Whats your approach to Poachers

[Habtron 0]

Whats your approach to dealing with poachers? 

[shovel leaner 7,650]

best advice , give any information ie reg numbers and let the police deal with it . 

[KES2 171]

There are certain things which define particular poachers. Some use the full moon or the moon approaching it, Each has a particular (familiar) route into a shoot and this will be related to location of pens and later knowledge of where most birds roost. Each will have their own way to poach, be it net air rifle/ other methods. Anyone using a shotgun or rifle - do not get personally involved - look for reg no's and call armed police.

It would help to deploy the odd trail cam (well camouflaged) and, most importantly do a few rounds at night ask a few friends and meet after to share info..

In one case I knew, a shotgun was found concealed in a hedge near a shoot. It looked rusted but was well oiled and carefully hidden. Another poacher I came across used the full moon only to move around on the shoot he came the same way on foot and used an air rifle. 

Deer poachers and those who use running dogs to illegally pursue deer are the type to be aware of. The first group are armed and dangerous and have been known to shoot at people. Illegal dog men  and the method they use to take deer cause most damage and not just to the deer.  Then there are those in the travelling community who always go with 'support'.

If you have access to a drone with IR, flying these at night on routes determined in daylight and stored in the machine will help you place trail cams and 'police' your patch but try to adapt the lights.

In the end, the police will help if you provide them with info because those who poach usually have a record. Details of when, how, where will give them a greater opportunity of success .

Locked Gates, nail boards etc are all things which can be used.

 

[Elchapo 3,167]

Go over and speak to them. They may only be after acouple of bunnies and could help you out in the long run by helping keep an eye on the land. If there the nuisance type smashing gates fence ruining livestock then go over and tell them to leave if they don’t you have to options. Fight or walk away .

 

phoneing the police isn’t ready a good option as will just give cause for them to get there own back this escalating the problem  

[shovel leaner 7,650]

I know , the local dog lads who if I were not on good terms with would no doubt be all over my patch like a rash . But I’ve got them on board. They help me clear out my pens prior to release. We also do fox drives . I also let them do some “bushing . They love having a bit of permission (makes a change for them ) they say it’s great to work their dogs and not be looking over their shoulder. I also go Lamping rabbits with them . A couple even got themselves a spaniel and started beating. They are now an asset to the shoot and not a nuisance. A couple are also a bit of a handful and because the shoot is now “their patch”. I don’t get any problems. I would also add that an enlightened approach also works not just on the poaching front but also on others who would seek to do harm to a shoot . Case in point, a neighbouring Keeper had a guy who was a hippy New Age traveller living in a hut on a bit of land he’d bought causing all sorts of problems. They had tried to get him moved off but failed , the previous Keeper had threatened to burn him out . All this did was escalate problems . Every time they had a shoot day he would call the police . Shout insults, abuse people. When the new Keeper started he was told of the problem . What did he do ? He went and had a cup of tea with him , had a chat , invited him to come beating and see what it was all about . Let me tell you that guy became his number one beater , never missed a day . Problem sorted , without violence, without going to court . A bit of psychology that’s all , we can all get along .

Edited August 12, 2018 by shovel leaner

[South hams hunter 8,926]

23 hours ago, KES2 said:

There are certain things which define particular poachers. Some use the full moon or the moon approaching it, Each has a particular (familiar) route into a shoot and this will be related to location of pens and later knowledge of where most birds roost. Each will have their own way to poach, be it net air rifle/ other methods. Anyone using a shotgun or rifle - do not get personally involved - look for reg no's and call armed police.

It would help to deploy the odd trail cam (well camouflaged) and, most importantly do a few rounds at night ask a few friends and meet after to share info..

In one case I knew, a shotgun was found concealed in a hedge near a shoot. It looked rusted but was well oiled and carefully hidden. Another poacher I came across used the full moon only to move around on the shoot he came the same way on foot and used an air rifle. 

Deer poachers and those who use running dogs to illegally pursue deer are the type to be aware of. The first group are armed and dangerous and have been known to shoot at people. Illegal dog men  and the method they use to take deer cause most damage and not just to the deer.  Then there are those in the travelling community who always go with 'support'.

If you have access to a drone with IR, flying these at night on routes determined in daylight and stored in the machine will help you place trail cams and 'police' your patch but try to adapt the lights.

In the end, the police will help if you provide them with info because those who poach usually have a record. Details of when, how, where will give them a greater opportunity of success .

