The Lure Of High Water
Shooting Times & Country|November 15,2017

Tom Sykes sets an ambush for ducks on an inland flooded field and explains some of the tactics he has employed to shoot it successfully

 

The Lure Of High Water

My duck shooting usually consists of foreshore expeditions. However, I sometimes have an opportunity to head inland and change tactics in the pursuit of ducks. Where I live, the majority of ground that can be shot is taken by someone and it is rare to find an opportunity that can be exploited. The estate where I control vermin has some great flight ponds that are shot by the boss and his guests.

Though I’m very fortunate to receive the odd invitation to shoot, I have firmly fixed my sights on a flooded field for the past few years.

Storm Desmond

I first noticed the flood on a shoot day after Storm Desmond hit Cumbria a few years back. The large body of water erupted with ducks when the first shot was fired on the drive a few fields away. Ducks always catch my eye, and I soon approached the boss of the estate to see if he would be kind enough to let me have a go.

I have since shot the flood religiously when the conditions are right and have had the joy of taking plenty of guests on there, including my girlfriend who managed to bag her first duck on it.

This particular flood has been created in the past few years since a drain has collapsed somewhere underground where the water flow leaves the field and enters the next hillside. This means that the water levels change rapidly, depending on the amount of rainfall we have in the area. The flood can appear overnight and resemble a small lake in a short space of time.

However, it is also susceptible to draining off quickly if we encounter a few dry days. This makes it incredibly challenging to shoot as I have to wait for the right opportunity. The water levels also make it impossible to feed.

I once attempted to feed it, dumping a bag of wheat 1ft into the water as we had rain forecast for the next day. That rain didn’t materialise, so the food was stranded on the banking where the crows soon devoured it.

Bu hikaye Shooting Times & Country dergisinin November 15,2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Shooting Times & Country dergisinin November 15,2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRY DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
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 dak  |
August 02, 2023
Serious matters
Shooting Times & Country

Serious matters

An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning

time-read
3 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
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 dak  |
August 02, 2023