Quercus

I too still have my old Baikal , the first gun I ever owned in my own right. It's crude but functional, it's taken a lot of abuse and not complained once. For several years it was used almost daily. I bought it because it was all that I could afford at the time, but continued to use it long after I could afford better. I have certainly had my monies worth from that old gun. Q :yp:

It might also be an idea not to wear the pink shirt Q

There was a young stag called Red, Who wanted a girl for his bed, But when he went out rutting, The girls were all hiding, So his hand had to do instead. Q

On a more humorous note read this The Telegraph Surely they can't be serious, can they? Better dig out the balaclava YP Still it would open up a brand new field sport of camera hunting. Q

YP, It is my understanding that exemptions from the Bill will still allow dogs to be used for shooting. However there are worrying clauses about only being able to use two dogs, dogs being under "close control" and the eventual shooting only being done by a "competent person". Whichever way you look at it this is the thin end of the wedge for all shooting. If the Bill is successful, not only will we have to worry about antis with more time on their hands but the Government introducing back door amendments which will be devastating fo shooting. The latest version of the bill can be found HERE Q

Lamping foxes on foot can be very productive. It gives you another angle of attack, especially if your resident foxes are expecting you to come over the hill in a supercharged pick up, illuminated like Blackpool at Christmas Q

Just curious lads, what do you do with the tails once you have removed them? Q

Jim, There are many disciplines of shotgun, rifle and pistol shooting in the Olympics, they just don't get a lot of coverage. More details here Q

We use a couple of the diesel mules, the oldest is about four years old. On the plus side they are very versatile machines, it's handy to have the integral load area and space for a passenger. They are very good off road even with a load. As potshot said they can be made into a good small game cart and are excellent lamping vehicles. On red diesel they are very cheap to run when compared to a petrol quad. They are a lot cleaner to drive in the winter than a Quad/trailer combo. On the negative side ours each cost at least four grand a year in parts and labour . Torque converters last a maximum of two years (£1200). You're lucky if the drive belt lasts six months, although I hear that they have sorted this with the newer models. They eat wheel bearings and U.Js. Parts are expensive and some take an age to get hold of, although this may just be our dealer :blink: . The mechanic who works on our machines tells me that our problems are by no means unusual. If you want reliability and excellent parts availability I'd go for a manual shift Honda quad, thats what we will be doing shortly. Q B)

Leon, this might help. http://www.fourfold.org/LR_FAQ/FAQ.3.Chass...is_Numbers.html Q

William, There has not been an incubator built that will give you the same results as a good broody. If you are getting 80% from the set up you describe you are doing well. It sounds like you're doing the right thing with regards to hygiene and selection of eggs. Fluctuations in humidity are not as critical as temperature changes. The effect of increasing the humidity on the other eggs being incubated will be equalled out by a period of running dry. Given the numbers involved a separate hatcher hardly seems worthwhile. I'd be more inclined to try and fill the incubator at one time, or at least try and match hatching dates if setting different types of egg. Q

Some translations Q :blink:

Webber, the old *** comment was not aimed at you specifically :blink: Having two teenage kids in the house it is rare for a note to be left or a phone message taken that doesn't include some sort of abreviated text speak so I suppose I am pretty used to reading it. I think that you are right, in that our younger members need to understand that for a post to get the attention it deserves it needs to be legible to all members. However lets not be too harsh on them, most of them do it without thinking, as it is a part of their everyday language. Q

mmmmm nice Q

Webber, i do see your point and am in agreement up to a point. I think that it goes beyond that. SMS messaging seems to be the preferred method of communication of todays kids and it is inevitable that it becomes part of their vocabulary. I think that we should try to be tolerant of our younger members and at least give them a chance, lest we appear to be a bunch of stuffy old **** .It is good that they are here and taking an interest and we should be encouraging them. If they do prove themselves to be ***** then I think that Cranfield has the right idea. Lets not also forget that message boards have their own abbreviated language; LOL, BTT, ****, ***, IMO, etc. Q

