Nice Little Job Completed This Morning

[trenchfoot 4,243]

I had a phone call at the weekend from a woman who has a smalling holding near us. A fox had been taking her chickens and she was distraught. Could I go and help deal with it. She knew it was hanging around first thing after she turned her birds out. So I went up on Monday and patched up her run to keep them in until it could be dealt with. I returned before first light on tuesday with the shotgun, but the wise little bugger must have scented me and skirted the edge of the wood, looking out but refused to come in, even to a squeak or two. It was obvious at this point that the fox was lame, with only one functioning front leg. I had a wander after it hoping to ambush it as it went around the warrens in some of the sandy gullies on this higher ground, but no luck. He was still around as a couple of farmers had seen him, so this morning before first light I took a couple of the lurchers to see if we could put him out of his misery.

 

We sat in the heather on the high banking overlooking the area where he was seen and still taking chickens (the old dear wouldn't keep them locked in, despite advise!), the wind whistling and dogs shivering. Through the binoculars I could make out the thin, limping russet pest making his way along a ditch side some 200 yards away, heading for his usual breakfast drive through. As he came closer, the lights in the cottage came on, and the old lass trudged out of her cottage to let her fowl out. At this point I cursed to myself for not letting her know I was going to be around!Old charlie obviously knew what was about to happen in the yard and he went to lie up in the hedge bottom to await an easy meal after 15 minutes or so the old lass had done her jobs and returned to the warmth of her cottage. Charlie boy stalked in to the paddock unaware that 2 dogs were now straining on slips and fully focused on his presence. Rather than just slip them there and then, I walked them in using the leggy heather for cover, the wind taking away any noise. Until the clumsy fat sod on the other end of the slip tripped on some roots and tumbled down the bank cursing like a loon. Charlie bolts and heads for a large bramble patch as fast as his 3 legs will could carry him. Dogs are off!

 

The collie cur is straight into the cover after him, and the little bull x is bouncing around the edge of this patch of tight cover, wich is around 40 to 50 yards square. I arrive on the scene soon after, and having checked the barrels of the shotgun didn't get blocked in the tumble, take up a vantage point covering where I would expect it to exit. I could hear the dog pushing its way through and the wee bull x has topped his screaming and has shot around the other side of the cover, just in time to intercept Charlie who is now out of range for a shot. An explosive shake and job done. The cur arrives and has a rag. A rapid,effective and legal end of a fox, that by its poor condition had obviously been struggling to survive. Its leg had an old break just above the wrist, and infection had set in. Told the old dear that the job had been done and headed home. A brew and bacon sandwich. Good start to the day!

 

Cheers,

 

Trench

[jeppi26 1,855]

Sounds like a good morning out well done pal

[the apprentice 178]

Good read pal, but lift your feet,haha

[keeganrees 196]

A good read that pal

[dan john 82]

top morning you had there then atb

[jude7719 2]

Well written mate

[Flacko 1,755]

Enjoyed that mate atb

[fitchet 788]

Nice read mate keep at them Atb.

[mick c 411]

I enjoyed reading that for a change best read that's been on here for a while now

[trenchfoot 4,243]

I enjoyed reading that for a change best read that's been on here for a while now

Cheers squire, nothing fancy, but left me feeling satisfied with doing a good job well. Only problem ishe old dear wants me to go back and sort out a rat problem (the grounds like Swiss cheese!) and her neighbour sent a bottle of wine over and would like me to "pop round and look at her moles". I hope to feck she has a lumpy lawn, and not some hidden skin problem!