Safety
Safety on the marsh

The safe and responsible handling of your shotgun is paramount to your personal safety and the safety of others when Wildfowling. Unlike other forms of shooting, Wildfowling presents a whole range of new difficulties to be overcome. Hands and fingers wet and muddy, numb with cold, make control of your gun clumsy. Feet stuck fast in the mud, shooting from crouched or kneeling positions frequently make swing and balance awkward.

Shooting at twilight or under a wild moonlit sky presents its own challenge. Reduced visibility means that we cannot always see to the limit of our danger zone. Other ‘fowlers may lurk unseen, hidden in rills and gutters or in clumps of rice grass, here, chance shots at low flying fowl must be avoided.
The terrain is far more demanding than previously met, potholed salting, steep slippery creeks and unforgiving ouse mean that the wildfowler must be on guard at all times.



Soft mud can be difficult and is often strenuous work. When the going gets too soft the temptation to press on regardless must be resisted. Always turn around a try to return from whence you came. If you become well and truly stuck try putting your arms out to your sides and laying back in the mud, this helps to spread the load and free your feet. A rather messy backstroke across the mud to safety is called for.

Some of our marshes are cut off by the tide for eight or nine hours and in mid-winter exposure can be a major problem. Take hot drink, food and plenty of warm clothing and do spare a thought for your dog. On those hot days take drink for him and on those cold ones something to keep him warm and dry.

Training and education have resulted in an exemplary safety record for the sport. The BASC provides a Proficiency Award Scheme designed to promote high standards of competence and safety for the Wildfowler and other shooters alike.