Scully Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Nephew has returned from his travels and severely jet lagged so took him up to rough shoot for a spot of fresh air. He was walking in front of me (I hadn't taken a gun) along disused railway and when he stopped to raise his gun I leaned out to see what he'd seen and saw a big stoat looking right at me and was just thinking how bonny it looked but before I could say anything he blew it about three yards along the banking, killing it instantly. It was a huge hob and easily as big as one of my jill ferrets, a handsome beast of a lad. Great shame. I'm a great mustelid fan; love the little things. I killed one a lot of years ago and swore I'd never kill another; gorgeous little creatures. I'm clearly not cut out for this gamekeeping lark; far too soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 There are occasions when hard decisions have to be made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 When I was a young lad I was getting over a gate when one appeared, popped a cartridge into the o/u and bowled it over from the top of the gate. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michufc Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I think we all have soft spots for certain animals mine are hares but there arnt many round my way so I see it as a pleasure when I do see them that said there will always be a job to do if pests become a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I like stoats and weasels too, brilliant little animals. Mind you I also like to see foxes, rabbits and pigeons. Having a gun doesn't mean you have to blast every allowed creature on sight. Shooting is sometimes used as pest control, sometimes used as a sport and sometimes used as a conservation tool to help balance out some of the one-sided pressures largely created by man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I must admit , I too pass up any opportunity to shoot stoats and weasles , prefering to watch them instead . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 The only pest species I actively dislike are rats and carrion crows. I always think it is a shame when I catch a weasel in a Fenn trap, but always pleased to see a stoat when I check a trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I love pigeons that's my excuse for not shooting any.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I like stoats and weasels too, brilliant little animals. Mind you I also like to see foxes, rabbits and pigeons. Having a gun doesn't mean you have to blast every allowed creature on sight. Shooting is sometimes used as pest control, sometimes used as a sport and sometimes used as a conservation tool to help balance out some of the one-sided pressures largely created by man. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I dont like killing anything, but routinely do it, Iv'e got 50 brown crab and a box of Langoustine to prepare today, through the year it will be anything from sheep to shrimp, i hope i do it with respect ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Love to see any wildlife on my early morning dog walks apart from crows and magpies! For some strange reason they put my blood pressure up a few notches. I see a couple of foxes from time to time - could be the same one as only 200yds apart - in places where no keeperring/shooting occurs and this always lifts my spirit but not crows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 I walk through a conservation sight evrry morning on the dog walk, footpaths(old droves) run between the feilds. Often see a few pairs of dear, barn owls and stoats among others, and again only thing that i dislike are the crows n maggies.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 I have huge respect for stoats, crows, magpies and foxes etc but I'm afraid they have to be controlled. It's all about keeping a balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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