Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers' Association
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Table of Contents
What is wildfowling?
Wildfowling is the pursuit of those wild birds deemed as quarry species in Schedule II of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 below the mean high water mark around our coasts. Strictly speaking, it is not the flighting of these quarry species over inland bodies of water, although this is also a legitimate means of hunting wildfowl and is undertaken by CHWA on water owned jointly with Kent Wildfowl Association.
What are the quarry species?
Duck: Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted, Goldeneye, Shovelor, Pochard, Gadwall
Geese: Greylag, Pink Foot, Canada, White Front
It is also permitted to shoot Snipe and Golden Plover (assuming the hunter has a Game licence in the case of Snipe), although it is a general concept within CHWA that Golden Plover are not taken from the harbour.
What is a suitable shotgun?
Something not too expensive or delicate as wildfowling can be a wet and muddy sport! Heavier cartridges are preferred for hunting geese, so a gun capable of taking magnum loads is useful. Generally speaking, a 12g 3" or 3½" magnum is popular. Three cartridge semi-automatic shotguns are also common on the foreshore, still 12g and 3" or 3½" magnum. For the committed goose shooter, moving up to a 10g or bigger gun is often a popular move.
What cartridges can I use?
Any shooting over wetlands in the UK is restricted to using non-lead shot. Bismuth, Steel and Tungsten Matrix are the standard choices, with the new 'heavy' shot materials from the USA gradually gaining more acceptance. Frequently a shooter will prefer one type of shot in a particular gun, so it is often a matter of trying different cartridge options until a preference is realised.
What size shot should I use?
There is a large variation in the size and robustness of the wildfowler's quarry. No.6 shot is effective against Teal and the smaller ducks, whilst No.4 or 5 is preferable for the larger duck such as Mallard. For geese, No.1 or 3 is common.
What should I wear?
It is frequently cold and wet during the wildfowling season, so good quality, warm and waterproof, shooting gear is recommended. small portable hides do get used, but often a face mask and hat suffices. thigh or chest waders are vital, with the taller chest waders being the warmer and more secure option - expect to get muddy!
What sort of dog should I use?
First of all, do you need a dog? Well, there are certain areas of the harbour where it is an association rule that a suitably trained gundog is present when shooting. This doesn't mean that each gun should have a dog with them personally, but that at least one is available within the group. For all other areas, it is generally recommended that a dog be used simply to aid retrieval - members are expected to make all possible efforts to secure shot birds, so it is frequently easier to send a dog out than attempt to wade/swim/crawl across a mudflat to where a bird has fallen.
Dogs used vary widely, often depending on what a member already uses. Strictly speaking, the dog will be used for retrieval only, so a labrador or flat/curly coated retriever is ideal. A dog becoming more common on the Chichester harbour is the Chesapeake Bay retriever which is an excellent water dog. Spaniels, if they can be kept quiet for the long periods of waiting before flight over can be used, although they are more susceptible to the cold and wet that some of the bigger dogs. Also, whilst usually being entirely up for the challenge, asking a smaller spaniel to retrieve a Canada goose from 30 or 40 yards away over mud and possibly open water could be a tough task for it to complete.
If a pale coloured dog is used, it is often useful to equip it with a neoprene jacket, generally in 'wetlands' camouflage pattern. For the smaller dogs this also helps maintain body temperature during cold flights and even assists with buoyancy in the water.
What do I need to take with me?
Safety is paramount when out on the marsh, so certain items are important 'must haves'. Take a mobile 'phone - making sure it is charged - a whistle, torch and if you think that there may be mist or fog, take a compass, even if you are not going far from the seawall. You'll need a stick to help with walking and to gauge how deep or soft a particular area of mud is. Once you become more familiar with the harbour a pair of mud pattens will allow you to reach areas otherwise unattainable due to the softness of the surface. Something to sit on is useful as you'll often be still for some time waiting for flight to start...
Also, of course, don't forget your dog! Although there are areas of Chichester harbour where having the use of a dog is not a rule, they are of significant value when retrieving birds over flooded gullies or soft mud flats.
Other than that, normal shooting preparation applies, just remember - you have to carry everything out over terrain that is often difficult to walk on, and you've got to bring it all back again along with the added weight of your bag...
All of this is expanded upon in detail in the BASC Wildfowling Policy that can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat* by clicking here
What is a Severe Weather Suspension?
Wildfowling is a winter sport where, generally speaking, the colder and wilder the weather, the better the shooting. There comes a point though, where the weather is so harsh that birds begin to suffer from the cold or lack of food and fresh water (due to persistent freezing temperatures). When this happens, either a regional or national suspension of wildfowling can be ordered by the government. BASC represent wildfowlers' interests, and they will be closely involved should this situation arise.
BASC has a standing policy on Sever Weather Suspensions, that can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat* by clicking here
* If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your PC,
download it for free here
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How do I join CHWA?
You can join by following this link → JOIN CHWA and completing the form.
How do I get to Chichester Harbour?
CHWA has members from across the south of England. If you are coming from the London area, the most appropriate route is along the A3(M) from the M25 just north of Guildford all the way down to Portsmouth. From central southern England - up to Oxford - the A34 followed by the M3 and M27(East) are best. Coming from the west of Southampton, pick up the M27 and drive east to Chichester.
How do I know if I'll like it?
It may be possible to go out with a guide if you are really interested but uncertain about joining. It's very difficult to decide whether you like wildfowling on one visit to the coast, so as a general rule we suggest that you try a probationary season and then decide if you want to continue. If you want to know more about the sport, then follow this link to send us an enquiry → WILL I LIKE IT?
How do I get a shotgun certificate?
Enquire at your local police station. Shotgun certificates are issued by individual constabularies, and your local station will hold the relevant application forms.
How do I find out more?
Follow this link → FIND OUT MORE to send us any questions or comments you might have, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
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Where can I go wildfowling?
There are wildfowling clubs around the whole coast of Britain. CHWA owns the shooting rights within and around Chichester Harbour on the south coast of England.
Where are your inland flight waters?
CHWA, in conjunction with Kent Wildfowlers' Association own a piece of freshwater wetlands on the East Sussex/Kent border due south of Tenterden.
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When can I go wildfowling?
The wildfowling season lasts from 1st September to 20th February inclusive. Full members of CHWA may visit the harbour as many times as they wish. The inland flighting season also start on 1st September, but ends on 31st January. The inland water jointly owned by CHWA and Kent Wildfowlers is currently only visited once every fortnight.
When can I join CHWA?
You can join the association at any time during the close season. Once shooting has started, new members are only accepted into the month of November.
When is it best to go wildfowling?
Traditionally, morning and evening flights are the wildfowler's time. Birds have a tendency to move around most around dawn and dusk. During the day, flighting when the tide floods can also be productive.
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