Duck & goose flighting shooting advice and information

Goose flighting has a magic of its own and I shall deal only with inland goose flighting here. If there was ever a seven-wonders-of-the-shooting-world sights and sounds competition, then the sight of skeins of geese against a dawn sky and their talking as they move to their feeding grounds, must rate highly in this category. The season for geese opens on September 1st. but our main migratory flocks start arriving around the middle of September so the serious goose shooting starts around late September until the end of the season which is the end of January for inland shooting.
Our main quarry species in Scotland are the Greylag (Anser anser) and the Pinkfoot (Anser brachyrhynchus) and in some areas you may also encounter the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).
Most goose flighting takes place at dawn on fields. The guide will put out decoys whilst still dark and the guns are placed in hides or ditches to wait the arrival of geese which depart from inland lochs or the sea foreshore where they have been roosting at night and then go out to feed on grass or cereal fields during the day. You need to stay well hidden when geese are moving near you and a hat with a decent peak to shade your face as well as fingerless mittens to shield your hands are essential. A good habit to develop is to   watch the birds by keeping your head down and just looking up with your eyes against the peak of your hat - a bunch of white faces staring at the birds as they circle out of range is sure to scare them off!  If the birds flare off before landing then they have usually spotted someone moving. Only move to shoot when the birds are in range. It is best to wait until the birds commit themselves to land before taking your shot   - wait until they set their wings and come into range. If it looks as if your neighbouring guns will get a shot, then wait until the bird are in range for the other also.
All the estates I work with operate a bag limit of 5 geese per gun per flight and most operate on 4 birds.
It's easy to over shoot birds early in the season when they are naive and also anytime when they are seriously hungry. Also, it is unsporting to continue shooting or staying on the field more than 2 hours or so after full sunrise - they should be allowed peace to feed during the day. It's illegal to sell or barter any shot birds.
Most people use 12 gauge guns. Cartridges should ideally use shot size BB or No. 1.
Goose shooting costs around £75 - £80 per gun per flight (including VAT if it applies) and most estates require a minimum of 3 guns to make up a team. Of course, goose flighting can be combined with other sport during the day, but when planning this be aware that by the time you return from a dawn flight, have your breakfast and get organised, you would be starting your day at around 10.30 or 11 am  - at least an hour later than normal.
One last point about goose shooting. Policy varies from one estate to another, but many estates consider that as soon as a group has fired 4 or 5 shots, then that counts as a flight and they will not consider any refunds thereafter. Of course, all hunters want to get value for money and some consider they have been ripped off if they do not each shoot a couple of geese during a flight. As long as some people in the group have had a chance at shooting some birds, then the guide has fulfilled his obligation. Of course, he wants hunters to actually shoot a few birds each, but these are wild birds and no guarantees can be given.

Duck flighting. Almost always carried out in the evening, one hour prior to sunset and for one hour after sunset. The main species of duck which are shot over inland ponds or lakes is mallard and depending on the time of season and the water, widgeon and teal . There are other species , but they are less common. As for goose shooting and pigeon shooting, you need a cap or hat with a decent peak and also fingerless mittens. The guns are usually placed along one side of a pond or stretch of water to which the duck will come into for feeding and resting during the night. Sometimes you may be placed in hides or butts or you may simply sitting on the ground. You may only be sitting 3 to 5 metres from the other guns and in effect more than one person will be shooting at the same bird at the same time - you may think this makes things too easy - but don't believe it - every season I see as many as ten shots fired at a duck and it still flies away unscathed! 

Once you are in position, have a really good look at your surroundings and also estimate the range of your arc of fire. Remember, that as the light fades, you will end up shooting the birds in the dark but against the light of the sky. By the time the light has gone, many people become confused about the range they will be shooting at birds. If you are placed close to the water, then when the birds set their wings & put their paddles down, then you know they are about to land and must be immediately above the water - that's the time to shoot because you know distances from studying the water the trees and bushes when it was lighter.
Many folk still think they need a heavier shot size for duck flighting but this is only really required for driven duck during the daytime. Most ducks during evening flighting are going to be shot at a range of between 10 and 20 metres, so shot size 6 is fine for this.

Scotland lead shot ban: 

Restrictions in Scotland on the use of lead shot for wildfowling operate differently from England and Wales.

Broadly, they prohibit the use of lead shot on or over wetlands (ponds, rivers, lakes, lochs, ditches, open water - that is any area covered with water on a seasonal, intermittent or regular basis; and peatlands with visible water) There are some exceptions, mainly over peat-based habitats and short-lived wet areas. If your shot will land on water or wetlands, then you must comply with the regulations

As for goose shooting, keep your face down and do not move as ducks arrive and circle. If the birds flare off without landing, then they have seen something suspicious. Until the light really fades, you may have to expect to shoot sitting down - 4 or 5 people jumping up is hardly going to improve your chances. In fact, even when it is completely dark, it's better to stay sitting down because then you can more easily see the birds against the sky.
Tactics for widgeon and teal may be a little different to Mallard. These smaller birds can be really difficult - especially in windy conditions. The birds may not circle but come straight into the pond at a height of about a metre and before anyone is ready there can be a dozen little splashes with all the birds on the water. I need hardly add that shooting birds whilst still on the water is simply not done. Wait for the birds to take off - as they inevitably will do - and then take a shot when they are against the sky. These are really fantastically sporting birds and many inexperienced sportsmen find them too demanding - but if you have a chance to flight these birds - don't turn it down - just to sit and watch a heavy flight of these birds is a real experience.

Last but not least, I come to the thorny question of what can hunters expect for their money. Duck flights cost anything from £60 to £90 per gun per flight. If you are paying less than £45 per flight, then if just a few ducks come in, that may well count as a flight and if you don't shoot anything, the estate may well say that's the luck of the hunt. For most areas, on a flight for 4 hunters,  if 30-40 duck come into the water (or circle, trying to land but are scared off) then that would be regarded as a reasonable flight of ducks. Of course, how many birds are actually shot is really irrelevant from the estate's point of view - the guide's job is to give you the opportunity to shoot ducks - after that, it's down to the skill of the hunters. If the 30-40 ducks all decide to arrive in two bunches or in a trickle of 2's and 3's , then you have still had good value for money.
And the best quality flight? You may have to try many flights for many years to get this, but my perfect flight is in December or January when the birds are really wild on a water where geese as well as mallard, teal and even widgeon are flighting in and there is half a gale blowing. Every bird is different and the speed of the larger birds is under estimated and those of the smaller birds is over estimated - really difficult but seriously good fun!
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