Rolfe 2 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 My favourite time of the year has just started in some parts.......here it is 2 weeks until the rape is cut. But I will start getting the dogs back up to tip-top condition after the summer lay -off ready for some serious rabbiting action. Nothing nicer than a hot summers afternoon standing in the shade of some tree........waiting for the rabbits to bolt from in front of the combine and head for home.....only to have their dash for freedom curtailed by some crafty lurcher. I usually have plenty of shade and water for the dogs as it can be pretty arduous at times.........but I also make sure I have an ice-cold bottle of something as well.......... Quote Link to post
Guest SJM Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Cracking pics Rolfe I love stubble time you cant beat being out with a young dog and seein them take their first few tentative steps to becoming a worker, especially late on in the evening just before dusk when the rabbits venture out and the smell of the cut grass is lingering in the air Quote Link to post
poacher2225 2 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 yep mate i cant wait till thay have cut as well ive bin giting my dog's ready with some long walk's this last week hear's where the hard work start's to come in Quote Link to post
Rolfe 2 Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Cracking pics Rolfe I love stubble time you cant beat being out with a young dog and seein them take their first few tentative steps to becoming a worker, especially late on in the evening just before dusk when the rabbits venture out and the smell of the cut grass is lingering in the air Thanks SJM........Yeah.....Nothing (well maybe one thing ) beats the adrenalin rush of seeing a youngster catch his first rabbit single-handed. And harvest time is the best time to do it in my opinion as the rabbits are usually far enough from home to give the young dog a fair chance........! Rolfe. Quote Link to post
towzer 3 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 cracking post Rolfe, really got me in the mood mate nowt better than being out with ya dog and a few light ales in ya back pack Quote Link to post
Guest traceyg Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 What fantastic pics rolfe well done .keep them coming Quote Link to post
frost 4 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Totally agree Rolfe nothing to beat it and i am personally desperate for it to start as my two younger dogs are now ready and rareing to go! Cracking pics Rolfe I love stubble time you cant beat being out with a young dog and seein them take their first few tentative steps to becoming a worker, especially late on in the evening just before dusk when the rabbits venture out and the smell of the cut grass is lingering in the air Thanks SJM........Yeah.....Nothing (well maybe one thing ) beats the adrenalin rush of seeing a youngster catch his first rabbit single-handed. And harvest time is the best time to do it in my opinion as the rabbits are usually far enough from home to give the young dog a fair chance........! Rolfe. Quote Link to post
felltool 5 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Cracking pic rolfe,And a good post mate, i just got me young lurcher pup, Now you got me in the mood but i wont be doing any work this season as she only pup. All the best in the coming season FT. Quote Link to post
Rolfe 2 Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Cracking pic rolfe,And a good post mate, i just got me young lurcher pup, Now you got me in the mood but i wont be doing any work this season as she only pup. All the best in the coming season FT. Cheers Fell............and all the other nice comments Quote Link to post
dawnraider 2 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 went to see the old boy who works on a new bit of permission i got,there he was in the shed servicing the combine,not long now he said hope your dogs are fit youve just got another 350 acres to follow me round,turns out the boss has hired him and the combine out for the harvest and me along with them and to add to that it brings permission all through the winter dogs and ferreting,what a result cant wait. Quote Link to post
Caravan Monster 323 Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 .......waiting for the rabbits to bolt from in front of the combine and head for home.....only to have their dash for freedom curtailed by some crafty lurcher. I usually have plenty of shade and water for the dogs as it can be pretty arduous at times.........but I also make sure I have an ice-cold bottle of something as well.......... Any tips on doing this safely Rolfe? I tried last year when the maize was being harvested, using a slip, so that I could decide which ones to run. The rabbits were so disorientated that they couldn' t remember which way was home and ended up running back into the crop. Dogs tend to get confused in the crop too: after doing the hundred metre dash to get myself between my dog and the on coming harvester to which she was retrieving her rabbit , I called it a day. Certainly exciting sport, but will wait until the machines have gone this year.... Quote Link to post
Rolfe 2 Posted July 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 .......waiting for the rabbits to bolt from in front of the combine and head for home.....only to have their dash for freedom curtailed by some crafty lurcher. I usually have plenty of shade and water for the dogs as it can be pretty arduous at times.........but I also make sure I have an ice-cold bottle of something as well.......... Any tips on doing this safely Rolfe? I tried last year when the maize was being harvested, using a slip, so that I could decide which ones to run. The rabbits were so disorientated that they couldn' t remember which way was home and ended up running back into the crop. Dogs tend to get confused in the crop too: after doing the hundred metre dash to get myself between my dog and the on coming harvester to which she was retrieving her rabbit , I called it a day. Certainly exciting sport, but will wait until the machines have gone this year.... Good point you make there.........Yes safety is paramount when slipping dogs when the combine is about. Many times the rabbits will head straight back towards the harvester........a heart stopping moment if the dog is in hot pursuit. I tend to stand quietly at one end of a cut.......and wait till the combine is heading back up the field and then slip the dogs on the rabbits that try and slip away discreetly. Often it pays to walk the fields after the last cut.......you will be amazed just how many bunnies lay tight and refuse to bolt. Last season i walked a field of rape after it had been cut and the two lurchers picked up another 14 rabbits between them.......all would have been lost if i had just gone home. So yes....you must always be VERY careful when slipping dogs anywhere near a working combine........the consequences don't bear thinking about. Quote Link to post
Stallion 0 Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Terrific pictures, really gets you in the mood for some summer sport. Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Great pics rolfey love the first one especially Quote Link to post
Jack NUFC 1 Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 i dont think ive seen the bigger dog before rolfe, what cross is that it looks a cracker anymore pics of him/her? Quote Link to post
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