Life of a provisional member at Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers Association

People who join CHWA are accepted initially as provisional members. This status lasts for one season and ensures that 'fowlers new to the club understand how to be safe when shooting on the harbour as well as staying within the rules.

A typical provisional member's diary of the year would look a bit like this...

1st September - Great, it's the start of the new season! I'm fully kitted out and have read my New Member's pack and the pre-season newsletter. These two documents were really useful, and told me all about the club and lots of details about all the shooting areas - where to park, what the boundaries are and so on. Back at the New Members' meeting I got talking to a few people, some were provisionals like me, but a couple were full members. they sounded like they knew what they were doing and one of them offered to take me out shooting. That's the thing about being a provisional - you can still go out as many times as you like, but you've got to be accompanied by a full member. I reckon it's time to get on the 'phone and see if I can get out...

2nd September - Hmm, just waiting to go out on my first flight. Autumn has barely got going, and it's still very warm - not really what I expected, nor did I expect to be meeting up at 4:30 in the morning - that was an effort to get out of bed! Anyway, here comes someone, let's see where we are going...

Oh well, didn't even get a shot, it was very quiet out there. apparently it's a bit like that at this time of year. Still, I got to see the boundaries of the shooting area and we talked about recognising the quarry species. I'm a bit muddy and the dog needs a good clean, but apart from that it was an interesting morning. I need to keep going out to get used to the harbour, try other areas and other times, so I'll have to keep in touch with my guide.

1st October - I got a news flyer this morning telling me that there was an organised flight coming up. They are flights that are specifically aimed at us provisionals, just to make sure we get the opportunity to go out at least a few times. Some people don't seem to want to 'phone round looking for someone to take them out, something I think you really need to do. The flyer also mentioned a Conservation workparty on the same day. It's only a morning and I think I'm supposed to do about three in the year. Better go to that as well. It'll let me meet other members, and if the weather's ok it should be a laugh.

1st November - Well, I've been out a few times, including the organised which was quite interesting as I was guided by a different person and went somewhere I haven't been before. I managed a couple of shots, but still haven't got anything yet - these ducks are very misleading in the half light of dawn (or even dusk!) and seem to fly much faster than the appear to. Anyway, got to persevere, and it's exciting when flight starts - you never really know what's going to happen.

The New Member's mid-season meeting is coming up, so I'll get to see how the other provisionals are doing. It'll give me the opportunity to ask some of the questions I've got that I always seem to forget when I'm out there shooting with someone. We're meeting at the Bull's Head so it should be a sociable evening as well.

1st February - Nearly through the season now, although we're luckier than the game shooters - they finished yesterday whilst foreshore wildfowling goes on until 20th of Feb - a few more flights yet then! I've managed to get to quite a few shooting areas round the harbour, so have seen a lot of the club's boundaries and even got over to Oxenbridge for an evening flight one Saturday. It's very different over there with permanent hides on the inland splashes. Nearly got stuck a couple of times on the harbour - some of the mud is really quite soft - but managed to keep going with the help of my thumb stick. I've also finally bagged a couple of duck - a drake mallard and a hen widgeon. I couldn't help smiling as I noted them down on the bag return as all the previous dates had a few shots fired but always 'blank visit' Still, I suppose you could say I've broken my 'duck'! At the mid season meeting, we were all told how important the bag returns were as they go into the reports for our leasors to prove that we are not over-hunting the areas, nor are we 'trigger-happy' and generating a noise problem with lots of fruitless shots. Seems quite reasonable to me, kind of covers our backs in a way...As I get more familiar with the harbour and the way the birds act, hopefully I'll start getting a bigger bag. Some of the more experienced guys seem to get something every time they go out.

25th February - The season is over now. I've received an end of season newsletter telling me when the AGM is and reminding everyone about where to send in bag returns to. It also mentioned the New Members' test night. I've been thinking about this more and more as the season came to a close. Everyone keeps telling me that it's easy, but I'm a bit nervous and keep going through my bird identification books and re-reading the boundaries. We're at the Bull's Head again, so I think I'll have a pint beforehand, just to calm things down - it's medicinal you know.

20th March - Here we are then. Most of the committee are here as well as all the provisional members. The taxidermy is out as part of the tests. I've seen those before at a game fair last summer, so should be ok with them. The Head Warden is testing peoples' species identification using photos - they seem to be fairly straightforward, although I bet my mind will go blank! We've all got to complete a short series of questions, and I'm next up to speak to the Chairman about the club's boundaries and etiquette...

Phew, I'm glad that's over! It wasn't difficult and I passed ok, so next season I'll be a full member. We still do workparties over the summer and seem to attend several game fairs in the region, so I think I'll see if they need any help. I can keep my hand in with some shooting on a nearby farm that the club has links with - apparently we look after the farmer's pigeon and rabbit problem...It's not that long until next season when I can go out by myself and try to build on what everyone has tried to teach me. can't help thinking it will take a while, but it's going to be fun doing it!