Wildfowling season

The wildfowling season is now well underway and this season BASC is offering members and the wider shooting community more opportunities than ever to get involved to ensure that wildfowling is secured for future generations. The weather maybe far from ‘wildfowling perfect’, and with most early season trips to the foreshore being more exploration than expectation, there is still plenty of time to get involved:

• This year BASC are offering several introductory wildfowling days across the country from Gloucestershire to Lancashire. These courses are the perfect taster session to see if you have got what it takes to be a wildfowler, head to the BASC events webpage for more details.
  
  
• BASC has ran a series of wildfowling workshops this year and still have two planned. The Northern Wildfowling workshop is taking place at Askham Bryan college near York on Sunday 13 and the Wales Wildfowling Conference is taking place at the Gower Golf club near on Sunday 17 November. Click here to book a place for the Northern workshop or contact Liz Ridgeway for more details. Both events will feature a variety of guest speakers and breakout sessions. They are open to anyone young or old with an interest in wildfowling. For just £10 and including lunch, they offer fantastic value for money.
  
  
• Coordinated by BASC and in association with affiliated clubs, the Wildfowling Permit Scheme offers the ability to try wildfowling before you buy across the country.
  
  
• BASC coordinates the Natural England Wildfowling Permit Scheme at Lindisfarne; there are still spaces available for this coming season and at £69 for a full season permit it offers truly fantastic value for money. Contact birchall-mann@basc.org.uk to register your interest or to purchase a permit.
  
  
• BASC is again calling on wildfowlers to take part in its groundbreaking wing survey study. The findings from the survey continue to help us better understand our quarry, both in terms of ecology and migration patterns, simply keep one wing from each duck or goose, bag it and label it (including date and county). Liaise with the wildfowling team to arrange collection.
  
  
• Remember if you are shooting on Crown Estate land you must record your bag using the bag recording section of the BASC website. We highly recommend you do this as you go throughout the season to make life easier at the end of the season. Even if you are not shooting on Crown Estate land please consider keeping accurate records.

With a growing global interest in implementing adaptive harvest management strategies, the wildfowling community must be ready to react if required, having accurate data will assist BASC to ensure we are able to fight for the best possible outcome.

James Green, head of wildfowling at BASC, said: “It is fantastic to see the opportunities and involvement between BASC and wildfowlers continue to grow. It falls on BASC to both grow the sport and secure it for future generations, but we cannot complete our aims without the help from our fantastic wildfowlers on the ground, willing to go that extra mile, your support as always is very much appreciated. To everyone venturing out to the marshes, foreshores, and inland splashes this season, we wish you “straight barrels and dry powder.