scothunter 12,609 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Yea i saw that aswell accip and think it was quite feasible that some escaped or released and lived in the wild in those eras.however they will be long gone now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Accip74 7,112 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Yea i saw that aswell accip and think it was quite feasible that some escaped or released and lived in the wild in those eras.however they will be long gone now. Tbh when the law changed, I can't imagine most people just drove out to Epping forest & turned loose their cats, I'd imagine most ended up in Zoos or pts? But it's obvious some were released. Its always intrigued me how long individuals could of survived for? Enough time to find a mate?? The million dollar question! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
novice 25 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 But then you've got to think of this, these animals woul have been tamed. They would not be fearful of humans so why was non discovered by people out walking? If you read that book I'd suggest from the descriptions that quite a few were. Close encounters with cats that didn't immediately back off. I'd be wary of a powerful dog I didn't know so understandable why no-one was keen to go tickling kitty under its chin. As I say, fair likelihood of at least some cats escaping when they were more prevalent, but not in more recent times. Novice Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,818 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 God what a time to be a keeper or stalker eh! Back in the late 20thC when all these beasts were apparently released in the British countryside. Head out for a roe buck and come back with a f***ing pride of African Lions! Lined out on a maize crop ready for the first drive, "Steady away and keep the line!", then all of a sudden there's a snarl and the maize rattles like a raptor in the long grass and a f***ing Leopard sprints through the line! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Accip74 7,112 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 But then you've got to think of this, these animals woul have been tamed. They would not be fearful of humans so why was non discovered by people out walking? It's a good point, but some animals would of been kept purely as caged animals, especially as many owners would of lost their nerve as the cats got older. I've been in contact with a 3/4 grown cheetah that was hand reared, but still very unpredictable & scary at that age! Haha....So I can imagine many owners cutting contact early on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,818 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Get these boys over, Biggerstaff hounds. http://www.biggerstaffguides.com/africa.htm There must be some billionaire with more money than sense who would fund such an 'expedition'. All this evidence and knowledge could surely put some proper big cat hounds in the right area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan85 722 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) You'd have thought our own Foxhounds would have put a few up but strangely no..... Edited April 28, 2017 by DogMan85 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,818 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 You'd have thought our own Foxhounds would have put a few up but strangely no..... You'd have thought but then although they are basically right for the job in practice I could be persuaded that they would avoid such a foreign beasty. Now, those Biggerstaff hounds are born and bred Cougar/African Leopard hounds, those fuckers aren't bred to shy away from such quarry. From what I've seen of them on social media, they're as serious about hound work and hunting as anyone! "For us it begins and ends with the hounds. They are our life and our passion. Our breeding program is simple- best to the best. If a dog won’t put his nose down or doesn’t have the heart and grit to hunt day after day they don’t make the cut, no matter how ‘pretty’ they are. We do not raise registered hounds we raise working hounds. These are not show dogs they are hard working trained professionals who have made our living for the last 15 years." Any hounds that work in Zim' get my respect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan85 722 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) You'd have thought our own Foxhounds would have put a few up but strangely no..... You'd have thought but then although they are basically right for the job in practice I could be persuaded that they would avoid such a foreign beasty. Now, those Biggerstaff hounds are born and bred Cougar/African Leopard hounds, those fuckers aren't bred to shy away from such quarry. From what I've seen of them on social media, they're as serious about hound work and hunting as anyone! "For us it begins and ends with the hounds. They are our life and our passion. Our breeding program is simple- best to the best. If a dog wont put his nose down or doesnt have the heart and grit to hunt day after day they dont make the cut, no matter how pretty they are. We do not raise registered hounds we raise working hounds. These are not show dogs they are hard working trained professionals who have made our living for the last 15 years." Any hounds that work in Zim' get my respect. I don't even necessarily mean if they tried to work it, surely there's a great chance they would have put one up whilst in pursuit of fox. I can accept that a few might have escaped or been released some years back but I just don't believe we have a population of now wild cats roaming our lands. Edited April 28, 2017 by DogMan85 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Accip74 7,112 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 You'd have thought our own Foxhounds would have put a few up but strangely no..... You'd have thought but then although they are basically right for the job in practice I could be persuaded that they would avoid such a foreign beasty. Now, those Biggerstaff hounds are born and bred Cougar/African Leopard hounds, those fuckers aren't bred to shy away from such quarry. From what I've seen of them on social media, they're as serious about hound work and hunting as anyone! "For us it begins and ends with the hounds. They are our life and our passion. Our breeding program is simple- best to the best. If a dog wont put his nose down or doesnt have the heart and grit to hunt day after day they dont make the cut, no matter how pretty they are. We do not raise registered hounds we raise working hounds. These are not show dogs they are hard working trained professionals who have made our living for the last 15 years." Any hounds that work in Zim' get my respect. I don't even mean if they tried to work it, surely there's a great chance they would have put one up whilst in pursuit of fox. I can