henry_o

That is a very lazy vixen! I'm hoping to have them mopped up tonight. They're still there. I've been rained off with my attempts since. Wish me luck!

Brilliant! Some real effort been put to use there!

I'd like to say I could help but wrong part of the country! I got a magpie two days ago and now running 3 traps and supplying call birds to surrounding lads. I hope someone offers mate. Good luck!

Hi tight choke. Ye i could have taken a cub, maybe two. But if I'd taken two out there's still 3 left with vixen so I was waiting for vixen to shoot her first. Then the cubs would just be a mop up operation. If I'd got a cub or two she'd also move the rest of the cubs away to a new site so i wouldn't see them again until after harvest. Patience normally pays off but not so at the moment. Henry

Thanks mbw. I was at the hole at half 4 this morning and was there until 7am. Didn't see a sausage. But when I was doing my larsn traps I saw a cub outside the whole about 3 pm. Been back tonight with the 12 bore and waited as still as a statue from 7.45 till dark. A cub came out but I left it hoping vixen would come out. Just as that cub came out, I heard the dog barking in the field down wind of me about 150 yards away. Typical when I had taken the shotty. I could see it sat there for a few mins. I don't know if it was a warning bark or if he was tempting cubs out? He must have smelt me as he was directly down wind. He started walking around the field barking every 10 seconds and was there barking when I left when dark. So I don't know when I'll get a chance with the vixen, it's not normally this hard! To make things worse I've found another litter of cubs but they haven't emerged yet. I've gone from hardly any foxes to a lot! Henry

Today i found a heavily used fox earth. All the classic signs... Feathers, bones etc on top. So without delay I've been down tonight and got set up on my belly in some grass approx 70 yards from the hole. After an hour or so a it was getting dark, two cubs showed. I was watching waiting for the vixen to emerge. Minute or so later she did, but didn't hang about. Literally out the hole and straight into hollow hedge bottom (slight ditch). As I was looking for her in the scope to see if she'd pop out and stand for a shot, I almost **** myself. No more than 8 feet to my right, a fox started barking. I just stayed still and it carried on down the hedge barking towards where the cubs and vixen went. I don't know if it smelt me or if it was the dog or a cub that had come out earlier. These cubs were well on. 3/4 of the size of e vixen at least. So, have I missed my chance??! With our grey partridge project, I can't afford to let these get away. What do you all think? Thanks Henry

Hi mitchsan, I managed to get hold of one yesterday evening through another source. I've now gone from 0 traps out this morning to 3 this evening. It's good to finally be back on track! Just need to hope a carrion gets tempted in now.

What native species would you choose instead webber? I've chosen laurels as I know the ground is suitable and I have access to them for free. I'm definitely open to ideas for natives though. We do have other cover in the woods so these are just gong to be supplementary. Management of the cover will stop them getting too tall/thick. I'm hoping to make small condense blocks that dogs can work in a structured way whilst beaters can still walk past with ease. Your ground sounds very problematic if it doesn't grow willow! Good luck with it. I don't know much about rhoddys but hope they don't become a problem for you. Henry

I'm told the woody branches won't root but if you peg the green young growth down into moist soil or water them regularly then you could get a decent success rate. If you do enough then some are bound to work out.

Top stuff there. I'm just a bit further up the A1 from you and we've had no numbers on our peas since being drilled. As a farmer I suppose I can't complain as they look great but as a shooter I'm pretty annoyed! Henry

Thanks ferret boy. My thinking was that if I put it in blocks then the birds may flush evenly through the drive and provide sport all down the line. Did you propagate your own laurels, or buy them in? I'm in the position where I'll be growing them from mature plant cuttings. I have a bit of help here with my grandparents owning a garden centre in the past so hoping for a high success rate with home grown plants! Henry

Hi folks, I've been out with the chainsaw in my free time in various areas of woodland on the farm. The management of some of the smaller woods hasn't been too good whereas the larger ones are great. My plan is to fell some dead trees and rubbish to let the light in more. So after doing this I'll be replanting the laurel along the edge as a wind break, but in the middle would you suggest long strips of laurel or instead plant say 10m sq blocks? We do get good bramble cover in some areas but I want to provide warmer areas for the birds. Any suggestions gratefully received!

