Getting the balance right in countryside

[tegater 789]

What inspired this thread was stumbling on a book called more tales of the old gamekeepers by Brian p .Martin .

And how keepers of pre 1970s attacked pests to point of not seeing any on large estates be intrested to here stories from members who are old enough to give there views first hard of the countryside and there views in pre 70s .

From the memories of the the lost hedges and spinneys due to change in farming to product more etc.

 

ATB Cookie

There are moors around me, where you see crows, ravens, buzzards, foxes etc, and there are moors where you see grouse, meadow pipits, curlews, merlins, lapwing, golden plover, snipe, woodcock, goldfinches etc etc etc.

Buzzards and ravens have their own protection, but surely if some people called for a closed season on foxes and crows etc, it would be when they are breeding and probably when they are doing most damage. It just wouldnt work.

 

I personally think there is a good balence in the countryside, but in other parts of the country, if what you read about shortages of rabbits is true, I wonder if it is too many sport hunters, who take what they can, incase somebody else beats them to it. That is not an attack on people who hunt for sport, we all do or have done it at some time.

[Ideation 8,216]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

[paulus 26]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

its also an age thing mate

[tegater 789]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

I care about the song birds, corvids are my main quarry, I shoot hundreds every year!

 

Foxes are just an essential when possible because of the lambs and gamebirds.

[Ideation 8,216]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

I care about the song birds, corvids are my main quarry, I shoot hundreds every year!

 

Foxes are just an essential when possible because of the lambs and gamebirds.

 

I know mate, i wasn't speaking of anyone on here, just some of the fok local to me.

[Guest cookiemonsterandmerlin]

Education education alot of new blood getting FAC with fathers who had no influcence on there gun ownership.

Most lads who have had a father guide them in the rights and wrongs of control of numbers to maintain furture sport along with keeping numbers in check.

But there is a link missing with lads wearing addias bottoms and white trainers blasting the shit out of foxes as in vogue like staffies are.

 

ATB Cookie

[tegater 789]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

I care about the song birds, corvids are my main quarry, I shoot hundreds every year!

 

Foxes are just an essential when possible because of the lambs and gamebirds.

 

I know mate, i wasn't speaking of anyone on here, just some of the fok local to me.

Yea I know, I couldn't add a smiley as I am on my phone.

 

I have mates at work that have starred shooting, later in life and they are the biggest culprits.

 

They buy a rifle and as soon as they get it they have to change the 5 round mag for a 10, or they buy a semi auto shotgun and a 3 shot isn't enough, they have to get an fac 8 shot!

 

When I was a kid, I was only given 1 cartridge, and if I came back with something I was given 2 the next day.

 

Some people these days hunt for pleasure rather than necessity, when in my mind it can be a mix of the two.

 

I was out this morning with my rifle, looking down on a crows nest, below me in the valley. While waiting for the hen to return, I could have whacked loads of rabbits, but the bottem line is, I don't need to, so I didn't. Hence a healthy rabbit population.

 

ATB.

[paulus 26]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

I care about the song birds, corvids are my main quarry, I shoot hundreds every year!

 

Foxes are just an essential when possible because of the lambs and gamebirds.

 

I know mate, i wasn't speaking of anyone on here, just some of the fok local to me.

Yea I know, I couldn't add a smiley as I am on my phone.

 

I have mates at work that have starred shooting, later in life and they are the biggest culprits.

 

They buy a rifle and as soon as they get it they have to change the 5 round mag for a 10, or they buy a semi auto shotgun and a 3 shot isn't enough, they have to get an fac 8 shot!

 

When I was a kid, I was only given 1 cartridge, and if I came back with something I was given 2 the next day.

 

Some people these days hunt for pleasure rather than necessity, when in my mind it can be a mix of the two.

 

I was out this morning with my rifle, looking down on a crows nest, below me in the valley. While waiting for the hen to return, I could have whacked loads of rabbits, but the bottem line is, I don't need to, so I didn't. Hence a healthy rabbit population.

 

ATB.

this time of year i shoot most things with the camera badly or should i say fuzzy

[tegater 789]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

I care about the song birds, corvids are my main quarry, I shoot hundreds every year!

 

Foxes are just an essential when possible because of the lambs and gamebirds.

 

I know mate, i wasn't speaking of anyone on here, just some of the fok local to me.

Yea I know, I couldn't add a smiley as I am on my phone.

 

I have mates at work that have starred shooting, later in life and they are the biggest culprits.

 

They buy a rifle and as soon as they get it they have to change the 5 round mag for a 10, or they buy a semi auto shotgun and a 3 shot isn't enough, they have to get an fac 8 shot!

 

When I was a kid, I was only given 1 cartridge, and if I came back with something I was given 2 the next day.

 

Some people these days hunt for pleasure rather than necessity, when in my mind it can be a mix of the two.

 

I was out this morning with my rifle, looking down on a crows nest, below me in the valley. While waiting for the hen to return, I could have whacked loads of rabbits, but the bottem line is, I don't need to, so I didn't. Hence a healthy rabbit population.

 

ATB.

this time of year i shoot most things with the camera badly or should i say fuzzy

Or sometimes, quite well!

[paulus 26]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

I care about the song birds, corvids are my main quarry, I shoot hundreds every year!

