13th, Unlucky for some

[South hams hunter 8,922]

 

 

The news had reported without using these exact words  ' a perfect night for rabbiting'  so I had phoned N ( i shall use N as he wouldn't wish to be named on here as he doesn't use the site no more) and a trip out was arranged, as we were going to a lot of spread out permission which requires gate hopping and the land was to wet to drive we decided to take the pug. Farmers where rung ( all 17 of them) and informed that there would be a lamp flashed around the gates tonight, you see this was more of a 'reccy' than anything jut to teach the pup manners at gates and in the car and to see what numbers where like around the land we had. 

 

As we loaded up the little car the rain was fairly stable and a nice breeze blowing, as we drove out of Plymouth we had our usual discussion of family, dogs and food but unfortunately as we got closer to the permission the rain increased  and the wind was dropping, we now had purely torrential rain on our hands but we decided to continue our excursion anyway. 

 

About 20 miles from Plymouth and only a few miles from the land, the inside of the car lit up with blue. We promptly pulled over to be informed that the brake lights were stuck on, an annoying and continuing problem that sources back to the car being a duel control car prior to the wife having it. So now we where stood beside the road whilst the police checked insurance, names and the car for guns/entrance equipment, even though we had a mongrelly little Lurcher and permission forms they wouldn't accept that a dog can catch rabbits as they are only used for hate coursing and that's up the line, well so I was told.

 

After a long wait we were allowed to continue our  reconnaissance, we got to the first bit of land and could hardly see in front of us as the rain belted off the screen of the car, we parked in a small lay-by and waited for half an hour before continuing on our trip. The rain still quite heavy was now bearable, as we searched the fields from the gateways of the farm we could see no rabbits present on this land. We carried on our search and luckily the rain slowed and the wind picked up again, as we got to the next bit of land we started to see bunnies but as the lamp hit there back they hit top gear and left the field. 

 

The problem with the farmers on the Devon/ Cornwall border is that a lot of them give the permission to all and sundry making it hard to ever get decent numbers but I had assured the farmers I would do my best to remove all pests, the first rabbit we found was on probably the 5th or 6th farm. It was a squatter sat not far of a hedge, as I approached I could see it trying to sneak away on its belly but so had Panda. As she went down the beam I could see her dropping her head. Strike! At first I thought she had it before it had left its seat but no, it managed to slip past her and was now running for him. The pup quickly regained her composure and was turning and striking at the rabbit but just couldn't seem to make contact. After several turns in a short space of time over a short distance the coney managed to jump into the hedge. 

 

Several hours ( or so it seemed) later, we were approaching a junction when N was sure he had seen a rabbit out the corner of the headlights, I flicked the lamp and could see this wasn't a normal bunny. I followed the rabbit into the field and slipped panda on it. Now I don't know if anyone else thinks so but these rabbits of colour seem to be more agile and stronger rabbits and always seem to provide superb runs. Anyway after a long gruelling run with the coney being pushed back out the hedge several times, the little coloured bunny was free for another day. 

 

Once Panda was back on the slip I could see that just down the little slope a squatter was sat watching me but wanted to head for the hedge I was on, I kept walking towards the rabbit until it couldn't keep it's cool no more and had to run. As soon as the bunny left its seat I could see that this was another rabbit of unusual colour, Panda ran hard and well. The slight incline of this field made it a hard run, one part that really stood out was the fact the coney tried to jump over the dog back down the slope and the dog jumped to try and reach it but the run continued as if neither had left the air, up and down the hedge until there was a successful strike. 

 

When I got back to the Car N informed me that the colour was what is referred to as Champagne, we carried on lamping buy didn't managed any more runs. This Put pandas tally upto 13 rabbits, not a great number I know but hey, she's only 9 months so in sure there's plenty more to come.

 

 

The people that know both me and N will now that N does abit of taxidermy in his retirement. He normally does the rabbits I provide him with and puts them on eBay but he said, " well this one won't sell as it looks like a pet so I'll have to keep it on the study wall as you won't have it" . 

 

Later on that day me and the wife decided to visit N and his wife for a coffee and a yap as the baby was at her grandparents, after a good discussion it was agreed that I'm going to have the champagne rabbit with a small plague underneath saying- 13, unlucky for some. Once I have this piece in my possession I shall put a pic up but as we speak it's in the pickle being cured.

[The one 8,481]

Nice read your certainly travelling to get your rabbits dont think i would do 17 farms in one night mate

[SMART DOG 340]

Why the essay

[wi11ow 2,657]

no pics

[Bosun11 537]

I've said it before SHH, you write well and should post more of your outings like this, keep it up.

[South hams hunter 8,922]

Nice read your certainly travelling to get your rabbits dont think i would do 17 farms in one night mate

 

It seems a lot but it's not in actual size, had every intention of getting many more bunnies

[South hams hunter 8,922]

I've said it before SHH, you write well and should post more of your outings like this, keep it up.

 

Cheers bosun

[South hams hunter 8,922]

no pics

Don't take a phone or camera

[wi11ow 2,657]

well done

[South hams hunter 8,922]

well done

i find that my memories good enough and should i get anything special ill have it stuffed.

[Chid 6,541]

be better if you did more write ups instead of your usual posting lol

i might try doing a write up but it would go along the lines of looked out the window blowing a gale and a nice drizzle .... o look thl chat is full ill go on there instead of lamping :laugh:

[South hams hunter 8,922]

i try chid but only get the peace to write between 1 and 4 am lol

 

ill tell everyone to stay off when its good weather so your that bit more tempted

[gamerooster 1,179]

another cracking bit of copying and pasting, cant beleive your mutt got left by a pet rabbit at least you got something mate, keep up the good work, see much other wildlife whilst out?

[paulf 820]

nice read that mate ,,,

[South hams hunter 8,922]

another cracking bit of copying and pasting, cant beleive your mutt got left by a pet rabbit at least you got something mate, keep up the good work, see much other wildlife whilst out?

 

Seen a few red deer and a few foxes but tht was it mate. Them pet colours move like f**k