Hi folks. I'm looking for a generous soul in the north notts area who may have a carrion spare? I'm travelling to sheffield this evening so that broadens the search area a little bit. Thanks, henry

Thanks mitchsan, I missed that! Will post there now. Henry

Hi gents/ladies I've lost my two call birds and just wondering on the off chance if anyone has any carrion crows spare? I'm in north notts and willing to drive a reasonable distance if anyone is kind enough to help. Thanks Henry

Looks a good effort! How much did it cost in materials if you don't mind us asking?

I don't know anything other than what was in the telegraph so I guess anything is possible with media speculation. It was a very small article so I guess they wait for more info to come alight before dedicating more space to it. It said he was 30 i think so hope he's got no kids. It would be interesting to know what's happened though. I bet there's a few ow members that have had a close shave. I count my hmr experience above as one! Henry

To be honest the only reason I thought about checking the barrel on the off chance was because I'd seen your thread. I'm a very careful shooter so who knows if I'd have checked it if I hadn't read about it. There was very little noise. It's very worrying knowing it has happened before and is going to happen again. I wouldn't know what a dealer would say? Do you think they could send their whole batch back to the supplier if they hadn't sold it so that the cost isn't against them? I suppose this is what recalls are for with many products but maybe these incidents aren't reported? I've gone through 1000 hornady blue tips without issue until now. Henry

Hi folks. Just been reading today's telegraph and there's an article about a guy tripping whilst out shooting and shot his mate dead on Friday night in Shropshire. Another tragic accident... I could have had an accident myself whilst lamping the other night. I was out bunny bashing with the hmr and a bullet lodged itself in my barrel. I recycled a round and was nearly ready to fire again thinking the previous round was something less important. Then I thought I'll just have a look and sure enough the bullet was just down past the chamber. I'm glad I didn't shoot again! These things can happen too easily. Henry

Good luck with this mate. Thought I'd add this post to bump the thread so more people have a look at your post. Henry

Thanks alycidon. Would you know egg/day old prices? Hi cocknee. Our land is fairly flat too. What heights were they getting to on your shoot? Was it a case of letting most birds through the line? Henry.

Hi folks. I'm about to order a few day olds and eggs (mallard and black neck pheasants) for our little shoot. Just wondered what prices everyone else has been quoted so far this year for these and other birds? I don't know if it depends on your area in the country? I also don't want to be ripped off although I'm fairly confident in knowing what is reasonable. Has anyone had any bad experiences with black necks on their shoot? I chose these due to the mixture of being able to hold them and being average flyers. Even though we have good habitat, feed, vermin control and relatively low number of birds released we seem to get a some wandering. Thanks Henry

Haha it is a bit unusual isn't it! Been away and done my own thing and returning to the family business after succeeding elsewhere. Not had chance to take photos yet. Will be up asap.

Hi folks, I am having to sell my pride and joy (I know its only a focus) to get a truck as I am returning to farming. I'm located near Retford, Notts. This is a Ford Focus Zetec 5dr 1.6l petrol (climate pack) hatchback. I thought I'd post here to give you all first dibs! It's a brilliant car and has been driven sensibly and never thrashed about. Took a knock on the body work on front wing as someone rolled into it (grrr) but was just a case of replacing that part of the body. Recently had a brand new clutch at some expense. Two brand new front tyres. There are a couple of scratches on the rear as I used to work at an organisation which had a large polish/lithuanian workforce and they weren't very caring for other people's cars! I'll take photos from all angles when it gets a bit brighter outside to show the car in its true colours. 57 plate Approx 87,000 miles 2 Owners Well serviced engine I'm looking for £3300. If you want to know anything then pm me and I'll try my best to answer accordingly. As stated above, photos to follow when i get time. Henry

I can highly recommend buying anything else from Daytona. Great guy and straight forward. Henry