 

Foxes are just an essential when possible because of the lambs and gamebirds.

 

I know mate, i wasn't speaking of anyone on here, just some of the fok local to me.

Yea I know, I couldn't add a smiley as I am on my phone.

 

I have mates at work that have starred shooting, later in life and they are the biggest culprits.

 

They buy a rifle and as soon as they get it they have to change the 5 round mag for a 10, or they buy a semi auto shotgun and a 3 shot isn't enough, they have to get an fac 8 shot!

 

When I was a kid, I was only given 1 cartridge, and if I came back with something I was given 2 the next day.

 

Some people these days hunt for pleasure rather than necessity, when in my mind it can be a mix of the two.

 

I was out this morning with my rifle, looking down on a crows nest, below me in the valley. While waiting for the hen to return, I could have whacked loads of rabbits, but the bottem line is, I don't need to, so I didn't. Hence a healthy rabbit population.

 

ATB.

this time of year i shoot most things with the camera badly or should i say fuzzy

Or sometimes, quite well!

only now and then

[byron 1,188]

totally agree with kenny on this.....

 

 

 

there should be know close season on vermin.[my opinion] but there again,,whats the point in conservation, it will all one day, be gone anyway..

what we will end up with is cracking nature reserves etc,, but nowt in em..

[kenny14 656]

I think what is very sad, is that we need to think about whether we need a close season on some species, even 'vermin'. In days gone by, these pest animals, were very heavily controlled in areas where that control was needed, i.e, where their prescence was having a negative impact on farming or rearing game for shooting, however in areas where they were not doing much damage, they were left a lone much more. As such, things kind of evened out. Also, people were sensible, and understood the need for bio-diversity, and the importance of apex predators such as the fox to the health of the food chain, most who hunted, had some relationship with the country, beyond just wanting to kill stuff.

 

Sadly, i think, those days are gone. So many people like to hunt (which usually just means they like to kill stuff in as large numbers as possible), who have no connection with the land or countryside, beyond that. They just don't understand nature.

 

The biggest change i have seen in my area, is the loss of the fox population. Before the ban, the area i live in was largely hunt country, and even the local shooting estate had to think carefully about what foxes it killed, as it was alsways important to have enough about to provide sport for the local packs. During this time, we would always see foxes, they were not at a plauge level, they didn't cause much negative impact on the local farms or shoots, despite it being mainly a sheep farming area then. The odd lamb was taken (including from us, as we used to farm sheep) and birds were taken here and there, but at a level where it could be managed by removing the 'problem' fox. But in general you could go out of an eve and hope maybe to see a fox mooching about the hedge rows, and would smell where they had crossed the lanes, when you took the dogs out early in the morning. It all changed with the ban though, suddenly everyone and his uncle, got themselves a rifle, lamps, night vision etc, and now the fox, in these parts, is an endangered creature, i put in a lot of miles, both day and night, and you are very lucky to see one local to me, in a whole season. We do get vixens who move in and cub in the area, but they usually never make it through the summer, only yesterday i heard a lad had shot one of the only vixens in the area, full of milk, and left the cubs to starve, why did he shoot her? To protect lambs? Nope, there is very little sheep farming now, the farms are arable, cattle or horses. It wasnt even for the game birds. It was because he was bored, and fancied shooting something. If they make it as far as the cubs getting above ground, you can bet you will find them, chucked in the hedge, size of a a very small cat, all shot, and usually from the roadside.

 

Its not just the rifle lads, but those with dogs are just as bad, i had permission on a large farm with some hares on it, enough that you could take some and leave the rest and always have them there next year, and then they were lamped night after night until not one remained, and now they are gone, never to return.

 

But it's only the 'cool' quarry that get hit, no one bothers about the corvids, the tree rats etc. Why? Because, they dont give a shit about the song birds, about the countryside, they just want to kill the 'impressive' stuff, and take some photos. Who's going to pat you on the back, for killing 6 magpies? Not as many as killing a couple of foxes.

 

I've got to disagree with you on a couple of points. firstly years ago hardly anyone would've heard the word Biodiversity, and far fewer would've understood it's meaning or really cared about it. They believed the earth had a limitless supply of resources, both animal and mineral.

I could give many examples of land and animal management practices from back then that had a detrimental effect on biodiversity, but a couple of simple ones are:

Pouring all waste products directly into water - Resulting in 'dead rivers'.

 

Culverting and canalising rivers and streams - Resulting in loss of habitat for many species, and increased flooding in many cases.

 

Widespread use of pesticides on crops and for animal control - Resulting in the killing of more non target than target species. Bees, Ladybirds, Birds and Otters all suffered either directly or indirectly through this.

 

Also, when a naturalist saw a rare Bird, he very often shot it and had it mounted and displayed along with the vast collection of rare Birds eggs. Rare Butterflies and Moths were also caught and mounted.

 

I'm not for one minute pretending that things are all done correctly now, and many will know my feelings about some of our wildlife & countryside laws and practices, but I am saying that we shouldn't believe that everything back in the 'Good old days' was done better than it is now.

 

I also disagree with your Corvid & Grey Squirrel comments. I and many others control both these species with the same vigour and enthusiasm as we do the more, as you put it 'cool' species.

Edited May 17, 2012 by kenny14