DRAGNETS

[ferret boy charlie 0]

But how much?

 

There are plenty of people who would like to use bespoke handmade nets, but not many willing to pay a man to sit for hours and hours to make one.

course i am willing to pay mate as i cant do it myself

[Netter 0]

But how much?

 

There are plenty of people who would like to use bespoke handmade nets, but not many willing to pay a man to sit for hours and hours to make one.

course i am willing to pay mate as i cant do it myself

 

I'm not having a go at you mate, just stating a fact.

[ferret boy charlie 0]

But how much?

 

There are plenty of people who would like to use bespoke handmade nets, but not many willing to pay a man to sit for hours and hours to make one.

course i am willing to pay mate as i cant do it myself

 

I'm not having a go at you mate, just stating a fact.

alright then mate

 

just an idea could you use a dragnet for hares pheasants ect ect.

[Netter 0]

You would struggle with Hares mate, but BlacknTan says he used to use one for pheasants.

[Guest blackntan]

You would struggle with Hares mate, but BlacknTan says he used to use one for pheasants.

the whole idea was to drag the nett between two of you over your shoulder with the nett dragging along the ground when the rope on the bottom disturbed the long tails they would try to fly usually making a racket as the went we both drop are ends at once, low and be hold one for the pot or a couple if lucky more fun than productive and no good in any thing but grass Edited November 4, 2008 by blackntan

[mackem 26,662]

Ferret Boy,I am sure OTC or some collector of antiquated trapping literature has a Youngs catalogue,you would be surprised how much they used to cost If I was after one now I would either make it myself from scratch,or search around for a heavy Z nylon sheet netting

[Guest blackntan]

Ferret Boy,I am sure OTC or some collector of antiquated trapping literature has a Youngs catalogue,you would be surprised how much they used to cost If I was after one now I would either make it myself from scratch,or search around for a heavy Z nylon sheet netting

we found a goal net between a goal post and used that

[mole catcher 1]

Partridge drag nets are like most old poaching methods, full of mystery and mistruth. I have made them as well as used them and can honestly say they work and work very well. The biggest problem as with all things netting is finding a partner willing to keep at it when the results are poor on many occassons.

The one i have hanging in my shed (an old one made many years ago by a very old gent)is roughly 35-40 yrds wide and about 10yrds long. It has a graduating mesh size going from a larger mesh at the head line and a smaller mesh as you go down the body of the net. At the head line there is braided in place what i was told is called the pulling line, the line that goes over the shoulders of the netsman with a wooden toggle on the end. This toggle helps with grip as you pull the net along the fields. The bottom of the net is the dragging line. this can be a heavish rope braided in place or as was said some sacking or on the one i have made some lead line.

 

Anyone thinking of giving it a go has to put a few things in place, of which i think the following are the most important.

 

1, unlike rabbit poaching, IF YOU GET CAUGHT YOU WILL FACE THE POSSIBILITIE OF GOING TO PRISON as you will contrvien the night time poaching acts, the game acts, it will be theift as the birds are the lawfull property of the land owner. with there being 2 of you you can be charged under the gang poaching acts. And you could be charged with the use of an illeagal engine designed to catch game which cotriveanes the traps act and also the countryside and wildlife acts of this country. Sounds over the top? get caught and see if im wrong.

 

2, you will need a good netting partner, someone who doesnt mind running the risks and has a good head on them to deal with the above pressures.

 

3, land holding good covies as its a lot of hard work if your not getting the birds.

 

4, you will need to spend time out in the field learning to understand the partridges behaivour because unlike rabbits they are nomadic and goverend by the winds.

 

5, knowing the ground like the backs of your hands, knowing where each and every low lying hollow is (thats where you will find them).baring in mind you will be covering a 30yrd stretch of ground in what is possible a 100-200acre field. Its a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack if you dont know where they are.

 

6, be preparred to fight if you are caught, thats if the keepers where you live are like the ones down here, as they will oftern choose to give you a bloody good kicking (a few local poachers have spent time in hospital) rather than turn you over to the police.

 

7, baring in mind the value of good partridge shooting and the advent of night vision, the chances of you getting caught are greatly improved (please read no1 and no6)

 

The partridge net is something many fancy having a go at after reading it somewhere, but it is hard work but get it right and the rewards in meat for the table can be great. As for doing it for a cash return forget it. Last season our butchers were selling oven ready partridge for £1.95 each, at that price im sure you can see their true worth in selling on compared to the costs of getting caught.

 

Anyway, poaching is illeagal so dont do it i wouldnt

Edited November 6, 2008 by mole catcher

[Guest blackntan]

Partridge drag nets are like most old poaching methods, full of mystery and mistruth. I have made them as well as used them and can honestly say they work and work very well. The biggest problem as with all things netting is finding a partner willing to keep at it when the results are poor on many occassons.

