Mixed Results.

[Dr B 186]

So I took 5 days holiday and trundled up north to get back to some serious squirrel culling and to start a new squirrel perm as well that was close by my existing perms. Took the two S410s (Carbine and Classic, .22).

 

Day 1 - met the new perm owner and he showed me his boundaries. He has two nice bits of land, close together but not joined up, with a mixture of woodland, open fields, a woodyard etc. He also has a lovely little eco-system on one bit where a couple of tame ducks, 3 hens and a rooster, two pheasants, and about 6 dogs co-inhabit. Some nice wildlife as well. He has a problem with a red kite taking his song thrushes, but obviously there is nothing we can do there, but his main issue is grey squirrel. We discussed sightings, assessed tree damage, and placed feeders in prime locations.

 

Once done, I went off to my existing large woodland perm to check the feeders we have out there. Over the last year or so, myself and another chap who lives there and is more readily available, have shot around 130 greys (its a huge perm). Last year, May / June were peak months and hence that was why I was there now. I saw no activity whatsoever. I did see a brown hare (left it - its not a problem for the land owner), about 6 deer, a buzzard, and about 20 pheasants that roam in the woods and have been left since previous shoots (shotgunners shoot the land as well and never get them all).

 

Day 2 - I was in the large woods for 5:30am and left at 9:30am. No squirrel activity at locations that have previously been very active. Checked the new perm, no sign of feeders being touched.

 

Day 3 - Shot 6 crows in the large woodland (not really what I went for, but the land owner wants them gone), but again, no sign of any squirrel activity at any of our feeders, at both locations. I was also staying with my elderly father and turns out, his homehelp care nurse that visits in the morning, owns a farm, riddled with rabbits and crows. "Will you come and get these rabbits" she asks......eerrrrr yes please! That evening, did a reccy of the perm, saw loads of rabbits and worked out angles / locations etc. So, got a new rabbit perm - well chuffed.

 

Day 4 - Webcam caught activity on a feeder in the late morning in the large woodland - so there was at least one grey about. I returned in the evening - nothing. Total washout. Checked new squirrel perm, signs of excessive chewing of the wooden feeder itself....so definately a squirrel about and its now discovered the feeder. Planned to return really early the next day. Went to new rabbit perm, shot three rabbits at first go, could note retrieve one of them. They have not been hunted for years and so are pretty dumb at the moment - but will soon wise up I'm sure.

 

Day 5

In the new perm woodland for 5:30am - 8:30am. Nothing. Bloody freezing.

 

To summarize

I specifically went to help with the squirrel project I'm part of (protecting the reds and culling the greys) - but saw nothing and shot no squirrels at all this time. On the one hand, dissapointing, on the other, we must have made serious in roads into the population in the large woodland over the year - which is kind of the point really - so encouraging. Started a new squirrel perm, and will be returning to the north in 2-weeks to pop those off. Have established his squirrels are early evening feeders - not morning feeders. Also got a new rabbit perm with bloody hundreds of them running about. All in all, mixed results. Not the best shooting break, but cant complain if the numbers are heavily reduced, and I have two new perms.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Dr B

[The one 8,522]

At least you where out and got a new permission mate

[charlie caller 3,654]

Just need to get your application in for a deer rifle now then mate, might as well take a Bambi home for the freezer while you are waiting for the squirrels A .243 or .25-06 will do very nicely mate.

[Dr B 186]

  On 15/05/2015 at 10:31, The one said:

At least you where out and got a new permission mate

 

Cheers Mate, yeah, I needed the break. Looking forward to get back up there. I cant get a single bit of shooting in the midlands, but up there, I'm well known so word of mouth gets me around

[Dr B 186]

  On 15/05/2015 at 10:37, charlie caller said:

Just need to get your application in for a deer rifle now then mate, might as well take a Bambi home for the freezer while you are waiting for the squirrels A .243 or .25-06 will do very nicely mate.

 

Cheers Charlie

 

I think I'd just invite you over when they are being culled (the estate does shoot them from time to time). I'll make the sandwitches.... .

[charlie caller 3,654]

Sounds like a plan mate, let me know

[random 659]

To actually take a hunting holiday alone must be good,gaining permission and bagging a few bits is a bonus,the squirrel project you are part of sounds as if it could be making progress and a few deer possible in the future? Sounds like a good few days to me...

[mark williams 7,563]

After a few response tips from Rez - Well done with the new perms "Git"

 

atb

[Dr B 186]

  On 15/05/2015 at 19:21, mark williams said:

After a few response tips from Rez - Well done with the new perms "Git"

 

atb

 

Cheers Mark.