Jottings for wildfowlers: what should the fowler wear on the foreshore?

An essential consideration for the wildfowler, whether seasoned or novice, is the art of concealment. In a sport where you place yourself in an entirely natural environment – to wit, the foreshore – in the pursuit of wild birds possessing the sharpest eyesight, and where you usually employ tactics involving sitting and waiting for your quarry to come into the relatively short range of a shotgun, the ability to conceal yourself effectively in your surroundings is vital to success.

A standing line of Guns on a pheasant drive needn’t bother themselves too much about camouflage, although bright, gaudy colours should be shunned in any case to avoid frightening onlookers as much as the birds. Shooters in pursuit of wilder prey, however, do need to consider some sort of natural disguise.

Pigeon shooters use hides made of camouflage netting, and deerstalkers wear clothing of subdued colours to suit their environment – including tweed, a material long designed with camouflage very much in mind.

Choosing colours for foreshores that change with the light

So what should a wildfowler wear to best conceal himself or herself on foreshores that vary in colour from green marsh grasses and yellow sands to dark brown mud and in light conditions varying from bright sunlight to pitch darkness? Clearly, there can be no universally accepted shade or colour of clothing that can serve to disguise the fowler in such a wide range of environments, so you should seek some sort of compromise, based on the environment in which you do most of your fowling.

For many years, pretty well the only available choice of outerwear was the classic waxed cotton jacket, which I always thought appeared too dark for most foreshores, even in low-light conditions. Nowadays, there is a plethora of camouflage shades and designs available to wildfowlers who wish to kit themselves out in camouflage, from shooting jackets and chest waders through to matching gun camouflage.

Black Labrador or yellow for the foreshore?

And what of the wildfowler’s dog? Regardless of breed, I’ve often pondered this very question on a quiet duck flight, as nobody has yet bred a retriever with a camouflage coat. As far as the ubiquitous Labrador is concerned, the recognised colours are black, yellow and chocolate, with the darker fox-red shades of yellow much more often seen nowadays.

Many fowlers swear by a yellow Lab, claiming that a black dog shows up too much to passing fowl, in daylight, half-light or even in the dark. I’ve always held the opposite view and prefer a jet-black Lab for my fowling in all light conditions.

Why silhouette and movement matter more than camouflage

As for my own attire, my preference is not to wear camo clothing but to stick to plain green, brown or khaki. This is because I’m convinced that no single camouflage pattern can be effective in all light conditions and all environments. Moreover, I suspect that advocates of camouflaged clothing may often convince themselves that they’re more hidden than they are. I also rarely take camouflage netting with me, although I do appreciate that this can be essential kit in certain settings.

When observing other wildfowlers in their natural habitat, the first things I notice are their silhouette and any movement they make, regardless of what they’re wearing. It’s a safe bet that this is what sharp-eyed wildfowl notice first, too. So when you are seeking to disguise yourself on the foreshore, my considered advice would be: use natural cover as much as possible.

Always keep below the skyline. Cover or shade your head, face and hands as best you can and last – but certainly not least – keep quiet and keep still.

Gethin Jones is a keen wildfowler and rough shooter. He joined BASC (then WAGBI) at the age of 16, the day after he shot his first mallard.