NatureBoy

Perhaps it's time to share the fred the eagle vids he made last year. Same forest. Same clothes. Same snow and shadows in background. BUT! As he said himself filmed weeks apart! Lies!

I hope it would Motty! Been some huge bags shot my way in last few years! I would just like to carry on how we were! Using common sense and field craft to shoot pigeons and crows as and when they need to be and opportunity presented. Over crops, pasture, stubble, drilling's, flight lining and roost shooting. Carry on trapping crows/magpies and destroy there nests when it easiest! It worked! Farmers were happy song birds thrived and it keeps populations in check! There are Farms/shoots near me and elsewhere that have won conservation awards that prove it works with data and ringing to back it up!. Conservation orgs know of them but seem-reluctant to listen, work with or publicise them because they are commercial shoots. Been bringing on a growing number of english partridges over the last few years. We have a very significant number of the UK turtle dove population breed locally to. Because of corvid /vermin control, poviding feeding and habitat. They will be turning up soon. It's a shame these folk don't listen to or want to help others that are doing pest control and the real conservation work! Rant over! NB

Very true! But do you think if pigeons were allowed to be baited/feed in it would change the way and how many pigeons are shot? Guilds selling more days and shooting huge bags? NB

I think he's sly and worse than Packham! Tho he's lost a lot of credibility in recent years peddling false information! NB

I agree they should be classed as a pest and shot whenever problems occur and opportunity presents to control them.! But do you think they should be able to be shot without any restrictions how it's done?? If so i could see the commercial boys that sell big days having and doing most of the shooting. NB

You right there JDog! We and they have known about it since WJ was launched! NB

Some interesting reading/info/debate on Avery's blog. Pigeon pie and the general license. Song bird science etc, NB

My father reckoned my granddad would hand squeak hares in and catch them by hand or with a sack by walking round them in decreasing circles. They squatted and froze and some screamed. Bit like a stoat working round a rabbit in a hypnotic way. NB

Thanks for all ya help and advice chaps! Going for bfg's at's 31x10.5x15 Bit bigger and not cheap but need to get it proper sorted for off road after getting my ol Chevy i bin using stuck in the fields again at weekend. Was like 4 seasons in 1 day shooting yesterday with thunder and rainbows thrown in. NB

Just got a older 2005 ranger for shooting truck after bad smash in my ol disco. Any recommendations of what A/T tyres to put on it? Was thinking bfg's but they an odd size (265/70/15 ) and they don't seem to do them? Any other problems with them i should look out for? Pleased with it so far. Very tidy. bit noisy but pulls like a train. Don't think it ever been off road seen a builders bucket or farmyard. NB

Recon blue etc in the pics has been retouched? Looks all planted up around and in it. Done by well known wild swimming pond company tho. Another big one they done locally a while back looks great now its established and matured. Loads of wildlife around and in it. Could be best of both worlds. All the other trees and shrubs he's had planted up round it will look good and benefit wildlife to. Tho he's had run ins with planners over a chapel and cart lodge etc in past to. Used to fish some lovely old secluded ponds near there that had 2lb plus pure crusian carp big rudd and huge eels in them. good times! Most cleared out by mink and otters now. NB

Was worth watching at end for Pink! Shame she now such a big supporter of PETA.

Could be moorhens? They very active at night opposite mine and some of there calls sound very strange in the still of night. coots the same. Both will be pairing up and getting very territorial about now. Very noisy when disturbed. Do you see either about during the day? NB