You can buy OLT crow calls in the UK from Arthur Carter Fieldsports Has anyone had any real consistent results with this type of crow call? I can't say that I have, but then again that might just be me I wonder if this is because most of these calls are made in the States, and the American crow is a different bird to the British crow. Certainly the crow tapes that I have heard from America don't sound quite right to use over here. Q

I pretty much lived in a pair of Deerhunter Ram trousers last winter. Found them to be warm, wind and water proof and surprisingly hard wearing. Given the price I do get a bit nervous around barbed wire, but all in all I think I've had my monies worth out of them. Q

May be a dumb question, but what is "cherry"? Webber, how stable is the price of gas?, is it being held at an artificially low price just to get people interested?, do you see it being as competitive in five years time? Sorry for all of the questions but I am giving serious thought to having our quads converted to LPG. Everything that I hear about it is good, it just seems a little too good to be true, just looking for the catch. Q

Bloody hell Yorkie, your dog eats better than I do Darren, I feed all of mine on Chudleys and they do well on it. I do supplement it with table scraps and deer offal. Q

Best wishes to the pair of you :( Q :(

Thanks everyone. Haven't had a lot of time to post much recently, but I still drop in to read a bit as often as I can. Lurcherboy, hopefully I have a hangover scheduled for Monday morning :( Q

Leon, Put one of THESE between your player and the speaker. It will give you more volume than you will ever need. Q :(

Not sure if these have been posted here before or not, but they make me chuckle. Mens Rules Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE! 1. Breasts are for looking at and that is why we do it. Don't try to change that. 1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down. 1. Saturday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be. 1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way. 1. Crying is blackmail. 1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it! 1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question. 1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for. 1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor. 1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days. 1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. 1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one. 1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself. 1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials. 1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we. 1. ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what Mauve is. 1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that. 1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like northing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle. 1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear. 1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really. 1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as Sex, Sport, or Cars. 1. You have enough clothes. 1. You have too many shoes. 1. I am in shape. Round is a shape. 1. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know men really don't mind that, it's like camping ................................................................................ ................................................................................ .............................................................................. Some more Why Men Are Just Happier People! Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. You can wear the same pair of underpants for a whole week (and the matching socks). You can build flat pack furniture without the instructions (usually). Chocolate is just another snack. You never have to worry about breaking a heel. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. It only takes 5 minutes to get ready for a big night out. A haircut costs £6.00. The world is your urinal. You will never give birth. You can parallel park. Women think your faults make you more lovable (usually). You never have to drive to another petrol station because this one's just too icky. Wrinkles add character. You get to taste the wine. Wedding dress - £2,000; kilt rental - £100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected, as is farting under the duvet. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood, ALL the time. You can sunbathe topless without worrying about perverts. You can do practically anything without worrying about perverts. You can be a pervert. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A two-week holiday requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is £4.99 for a three-pack. Everything on your face stays its original colour. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. An empty medicine cabinet in the bathroom. You can go into a pub on your own without feeling like a hussy. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. You almost never have VPL problems. You don’t need a hot water bottle. You understand the offside rule. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Sex can be (and often is) meaningless. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. The same comb lasts for years, maybe decades. The TV remote control is all yours. You don't have to shave below your neck. You don’t cry at stupid sad movies (usually). Your belly will hide your big hips. You don't need to ask for directions when lost because you are never truly lost. One wallet and one pair of shoes, one colour, all seasons. You can "do" your nails with a pocket-knife or your teeth. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache or beard. No one will question your morality if you have hairy armpits. When you wake up in the morning, you look like you did the night before (usually) You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives, on December 24, in 45 minutes Q

Goose eggs will take about 28 days, and chickens about 20 days plus/minus a day or two depending on type. Q

My understanding is that a consultation document has been sent to interested parties prior to a review of the open licences under which we shoot pest species. Proposed changes include removing rooks jackdaws and jays from the licence and changing the definition of an "authorised person". This is a very long way from becoming law at the moment but is a chance for organisations with an interest to make their case, this will inevitably include the RSPB, RSPCA and others who are not particularly shooting friendly. I can see that a very good, strong case can be made to keep rooks and jackdaws on the licence, but I fear that the days of being able to shoot jays are numbered. Q