In Ireland there is a distinction between coastal and inland fowling.  To be a wildfowler, in the eyes of many, is to pursue your sport along the inter-tidal areas of the Irish coastline.  This, inter-tidal area is referred to as the "foreshore" and can be defined as the area between mean high and low tides. 

Inter-tidal wildfowling is, by necessity, dictated by the tides, the phases of the moon and the accessibility of the areas.  In Northern Ireland the three major coastal wildfowling regions are, Strangford Lough in the eastern part of the province, Larne Lough, situated just ten miles north of Belfast and Lough Foyle, which forms the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, in the North West of the country.  The estuaries of the eastern coastline of Ireland, from Londonderry in the north to Wexford in the south are the main hunting ground of the coastal fowler in Ireland

There can be little doubt that the mind set of coastal wildfowler sets him aside from his inland counterpart.  His hides are only semi-permanent and often washed away by the tides, his guns larger bored to give maximum range and hitting power and his dog a hardy breed of retriever that is sturdy, steady and takes to the water with relish in search of downed ducks and geese.