Fisheruk

Just saying I’ve had my renewals through from Lancashire Constabulary, really nice people to deal with, from the office admin., to the young lass who came to do the home visit. The only difficulty was getting the medical certificate out of my GP. I printed the form out, delivered it by hand and paid the fee. Waited three weeks and then rang to enquire. Not yet done. Excuse they didn’t have the paper copies of my records from my previous GP. I’ve only been registered with this practice for 3 years! Having moved to a new village. Rang again a week later, same story! I offered to go to my old GP and collect the paper records. No don’t do that! Rang again a week later, same story, same offer from me, same response from them. Rang the following week and was advised it was “with the Doctor”. Another week passes and I’m told they have emailed it to Lancashire Constabulary. Quick phone call to Lancashire and they checked and confirmed they had NOT received it, they had had several from the same surgery but not mine! Another call to my GP., when I asked to call in and collect the hard copy, so that I could send it in with my application forms. A long wait on the phone whilst she checked. Only to be told they had shredded the form! They sent me a PDF. Phone call to Lancs Constabulary to explain. They immediately said if it has the Doctor’s signature and practice stamp that would be Ok, so I emailed it to them and 15 minutes later had an email to say it had been received. We are now a month away from my renewal date, so I hand delivered my forms and cheque to the gatehouse at the Lancs headquarters, it’s only 10 minutes from where I live. The following day a very polite phone call from Lancashire asking for a new photo. Apparently they can’t use the same one twice. A quick selfie in the hallway and emailed the new mugshot to Lancashire, 10 minutes later an email saying “that’ll do nicely”. The following day a phone call asking for an appointment for the home visit. Arranged for two days later! Young lady arrives bang on time. Sit in the kitchen, goes through the form, checks storage, checks serial numbers etc., Confirms everything is in order and the renewals arrive in the post a week before the old ones expire. We hear a lot of negative reports about the police handling of these things but it is good to report excellent service from Lancashire Constabulary and great folk to deal with, very helpful. 👏👏👏 The only fly in the ointment was getting the medical form completed, but it’s done now and I’m good to go for another five years.

Hey Ditchy, have you converted that workshop to a kitchen? Maybe in training for Master Chef? 🙄🤣🤣🤣

Large area, more specific?

Hardly a “New Low” he’s been down there a long time. He said that 8 years ago!

I had a report from the owner of a conservation wood on Wednesday that she had seen a cheeky grey squirrel on her large bird feeder. Went out early doors this morning, on site for 5.30am. First grey comes along at 6.20, a further wait and another comes at 6.40. At 7.10am two Reds appear and had a mating chase for 20 minutes, entertaining to watch. Then down to the peanuts I’d scattered on the ground beneath the bird table, for a quick apres snack and away. A very enjoyable morning and two less grey females to breed this summer, but hopefully we’ll have some Red kits in a few weeks time.

Two shot on the ground this morning with the.22lr. 1093

Two more trapped by my friend. 1083

Well the privilege of doing grey control in woods with Reds and Greys, is that you get to look after the Reds as well, once the greys are removed. This afternoon I have made an artificial drey, for the Reds. A 50mm diameter plate will keep the greys out but let the Reds breed safely. The timber is from the same conservation wood. It was cut with a chainsaw mill last year and stacked well for seasoning. It’s now fantastic for working. I’ll help the lass who owns the wood to site it next week. Should be in time for the second brood of Reds later this year.

Well done Nev. I was out at daybreak, getting ever earlier these days. Into the conservation wood. Only saw a single Red on the feeder. No greys came in my two hour stint. Like you the feeders aren’t being used a lot. Yes, we’ve certainly thinned out the greys. The owner of this wood is certainly chuffed to have the Reds established.

I haven’t any at present but in a month’s time I should have about 40 or so. They’ll be PPU once fired, if they’ll be any use to you. Could send just for the cost of postage

Beautiful morning out in the woods. Having removed a few greys from this wood recently, no greys appeared this morning, but three Reds on the same tree at the same time. Managed to capture two in one picture by the bird feeder. Interesting difference in colour. Then the Pheasant appeared. Photos not too clear as they were taken from 50 metres away.

Big feeders as well. Each have their uses. When you can consistently get out and effectively clear an area of greys you have the pleasure of watching Reds, if they are near enough to recolonise.

Another two from the trapping session on the Conservation wood this week. That’s five in total over two weeks and 120 trap days. Previous years averaged 40 in the trapping fortnight, but since last year’s trapping I have been shooting the 100 acres of wood to a single feeder position. It shows that persistent shooting to a feeder can get the numbers down and keep the numbers down. I’ll be putting the lift top feeder back this week and wait to see when I get the next off the feeder.

Another two trapped this week. Mature male and female. 989

Out this morning before dawn. Sitting on a picnic bench in the wood 50 metres away from a tree with a bird feeder. Two Red squirrels came for a feed, shortly followed by a female grey, which chased the Reds off. The grey then sat down on the ground at the base of the tree for it’s last meal. 10 minutes later a larger greys male arrives and obligingly sat in the same spot, same result. Hopefully the Reds will be able to enjoy their food undisturbed, for a while without being bullied.

Mature pair, male and female this morning. Total 978

The important thing is not to have a dispute with your neighbours, if there is a confrontation of any sort it will be on your file and could be referred to at a future renewal, or worse your guns could be removed.

I would go for tight to the floor otherwise in an older property over time you will have dust staining around the edges as there is air migration though the outside walls and sub-floor areas.

How could you do that! It’s on your doorstep. I drove all the way down from Lancashire and spent the day looking for you 😳😂

We just want to compare how many trapped traditionally after shooting for the year as opposed to the pre-shooting time. Nothing more- nothing less.

No, historically the woods hadn’t been shot and there were 30-40 squirrels trapped every year at this time. Because we wanted to maintain the trapping data on a similar basis I agreed not to use the feeders, nor shoot the wood for a month. So that the squirrels would return to their normal levels. There’s plenty of natural food about now. After the trapping of the other half of the wood this week, I’ll put the feeders back and see what else is about. The bottom line is that after shooting the wood for nearly a year I knew there were hardly any squirrels left, which is what the first week of trapping has shown.

Yes, I was there on Saturday. I agree with you it was probably the best show I have been to in recent years. A huge selection of useful stands - shooting orientated. When you realise this was the first year of the event it was an outstanding show. Looking forward to future shows. Realistically priced tickets and no parking charge!

One male this morning. 947

A mature grey male this morning but multiple Reds on the bird feeder.

Congratulations to Carl and the team, had a day out at the Stalking Show today and I have to say I think this has been the best shooting show that I’ve ever been to. How they managed to pull everything together for this new event was truly outstanding. Also nice to meet up with a few of the PW rifle shooters. Great to see Grandalf and Fruitloop. Now this could become an annual PW rifle shooters meet-up.