The pheasant, partridge and grouse shooting seasons are now open and it's not long until the season opens for some deer in Scotland. Find out when the seasons open with this guide to game shooting seasons
Duck
Can you id that duck?
Identifying different duck breeds The question “What’s that one then?” should never be heard from the person who shot a bird, so knowing what the odd unusual duck looks and sounds like is a real benefit at flight. So, too, is knowing what to expect, so you don’t pass up…
Techniques for mastering a flightpond at dusk
Graham Brown’s student Giacomo Drax is lucky enough to have access to a flight pond that he occasionally shoots with his father Jeremy. Shooting ducks at dusk or in darkness that are responding to decoys around a pond requires a well-fitting gun and steady nerves. With an evening flight on…
Four of the best duck calls
I don’t often leave the house during the wildfowling season without my trusty duck calls around my neck. I am a great believer in the use of calls on the foreshore, and I am convinced that they often enhance my sport, thus producing more food for the table. I carry…
A guide to wildfowling in the UK
Wildfowling: Whether mallard, pintail or teal, those who want to shoot the different duck species are spoilt for choice.
Bewitchingly beautiful but spooky
From the first moment I saw Cambridgeshire’s Ouse Washes, a bewitching spell was cast over me. I was enchanted by the wildfowl as I peeped over the bank, enthralled by the sight of those semi-flooded flat lands between the floodbanks, where all sorts of duck could be seen. To stand and stare down the ooded washes into the…
Early season fowling
Having shot my local marshes for numerous years, I have a good understanding of where the best chances lie, depending on the time of year and weather conditions. I decided to put this theory to the test and ventured out with my young dog, Goose, on a marsh that normally…
Ducks on an early morning flight
Wildfowling expert Tom Sykes gives an early morning view from the marsh.
Duck Calling
In this video I’m concentrating on duck calling. I believe calling can make a difference to the bag if the skill is mastered. It isn’t very often that I head out on to the foreshore, or even a pond, without my trusty call around my neck. Despite often looking like…
Duck Decoys
“My name is Randy Clark and I’ve been painting duck decoys for a little over 40 years. “Ducks are kind of a neat animal, I think God spent a little extra time when he created the ducks. The carving trap is located just north of Cromp, which is not far…
Barbecued duck breast with white coleslaw
Duck is delicious when barbecued, as the sweet, smoky taste adds a fantastic layer to the flavour. The thing that makes duck tricky to barbecue is the fat: you need to score the skin to get the best taste. White coleslaw goes very well with the barbecued duck. Serve with…