Wildfowling extracts

[harrycatcat 31]

The extracts below are some that I have taken from a book that I am reading and if anyone would like to make comment on the extracts I would be interested to hear what is said.

 

 

"Moon Light and its effect on Duck

 

It is unnecessary to deal in full with the moon and its effect on the tides, for practical purposes it will be sufficient to say that high tides coincide with the appearance of a new moon and occur again when the moon is full. Shooting duck under a moon is a sport that needs more patience than that advocated by Izaak Walton, primarily because the duck, obviously fearing the unnatural lightness of the night, choose any old time to come in to feed and instead of flighting in a fixed period, their arrival is extended over several hours. As a result the duration of the flight is a long drawn out process, and gunners must be prepared to lie hidden for hours on end.

Under a moon reaching the full, the ground looks very white and gunners who are to lie out in the open will find it advisable to wear a nightshirt, with a night cap to match, over their ordinary clothing."

 

 

"Morning Flighting

 

It is practically useless to wait for duck at dawn during mild weather. First of all they will in all probability pass over before dawn and will only be heard by the fowler below, a most unsatisfactory state of affairs, secondly, if they come in decent shooting light, they will be too high up to shoot."

 

extracts from The Lonsdale Library of Sports and Pastimes Wildfowling (1950 ish)

[Pink or stink 162]

I have shot under the moon many times and patience is everything, not sure about the nightshirt as no moon is ever that bright that you would need a "nightshirt". And I disagree with old Izaak that birds fear unnatural lightness; evolution shows that they take advantage of such conditions rather than fear them.

 

I agree with the mild weather extract, you may as well stay in bed as they just won't come within range; that's evolution kicking in again. (this skill I reckon was picked up fairly quickly in evolutionary terms due to the ridiculous shooting I used to see on the Solway & Wash).