Nice afternoon out with dogs. Flushed plenty birds inc a woodcock, got two marks and two rats one of the marks one bolted and gave us the slip and good nice hunt in big cover at a bunny. Busy few hrs, dogs nice and tired at home now.
So Im away but my young lad had dogs out for a mooch today....had couple of marks and got two long tails, inc this mark.... delighted my terriers getting work while Im away.
I can't see it for a few more yrs anyway. Enjoy while we have it. If the Greens couldn't stop it the SDs won't. I'd be more concerned if the shinners were against it, but ya couldn't trust them too much.
The shinners will be the big party in the next government, they're new rural base in the South won't have it and in rural strong holds along the border hunting hounds is a way of life. I think it'll die out as the gen zers don't have an interest. Although one real bad incident caught on camera could change things. I think it Ireland hunting not seen as such a class issue as in UK. Ban on hunting was always about attacking the Tory brigade.
Working 60/70 hrs a week, gone first thing home late and giving tax man nearly half!! f**k that, a yr and back out with the money for a place down the county on a couple of acres and if you're smart with how ya spend it money for a place abroad in the Canaries..... I'd f***ing jump on it.
This lad would mark holes, draw, dig out rats, flush fur n feather and retrieve....go all day from morning til dark.... can't get em like that anymore, least I ain't seen one. That pic bout 20 years ago.
I had em yrs ago. Real old style, heavy built springers, would hunt anything with fur or feather and could hunt all day. Any springers I see now are snipy light field trail breeding all movement and gas out after bout 2 hrs.
I did see a littler on dog.ie advertised as hard hunting barking springers.
Went down the country today for a hunt. Flushed 3 or 4 but it was very warm out so scent wasn't great but we got a good spin off this fella bout 3 o'clock as the day was cooling down a bit. Was delighted with Floyd trailing and tongue on him.