The one i have hanging in my shed (an old one made many years ago by a very old gent)is roughly 35-40 yrds wide and about 10yrds long. It has a graduating mesh size going from a larger mesh at the head line and a smaller mesh as you go down the body of the net. At the head line there is braided in place what i was told is called the pulling line, the line that goes over the shoulders of the netsman with a wooden toggle on the end. This toggle helps with grip as you pull the net along the fields. The bottom of the net is the dragging line. this can be a heavish rope braided in place or as was said some sacking or on the one i have made some lead line.

 

Anyone thinking of giving it a go has to put a few things in place, of which i think the following are the most important.

 

1, unlike rabbit poaching, IF YOU GET CAUGHT YOU WILL FACE THE POSSIBILITIE OF GOING TO PRISON as you will contrvien the night time poaching acts, the game acts, it will be theift as the birds are the lawfull property of the land owner. with there being 2 of you you can be charged under the gang poaching acts. And you could be charged with the use of an illeagal engine designed to catch game which cotriveanes the traps act and also the countryside and wildlife acts of this country. Sounds over the top? get caught and see if im wrong.

 

2, you will need a good netting partner, someone who doesnt mind running th e risks and has a good head on them to deal with the above pressures.

 

3, land holding good covies as its a lot of hard work if your not getting the birds.

 

4, you will need to spend time out in the field learning to understand the partridges behaivour because unlike rabbits they are nomadic and goverend by the winds.

 

5, knowing the ground like the backs of your hands, knowing where each and every low lying hollow is (thats where you will find them).baring in mind you will be covering a 30yrd stretch of ground in what is possible a 100-200acre field. Its a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack if you dont know where they are.

 

6, be preparred to fight if you are caught, thats if the keepers where you live are like the ones down here, as they will oftern choose to give you a bloody good kicking (a few local poachers have spent time in hospital) rather than turn you over to the police.

 

7, baring in mind the value of good partridge shooting and the advent of night vision, the chances of you getting caught are greatly improved (please read no1 and no6)

 

The partridge net is something many fancy having a go at after reading it somewhere, but it is hard work but get it right and the rewards in meat for the table can be great. As for doing it for a cash return forget it. Last season our butchers were selling oven ready partridge for £1.95 each, at that price im sure you can see their true worth in selling on compared to the costs of getting caught.

 

Anyway, poaching is illeagal so dont do it i wouldnt

BUT SOME OF THE BEST NIGHTS OUT WE EVER HAD AS KIDSWE NEVER EVER CAUGHT PARTRIDGE JUST PHESANTS , AN OLD NET WE MODIFIED TO SUIT AND USED TO LEAVE IT IN A SACK HID TILL THE NEXT TIME COULD NOT SEE ANY ONE DOING IT FOR GAIN THESE DAYS ,GOOD POST MOLEY

[mole catcher 1]

BUT SOME OF THE BEST NIGHTS OUT WE EVER HAD AS KIDSWE NEVER EVER CAUGHT PARTRIDGE JUST PHESANTS , AN OLD NET WE MODIFIED TO SUIT AND USED TO LEAVE IT IN A SACK HID TILL THE NEXT TIME COULD NOT SEE ANY ONE DOING IT FOR GAIN THESE DAYS ,GOOD POST MOLEY

 

Thats the thing, as kids we amd yourselves would go out and try these things, but as adults most of us(not all) loose the abilitie to try and do things out of the norm, nowdays if you cant buy the kit most wont try it rather than make it themselves.

 

Some of the old ways are still the best ways because where we do it for sport, our fore fathers did it because they were hungry and needed to put stuff on the tables. Today we seem to busy trying to re-invent the wheel rather than look to the history books for insperation. ok some of the stuff written in poaching law is nothing more than old wives tales but isnt the fun in finding out for ourselves what works and what doesnt?

[mackem 26,662]

I will echo those sentiments,I remember wrecking my mums pans concocting birdlime mixes that didnt work

[micky 3,325]

Partridge drag nets are like most old poaching methods, full of mystery and mistruth. I have made them as well as used them and can honestly say they work and work very well. The biggest problem as with all things netting is finding a partner willing to keep at it when the results are poor on many occassons.

The one i have hanging in my shed (an old one made many years ago by a very old gent)is roughly 35-40 yrds wide and about 10yrds long. It has a graduating mesh size going from a larger mesh at the head line and a smaller mesh as you go down the body of the net. At the head line there is braided in place what i was told is called the pulling line, the line that goes over the shoulders of the netsman with a wooden toggle on the end. This toggle helps with grip as you pull the net along the fields. The bottom of the net is the dragging line. this can be a heavish rope braided in place or as was said some sacking or on the one i have made some lead line.

 

Anyone thinking of giving it a go has to put a few things in place, of which i think the following are the most important.

 

1, unlike rabbit poaching, IF YOU GET CAUGHT YOU WILL FACE THE POSSIBILITIE OF GOING TO PRISON as you will contrvien the night time poaching acts, the game acts, it will be theift as the birds are the lawfull property of the land owner. with there being 2 of you you can be charged under the gang poaching acts. And you could be charged with the use of an illeagal engine designed to catch game which cotriveanes the traps act and also the countryside and wildlife acts of this country. Sounds over the top? get caught and see if im wrong.