accept that a few might have escaped or been released some years back but I just don't believe we have a population of now wild cats roaming our lands. How do you they haven't? I couldn't possibly tell either way.........too many packs, too many hounds, too many days to even begin to fathom what has happened on every hunting day & what stories have been told for the last 20 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,818 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 You'd have thought our own Foxhounds would have put a few up but strangely no..... You'd have thought but then although they are basically right for the job in practice I could be persuaded that they would avoid such a foreign beasty. Now, those Biggerstaff hounds are born and bred Cougar/African Leopard hounds, those fuckers aren't bred to shy away from such quarry. From what I've seen of them on social media, they're as serious about hound work and hunting as anyone! "For us it begins and ends with the hounds. They are our life and our passion. Our breeding program is simple- best to the best. If a dog wont put his nose down or doesnt have the heart and grit to hunt day after day they dont make the cut, no matter how pretty they are. We do not raise registered hounds we raise working hounds. These are not show dogs they are hard working trained professionals who have made our living for the last 15 years." Any hounds that work in Zim' get my respect. I don't even mean if they tried to work it, surely there's a great chance they would have put one up whilst in pursuit of fox. I can accept that a few might have escaped or been released some years back but I just don't believe we have a population of now wild cats roaming our lands. I'm not getting into this, LOL. I knew what you meant, I'm just not sure how easily Leopards are driven/flushed. They're known for being f***ing lethal in covert and if UK hounds have a tendency to shy away from them then it's possibly they'll never be seen. Maybe the odd curious hound get's splattered and no ones the wiser? I'm with ya though, I'm firmly in the camp of it's all bollocks but I've no great desire to argue about it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan85 722 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 But then you've got to think of this, these animals woul have been tamed. They would not be fearful of humans so why was non discovered by people out walking?It's a good point, but some animals would of been kept purely as caged animals, especially as many owners would of lost their nerve as the cats got older.I've been in contact with a 3/4 grown cheetah that was hand reared, but still very unpredictable & scary at that age! Haha....So I can imagine many owners cutting contact early on. Why is it always a Cougar or a Panther, why never Lion or Tiger? ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Accip74 7,112 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 But then you've got to think of this, these animals woul have been tamed. They would not be fearful of humans so why was non discovered by people out walking?It's a good point, but some animals would of been kept purely as caged animals, especially as many owners would of lost their nerve as the cats got older.I've been in contact with a 3/4 grown cheetah that was hand reared, but still very unpredictable & scary at that age! Haha....So I can imagine many owners cutting contact early on. Why is it always a Cougar or a Panther, why never Lion or Tiger? I'll take a wild guess that Lions & Tigers would find it a lot more difficult to go unnoticed, I'll also take a wild guess that not many people were irresponsible enough to release a lion!?!? Haha.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan85 722 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 You'd have thought our own Foxhounds would have put a few up but strangely no..... You'd have thought but then although they are basically right for the job in practice I could be persuaded that they would avoid such a foreign beasty. Now, those Biggerstaff hounds are born and bred Cougar/African Leopard hounds, those fuckers aren't bred to shy away from such quarry. From what I've seen of them on social media, they're as serious about hound work and hunting as anyone! "For us it begins and ends with the hounds. They are our life and our passion. Our breeding program is simple- best to the best. If a dog wont put his nose down or doesnt have the heart and grit to hunt day after day they dont make the cut, no matter how pretty they are. We do not raise registered hounds we raise working hounds. These are not show dogs they are hard working trained professionals who have made our living for the last 15 years." Any hounds that work in Zim' get my respect. I don't even mean if they tried to work it, surely there's a great chance they would have put one up whilst in pursuit of fox. I can accept that a few might have escaped or been released some years back but I just don't believe we have a population of now wild cats roaming our lands.How do you they haven't? I couldn't possibly tell either way.........too many packs, too many hounds, too many days to even begin to fathom what has happened on every hunting day & what stories have been told for the last 20 years. I don't want stories I want strong evidence to support the claims. If I knew of an area where a Big Cat was and my intentions were to confirm it I'd be buying the equipment to do so. Near enough every camera now is HD and plenty are 4K, these gadgets are not even expensive anymore. Walking the land with an old 1 MP camera just don't cut it I'm afraid and is nothing but a cop-out IMO. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan85 722 Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) But then you've got to think of this, these animals woul have been tamed. They would not be fearful of humans so why was non discovered by people out walking?It's a good point, but some animals would of been kept purely as caged animals, especially as many owners would of lost their nerve as the cats got older.I've been in contact with a 3/4 grown cheetah that was hand reared, but still very unpredictable & scary at that age! Haha....So I can imagine many owners cutting contact early on. Why is it always a Cougar or a Panther, why never Lion or Tiger? I'll take a wild guess that Lions & Tigers would find it a lot more difficult to go unnoticed, I'll also take a wild guess that not many people were irresponsible enough to release a lion!?!? Haha...."Right let's release Lenny the Leopard because he's harmless but we will keep Tony the Tiger locked up." A pet Leopard would be more dangerous than a pet Lion, Lions are probably the safest big cat to have in captivity, they are social creatures. Sorry just ain't having it..... ? Edited April 28, 2017 by DogMan85 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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