instances offer short fast paced outings at sunrise or sunset where you wont be stood around for long periods of time. More often than not if shooting over a flight pond you will be accompanied by your working dog who will retrieve the shot birds from the water for you. Some shooters are more inclined to wear wellies in these scenarios as you wont tend to need the extra protection from long periods in the cold, nor will you need to access deeper water to retrieve shot birds hopefully. There are numerous wellies on the market that would be adequate for your duck shooting excursions like these Aigle Benyl wellingtons from the Amazon Aigle store at a very reasonable price https://amzn.to/3AMami9.
Waders come in numerous materials and styles. You have the choice of neoprene or PVC and thigh or chest waders. PVC thigh waders can be ideal if you need to access shallower water for short periods of time to retrieve your shot birds or place out any decoys. The same can be said for PVC chest waders if you insist on entering deeper water for short periods of time. These PVC chest waders from Night cats Amazon store are an inexpensive option if you only require PVC https://amzn.to/4gb2uH2. If you are heading out to the deeper splashes of the marsh or onto the foreshore, it may be a good idea to invest in a warmer pair of neoprene chest waders. Neoprene can offer extra protection from the cold, wet, muddy conditions, especially if you are going to be spending a little longer wearing them. You also have the option of wearing a thermal layer underneath them for those particularly wet and cold days. Extra pockets will also aid in carrying equipment if you have a long walk to your location. Something like these TIDEWE neoprene waders https://amzn.to/3X1qdk8.
Decoys
Decoys can work in numerous scenarios so whether you're shooting over a pond or on the foreshore, the aid of decoys can potentially increase your success rate. There are decoys on the market for most species of duck and geese so whatever your intended target, it is worth checking what's available to you to improve your odds. Fieldsports Guardian are excited to announce that we are going to be suppliers of the Final Approach decoys on their arrival to the UK from the USA very soon! If you wish to be the first to know when we have them in stock to get ahead of the game, feel free to SUBSCRIBE to our website and we will let you know instantly when they hit the UK market. In the meantime, we have some alternative options available to you. NITEHAWK have some incredibly inexpensive duck decoys over on their Amazon store in both hen https://amzn.to/3XrLMMs and drake https://amzn.to/3Z6M0JS options. If NITEHAWK are not up to your standards, you could look at these slightly more expensive decoys from Flambeau Outdoors https://amzn.to/4cN7wH2. 'Cupped Waterfowl' also have some fantastic high detail decoys on their Amazon store https://amzn.to/4e6L5NT if you are looking for Teal decoys.
Duck Calls
Mastering the art of duck and geese calling can prove to be extremely beneficial to your success rate. Used alongside your decoys, a good call can encourage wildfowl to fully commit to your decoys and bring them within shooting range. Practice makes perfect and there are multiple videos on YouTube that can help you master the art of calling wildfowl. There are some higher quality calls on the market that are easier to replicate the sound of feeding wildfowl like this excellent duck call from the pioneers of duck calls, the DUCK COMMANDER Jase Robertson Pro Series which they sell on their Amazon store here https://amzn.to/3TaHOoR.
Why not complete the look with the DUCK COMMANDER 'Cut Em' lanyard for carrying your duck calls and ease of use whilst shooting, which they also sell on their online store front https://amzn.to/3z1YQP2.
Duck shooting in the UK offers a unique opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to connect with nature and engage in a time-honoured tradition. By understanding the legal species, regulations, and guidelines, wildfowlers can ensure a safe, ethical, and enjoyable hunting experience. So, gear up, follow the rules, and immerse yourself in the thrill of the duck shooting season in the UK!
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