Locked Gates, nail boards etc are all things which can be used.

 

That's straight out a book and bullshit

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

On 28/07/2018 at 23:36, Habtron said:

Whats your approach to dealing with poachers? 

If they are serious and well-schooled freelancers,..you are most unlikely to ever encounter them...

[South hams hunter 8,926]

Well said Phil, this topics is full of romanticism and I feel people are talking of the old school taking a few local birds of the estate for his family and then in the next breath the media image of organised criminals that have moved to poaching ... Reads like a fairy tale

[South hams hunter 8,926]

On 11/08/2018 at 10:50, Elchapo said:

Go over and speak to them. They may only be after acouple of bunnies and could help you out in the long run by helping keep an eye on the land. If there the nuisance type smashing gates fence ruining livestock then go over and tell them to leave if they don’t you have to options. Fight or walk away .

 

phoneing the police isn’t ready a good option as will just give cause for them to get there own back this escalating the problem  

Spot on, all most are after

[shovel leaner 7,650]

A keeper I know of and who fancied himself as a bit tasty with his fists had loads of problems. He had illegal coursing going on and he would chase them and confront them and shoot dogs . All it did was make him and his shoot a target. It was almost a sport for these lads to wind him up . I know lots of shoots have a “do not confront them , or call the police “ policy.

[johnpee 214]

On 11/08/2018 at 10:43, KES2 said:

There are certain things which define particular poachers. Some use the full moon or the moon approaching it, Each has a particular (familiar) route into a shoot and this will be related to location of pens and later knowledge of where most birds roost. Each will have their own way to poach, be it net air rifle/ other methods. Anyone using a shotgun or rifle - do not get personally involved - look for reg no's and call armed police.

It would help to deploy the odd trail cam (well camouflaged) and, most importantly do a few rounds at night ask a few friends and meet after to share info..

In one case I knew, a shotgun was found concealed in a hedge near a shoot. It looked rusted but was well oiled and carefully hidden. Another poacher I came across used the full moon only to move around on the shoot he came the same way on foot and used an air rifle. 

Deer poachers and those who use running dogs to illegally pursue deer are the type to be aware of. The first group are armed and dangerous and have been known to shoot at people. Illegal dog men  and the method they use to take deer cause most damage and not just to the deer.  Then there are those in the travelling community who always go with 'support'.

If you have access to a drone with IR, flying these at night on routes determined in daylight and stored in the machine will help you place trail cams and 'police' your patch but try to adapt the lights.

In the end, the police will help if you provide them with info because those who poach usually have a record. Details of when, how, where will give them a greater opportunity of success .

Locked Gates, nail boards etc are all things which can be used.

 

What a load of shite!! You sound like an anti who’s been reading to much false news articles. I run dogs I don’t go out armed.  In fact I’ve got all my permission from been caught poaching so definitely can’t be dangerous either. You get the odd bad apple in all walks of life don’t tar us all with the same brush.  

[Jackknife 824]

Usually just nod at each other as we walk on by,no competition or bullshit we there for the same reason,low key and honerable.

Edited August 12, 2018 by Jackknife

[KES2 171]

I am amazed by this thread which suggests a sad romanticism to poaching. I have said before its illegal - land is owned and the owner has the right to take anything on it - no-one else has.

Buy some land and get poached yourself. I love shooting and all country sports for the idiot who presumed I'm an anti. Trespass is trespass and those who poach are thieves - nothing less, some are violent thieves and I have no love for them. 

The times when it was necessary to find a meal are gone, modern poaching is self-indulgent or commercial.

Its simple to ask.

IIs a despicable, dishonest practice based on a previous necessity from which it draws an unjustified and unjustifiable legitimacy.  The most obvious case of this is in the Wyre Valley where one of your romantic souls killed 11 deer including some pregnant and some followers.

Dont tell me anything good about poaching.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Well,..back in the day, poaching game certainly helped to pay the Mortgage,...so I suppose,...that was good...

[walshie 2,804]

Seems an odd first and only post. 

I fail to see the misty-eyed romanticism associated with poaching - past or present.

I'm not saying poachers are necessarily armed, dangerous or even cause any damage, but the bottom line is the land is paid for, owned and maintained by someone else, so what gives anyone the right to trespass on it? 

Maybe they poach because they don't have their own land. There's lots of things I don't have, but that doesn't mean I can borrow other people's stuff whenever the fancy takes me.