Very interesting thread! I had started to think the same MM. Numbers here in mid Suffolk well down for the third winter running now. Very few flocks about and very few flighting or in the woods. Hardly any gas guns or scarers out this year either. I shoot over 9 farms approx 4000 acres and think i will need to be looking for more?. Hard to find birds to set up for anywhere at the moment. 4 plus years ago and with a bit of fieldcraft i could shoot 20 plus most outings anywhere and 1200 a year. Been less than half that the last 2 years. Half the perms are shared and 2 recent retired fellas shoot a couple during the week. Over the last 2/3 years i have heard of a few huge Autumn/spring bags of between 500 and 1100 birds taken locally. Some of the shooters recon it doesn't make any difference to local population as birds move around? I am not so sure unless hard weather push them about? I have noticed particularly the last 2 winters on game shoots with maze covers that birds have been going in them to feed and not moving unless disturbed. There are about 25 to 70 birds in most drives. With so many shoots now relying on maze covers in the area it's easier for the lower numbers to hide a feed all day without disturbance. When they are they just lift circle round and drop back in or to another cover because they know they are safe. i don't think they had a very good breeding season this way last year. With a lot of the early nests failing or predatored. . .It's not all bad! just have to adapt and work harder for less. Walking more fields hedges farm yards and roost shooting. Less pigeons, but lot more squirrels crows couple of foxes plenty of rats a mink and the odd rabbit. Nice to see so many woodcock about few more snipe to. Lot more english partridge about and doing so well. Just my rambling thoughts on it. Atb. NB

Cheers 7days! Disco a rite off tho! Had to smash me way out of sun roof into bottom of ditch. Had 40+ pheasants and 2 hare on board at the time. That took a bit of explaining to rescuers and emergency services! Said i was testing new enviromentaly friendly air bags. NB

Out with a bang! Dosed up with pain killers recovering from smashing up my disco Saturday night! Came off worse after an encounter with a bunch of fallow deer and a tree! Strange year! Friends lost! Few gained! Tears n laughter! Good times! Bad times! Mainly just glad to still be here! happy new year folks! Atb. NB

Same in Mid Suffolk Jdog! Small coveys still holding there own on several farms around there. See them most outings. Think fewer buzzards about helping to. Plus we were able to hit the crow population hard during the hot dry spell. Several woodcock about to. Seeing more lapwing and golden plover about on the fields than i have for many years. Most hedges nearly stripped if berries now. Pigeons starting to get on the rape now it's getting knocked back. But not many around this way and most finding there way in to game covers. Local ringers were still catching and ringing chiffchaff and blackcap last month. NB

Cant ask him Bob! He was killed out right! All still a bit raw! I prob wouldn't of been bothered, asked or cared any other time! just bit if that footage touched a nerve! I hope these tactics and stingers work and send the message they are saying it is and they punish them hard ! NB

Thanks for that cheery comment Fuddster! But i aint got a Mrs no more ta! I agree they are low life that need sorting! What i meant by them been non nationals was they don't care and have little to loose, and because they are it maybe why they haven't been targeted and tackled harder by the law before now! First viewing of that footage made me personally feel surprisingly uneasy and that's why i asked other bikers oppion! But that could because a mate got taken out and killed by reckless car driver last week. Laws and sentencing need to be enforced to deal with them and others! NB

I am not saying it's wright or wrong! Just i really didn't find scoots getting wacked and bodies tossed about like rag dolls criminals or not funny or laughable! They do need sorting out tho! Many are non nationals with very different values. Maybe that is partly why it's became such a big problem! There is so much wrong with our system and society at the mo! NB

I am far from a snowflake or a 'hand wringer'!! But out of interest, how many other bikers on here viewed that footage and laughed and think such action is ok? Walker, back in the day under what circs and for what reasons would you use ram to stop tactics on motorcycles? NB

Agree with you there PP!! They maybe cirms. But i think that footage would make most of us that ride feel uneasy! Lost mate and lifetime biker last week to car driver who took him out rather than hit another car! NB

Lot more lapwings in mid Suffolk at the mo to! More golden plover with them as well. Great to see hear and watch. Seem to turn up in the same fields/areas about this time every year in various numbers. As they have done for many years. Not so many pigeons about or on the rape. They starting to build up in the cover crops tho. More English partridge about than have been for many years. So hopefully hitting the crows harder is paying off. Seems to be fewer little egrets about. NB

Nice pic WD! Is that a great white or little egret? Hard to judge size from pic but legs look very pale/yellow if little. NB

Haven't been under it myself properly HV. Leaking, chucking it out at the rear. Garage said front weeping/wet rotten to and would probably fail if just the rear was done. And like you, they said it not cheap or easy to do. NB