 

2, you will need a good netting partner, someone who doesnt mind running th e risks and has a good head on them to deal with the above pressures.

 

3, land holding good covies as its a lot of hard work if your not getting the birds.

 

4, you will need to spend time out in the field learning to understand the partridges behaivour because unlike rabbits they are nomadic and goverend by the winds.

 

5, knowing the ground like the backs of your hands, knowing where each and every low lying hollow is (thats where you will find them).baring in mind you will be covering a 30yrd stretch of ground in what is possible a 100-200acre field. Its a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack if you dont know where they are.

 

6, be preparred to fight if you are caught, thats if the keepers where you live are like the ones down here, as they will oftern choose to give you a bloody good kicking (a few local poachers have spent time in hospital) rather than turn you over to the police.

 

7, baring in mind the value of good partridge shooting and the advent of night vision, the chances of you getting caught are greatly improved (please read no1 and no6)

 

The partridge net is something many fancy having a go at after reading it somewhere, but it is hard work but get it right and the rewards in meat for the table can be great. As for doing it for a cash return forget it. Last season our butchers were selling oven ready partridge for £1.95 each, at that price im sure you can see their true worth in selling on compared to the costs of getting caught.

 

Anyway, poaching is illeagal so dont do it i wouldnt

BUT SOME OF THE BEST NIGHTS OUT WE EVER HAD AS KIDSWE NEVER EVER CAUGHT PARTRIDGE JUST PHESANTS , AN OLD NET WE MODIFIED TO SUIT AND USED TO LEAVE IT IN A SACK HID TILL THE NEXT TIME COULD NOT SEE ANY ONE DOING IT FOR GAIN THESE DAYS ,GOOD POST MOLEY

A few years back i built a stable block for a trainer in Bury St Edmonds,there were two chaps there who brought loads of pheasants every monday morning to order,my boss asked the trainer if they were shooting men, and he said ,no those birds have been netted.

[Guest blackntan]

BUT SOME OF THE BEST NIGHTS OUT WE EVER HAD AS KIDSWE NEVER EVER CAUGHT PARTRIDGE JUST PHESANTS , AN OLD NET WE MODIFIED TO SUIT AND USED TO LEAVE IT IN A SACK HID TILL THE NEXT TIME COULD NOT SEE ANY ONE DOING IT FOR GAIN THESE DAYS ,GOOD POST MOLEY

 

Thats the thing, as kids we amd yourselves would go out and try these things, but as adults most of us(not all) loose the abilitie to try and do things out of the norm, nowdays if you cant buy the kit most wont try it rather than make it themselves.

 

Some of the old ways are still the best ways because where we do it for sport, our fore fathers did it because they were hungry and needed to put stuff on the tables. Today we seem to busy trying to re-invent the wheel rather than look to the history books for insperation. ok some of the stuff written in poaching law is nothing more than old wives tales but isnt the fun in finding out for ourselves what works and what doesnt?

the old fella who used to show us all things like netting etc was an old keeper from the fenns he could net, trap, snare any thing he had fought in the first world war, and used to tell us tales of daring do and how they lived in the old days traping finches and all maner of birds to send to market proper country man he was, moles were his favourite he used to sell the skins dont no who to or why but he used to have a box full of them,

[mole catcher 1]

he used to sell the skins dont no who to or why but he used to have a box full of them,

 

Mole skins were of more value than the price many got for catching them in the first place. Moleskins have been used for all manner of things in the past but the most common was the use by Milliners (hat makers). they were used in the making of ladys hats, used on the inside it stopped the sweat of the said ladys brow from running onto her face and spoiling her make up, the first sweat band you might say. Also used in expencive ladys riding gloves as a lining. The old fashiond type of top hat was in fact covered in hot ironed mole fur as was the bowler hats of the day. Ask any old plumber or ellectrician and they will tell you that before the advent of the push fit and ready solder joints, the craftsman would joint a pipe fitting and then wipe the solder into and clean away from the joints. Ellectritions would back splice the heavy cables and solder them and then wipe the hot solder to cover the splice before fitting the wire to the componant.

 

there you go, perhaps your man was suppling a now dead market with a once much valued piece of equipment

[Guest blackntan]

HE USED TO GO AND DIG UP THE MIDDEN AND COLLECT THE RED WORMS THEN PUT THEM IN A JAR AND BURY THEM IN THE MIDDEN , THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS DIG UP THE JAR THE WORMS WOULD HAVE DISINTERGRATED INTO JUICE , EVERY TIME HE SET HIS MOLE TRAPS HE WOULD POUR SOME OF HIS COCKTAIL ON THE TRAP, SAID THE MOLES LOVE THE SMELL OF THEM RED WORMS THAT YOU GET IN THE MIDDEN , NEVER TRAPED A MOLE IN ME LIFE SO DONT KNOW , BUT HE SEEMED TO GET THE MOLES