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Flight ponds on a shoot tend to fall into one of two categories: morning or evening. Although some of the basics, such as shooting technique, are similar for both, other aspects and approaches need to be managed differently. Glynn Evans shares some of his top tips on managing both.
Many people will be familiar with shooting an evening pond. Provided they are in the right location, ponds of different sizes, from small splashes to larger bodies of water, can be used and the basic approach is to put down supplementary feeding to attract ducks.
Morning ponds do not require supplementary feeding. They are not as common as evening flight ponds. To have an opportunity to shoot one is a special experience. They are basically an area of water of a sufficient size and location where ducks flight in to spend the day and then flight out at dusk to feed elsewhere. A key to them working is that the ducks feel comfortable resting there.Â
I start feeding by putting a bucket or so of barley in the edge of the pond at roughly ankle depth in the water. A bit of associated chaff is no bad thing. By floating on the surface, it can act as an initial draw for the ducks.
The idea is to feed daily. I aim to do this no more than a couple of hours before I expect the first ducks to appear. This is for two main reasons.
This can be time-consuming, so on occasions when it can’t be done, an extra amount for a couple of days won’t hurt. You can use automatic hoppers to supply feed into the water’s edge. Bear in mind that if the pond won’t be fed regularly, the ducks will go elsewhere.Â
Another drawback of putting down larger amounts of food is attracting rats, so regular checks on the pond are best. Any rats which appear should be swiftly dealt with.
Barley is my preference and is thought to be best, but ducks will happily eat a wide variety of feed.
I have used other types of grain for feeding flight ponds, such as tailings from the corn drier, to good effect, too. I know some people have used things like potatoes (these need to be on the bank) but I think they can taint the water.
Grain is easy to keep in a barrel on site and it’s also easy to distribute the amounts you need.
The process of shooting a morning pond from hides is like that used on an evening pond (more on that below). On larger expanses of water, a few decoys and a call can help pull the birds into a desired location, but experience will reveal the best locations to shoot from. As an alternative to flighting, you can also drive such ponds during a formal shoot day over standing Guns. Remember that Guns will need to be hidden, though.
When it comes to an evening flight, I like to get to the pond a good hour before the first duck is expected to arrive. If there are any ducks already there, I don’t shoot at these and let them flush, as they will hopefully flight back later.Â
I prefer to pick a blustery overcast evening. I think the sound of any shooting is more readily carried away and the wind helps break bigger flocks up. This means the shooting will be spread out over a longer period. I also try to avoid a full moon as this means the ducks can flight over a much wider time frame.
My general preference is to have only one Gun shooting on a pond; I think this ensures a sporting chance for any ducks coming in and makes managing a flight easier. On a larger body of water more than one Gun could be appropriate, but great care and proper briefings are required to ensure safe and enjoyable shooting for all.
A golden rule is never to shoot at any quarry unless you are sure you have identified it correctly and this is particularly relevant with ducks, especially as dusk begins.
Once you have bagged a duck or two on your flight pond, don’t forget there are several important conservation projects we need your help with. These will help us prove that shooting wildfowl is sustainable and ensure a safe future for our our sport.
Aspiring applicants have just days left to apply for the 2025 BASC Legacy Sponsorship programme, with the deadline fast approaching on 31 October.
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