The secrets of successful duck flighting
Shooting Times & Country|September 23, 2020
Shooting a flightpond can be a hit and-miss affair, but Mike Swan has some tips to boost your chances
- Mike Swan
The secrets of successful duck flighting

There is hardly a more exciting sound in the world of shooting than the rush of air through duck wings as they drop in at evening flight.

Every time I hear that tearing sound, my hackles rise and while waiting by a flight pond does not quite have the magic of a foreshore splash on a winter dusk, it’s still a thrilling experience. These are wild birds, so you never know what you are going to see and a blank is always a possibility, but there is much that you can do to maximise your chances.

Look after your pond

Ponds are an ephemeral habitat and, in the natural course of things, they are virtually always trying to turn into swamp. Over time, silt builds up, water gets shallower, emergent vegetation colonises and eventually willows take over and turn the pond into a patch of wet woodland.

Keeping your pond open is crucial to attracting ducks, so always be ready to cut back invasive vegetation. If needs be, cut back tree cover alongside, too. Little saplings quickly turn into big trees, shading out the water and potentially making access hard for ducks. They will also deter wigeon, which like wide-open pools.

While the natural food in a small pond may feed a few birds, in most cases it runs out early in the season and you need to offer something extra to attract birds. Many things can be used and the old books talk of chucking rabbit guts into a pond. In my early days at GWCT, I was regaled with tales of ducks being fed rotting bananas requisitioned after a dock strike in Southampton. While these may work, they are not very eco-friendly, with a serious risk of polluting the pond and reducing its wildlife value.

この蚘事は Shooting Times & Country の September 23, 2020 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

この蚘事は Shooting Times & Country の September 23, 2020 版に掲茉されおいたす。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トラむアルを開始しお、䜕千もの厳遞されたプレミアム ストヌリヌ、9,000 以䞊の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしおください。

SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRYのその他の蚘事すべお衚瀺
United we stand
Shooting Times & Country

United we stand

Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors

time-read
5 分  |
August 02, 2023
Serious matters
Shooting Times & Country

Serious matters

An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning

time-read
3 分  |
August 02, 2023
They're not always as easy as they seem
Shooting Times & Country

They're not always as easy as they seem

While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort

time-read
5 分  |
August 02, 2023
Debutant gundogs
Shooting Times & Country

Debutant gundogs

There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting

time-read
4 分  |
August 02, 2023
When the going gets rough
Shooting Times & Country

When the going gets rough

Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique

time-read
5 分  |
August 02, 2023
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
Shooting Times & Country

The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition

In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make

time-read
4 分  |
August 02, 2023
A step too far?
Shooting Times & Country

A step too far?

Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work

time-read
6 分  |
August 02, 2023
Two bucks before breakfast
Shooting Times & Country

Two bucks before breakfast

A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem

time-read
6 分  |
August 02, 2023
Stalking Diary
Shooting Times & Country

Stalking Diary

Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill

time-read
2 分  |
August 02, 2023
Gamekeeper
Shooting Times & Country

Gamekeeper

Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside

time-read
3 分  |
August 02, 2023