Back up at the shoot

[Dervburner 2,549]

Top shooting Mark. You haven’t had a squirrel in two years? I remember some of your posts a few years back on another forum, when you had them lined up most weeks. I particularly remember a row of squirrels along a stone wall, there were a good few there fella. Did you wipe them out?

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

10 minutes ago, Dervburner said:

Top shooting Mark. You haven’t had a squirrel in two years? I remember some of your posts a few years back on another forum, when you had them lined up most weeks. I particularly remember a row of squirrels along a stone wall, there were a good few there fella. Did you wipe them out?

Yep that was a National Trust property that I dont control anymore. There arent the numbers anymore on my other spot as I hit them hard , hopefully be a few this season.

[shovel leaner 7,650]

A really useful tool for anyone involved in keeping game are snares. Done correctly I believe they are a humane way of dealing with problem foxes . They are also working while you are in bed . The ones I use now are compliant with the new guidelines and have a breakaway section, so if you snare a non target species ( badger) it will break away . They also relax when the animal stops pulling, so you don’t strangle them , they are just held until you get there and dispatch it . I’ve had a few this season in the snares . I check them twice a day , once in the morning and again in the evening to make sure they are set properly and haven’t been knocked over by poults or anything else . It’s always a welcome sight when you catch one . Here is a picture of a dog cub from this morning.

[Sausagedog 7,381]

How do the break away thingies work mate?

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

A very efficient part of a keepers armoury as you say working 24/7 if you have the time to check  them daily . Well done on the catch but try harder next time and catch him round the neck lol

[shovel leaner 7,650]

1 hour ago, Sausagedog said:

How do the break away thingies work mate?

All it is , is a sort of wire loop that forms part of the snare . It is designed so that a fox could not pull it straight and escape, but deer and badgers will . I’ve personally never had a problem with non target species as I put deer jumps on them and set them high , so badgers just go underneath. But a neighbouring keeper tells me that they do work and he has had badgers caught and pull free . He knows this because of the fur on the wire and claw marks in the ground . 

[shovel leaner 7,650]

46 minutes ago, FOXHUNTER said:

A very efficient part of a keepers armoury as you say working 24/7 if you have the time to check  them daily . Well done on the catch but try harder next time and catch him round the neck lol

Anyone who has snared foxes has this from time to time . God knows how  they do it , but a kills a kill and I’ll take em anyway they want .

[Sausagedog 7,381]

2 minutes ago, shovel leaner said:

Anyone who has snared foxes has this from time to time . God knows how  they do it , but a kills a kill and I’ll take em anyway they want .

Yeah, it happens. I've done it to, years ago...other keepers say the same.

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

27 minutes ago, shovel leaner said:

Anyone who has snared foxes has this from time to time . God knows how  they do it , but a kills a kill and I’ll take em anyway they want .

Just playing with ya mate , had many a rabbit snared that way too

[Squirrel_Basher 17,101]

Miss the snaring .Used to run over 100 years ago when furs were worth taking .Keep my hand in from time to time though .

 

[Stavross 16,720]

 Nowt to do with this lot, but I’m out with Hugo on his first rabbit mission, almost as good as a gun dog

[Baldcoot 2,352]

Catch em young before "woman and booze "get em  

[Stavross 16,720]

We are going to give it half an hour with the caller on the fresh cut rape, it’s already way past his bedtime but no school tomorrow and this is an education in itself

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Good to get the younguns involved Just been out for a rabbit mission myself in the beautiful Dale's The countryside is very interesting with  loads of ruined buildings , a pair of little owls came out of here. Anyway ended up with 25 as shot a few more after pic was taken.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,101]

Getting a few there mate .