bodach Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 From todays Press & Journal, never heard of that before. Warning after gundog savaged by huge seal A DOG suffered horrific injuries and was put down after being savaged by a seal near Newburgh – just weeks after warning signs were pulled down. Yesterday, wildfowler Matthew Will was still in shock after plunging into freezing waters to try to rescue the bloodied and drowning three-year-old pet. The 21-year-old said trained gundog Fly had jumped into the water to retrieve a downed duck when the seal attacked. “There was a sudden and terrific thrashing and howling in the water,” he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 That must have been devastating to for that poor guy to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Nightmare scenario! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 When I was out with ayano3 on Saturday he warned that if your dog gets close to the seals it could be attacked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoggy Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I`ve heard of this happening a few years ago to another Wildfowler on the east coast. Those seals have extremely sharp teeth, and alot of them. A dog would stand no chance. Terrible for the dog and the owner to witness it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodach Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I also windsurf and in Tiree the ******* come right up for a look, won't say a butchers now, feeking things teeth are huge wish some Orcas would migrate to here and start to reduce the numbers of the *******, every day I see them in the Cromarty firth and to think the amount of salmon and sea trout they catch! Bod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gutty Boots Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 When shooting on the sea wall in the Beauly Firth, the seals, sometimes in great numbers, can be within 100 yards of your position on the sand bars, depending on the state of the tide. It is often required to take the dogs downstream behind the sea wall to a safe distance from the seals before allowing the retrieve. I can only imagine how sickening that would have been to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I've had them come swimming up one of the creaks on my marsh and I could nearly pat them on the head my marsh has loads of them better be more careful I think must have been horrific to have seen it and for the poor dog....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Had a few around when surfing, scared me witless a few times. I feel for this guy what horrible thing to have to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 was told about this myself when i first started wildfowling...but sad news for the guy and his dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Only one solution for seals............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldivalloch Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Google "Press & Journal" and read the whole article, folks. It's pretty graphic.The poor lad had to shoot his dog to put it out of its misery. There's a huge number of seals here where I live and they often come within twenty yards or so when I'm out on the beaches with my black Lab, which is seven months old and very inquisitive. It's only the Cuddly Bunny brigade that find seals attractive. They may look appealing, with their big googly eyes, but they're not terribly pleasant to be around. I tend to side with the salmon fishermen and the fish-farmers, who would like to see their numbers reduced. Sealskin slippers for Christmas, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlin vs Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Only one solution for seals............... +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I took Wildfowler 1984 fowling a couple of weeks back. As we rowed out a huge bull seal popped it head up 4 ft from the boat staring at us. Wf1984 c**ped himself! The seal proceeded to swim under the boat and bump the hull of it (which i have to admit was a little unnerving) it followed us for 400 meters or so and watched us pull up on an island and unload all our gear. We walked 400-500 meters across the island to get to another creek and blow me once i'd put all the decoys out, up it popped again! I was shooting the Beauly firth a few years back and dropped a goose out in the water, the guide refused to send his dog to retrieve it because the seals were known to attack them. Sure enough as the goose floated down the firth, a seal came up and took it! I was absolutely gob smacked! If there are seals about keep your dog on a lead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pro_carper Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Had two bobbing around in my decoys last week lucky there was no ducks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 When I was out with ayano3 on Saturday he warned that if your dog gets close to the seals it could be attacked. Theres bits of the marsh that you'll get to know where the seals are no more than 5 yards away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geth25182889 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Theres loads of seals on the marsh i shoot. im always cautious of them, and will be even more so after hearing of this terrible incident. I was out lastyear and just after dark i heard this blood curdling roar behind me like a t-rex or a lion. I was absolutly terrified and just froze to the spot. When i eventually decided that i couldnt sit there all night and remembered that i did have a gun, i stood up and it turned out to be a big cow seal which i could just see in the half light a few yards away on the bank. The frightning thing is, that it must of been sat on the bank only 5-6yards away for at least 30mins and i didnt even know it was there! its no wonder my dog wouldnt settle down. When i walked back to the car park, i could hear spashing and growling noises and i became aware that there were other seals following me and my dog back along the drain and i got the sense from their behaviour that they were not at all freindly like we are led to believe. It seems to me that the numbers are multiplying more and more along the lincolnshire coast. when i go out fishing in my boat, we are always pestered by them taking cod and mackerel off our hooks before we even get them near the surface. if its not that, then they rub themselves on the anchor rope and you end up drifting miles without knowing it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I was shooting the Beauly firth a few years back and dropped a goose out in the water, the guide refused to send his dog to retrieve it because the seals were known to attack them. Sure enough as the goose floated down the firth, a seal came up and took it! I was absolutely gob smacked! If there are seals about keep your dog on a lead! Beauly Firth is full of seals. Never really heard of them going for a dog though until now. Out of interest, how long did it take for the seal to grab the goose? I think they must get a lot of injured birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoggy Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 Thankfully on the inland Washes I shoot there are no Seals but we have witnessed them on the tidal river adjacent to the fields. Definately one of the benefits of Inland shooting!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 Beauly Firth is full of seals. Never really heard of them going for a dog though until now. Out of interest, how long did it take for the seal to grab the goose? I think they must get a lot of injured birds. It was in the water for 5-10 mins before it started bobbing down where they were playing with it. A minuet or so after that they dragged it down and it was gone... Sod putting your dog in there with that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 (edited) It was in the water for 5-10 mins before it started bobbing down where they were playing with it. A minuet or so after that they dragged it down and it was gone... Sod putting your dog in there with that!!! Thanks for the reply in all honestly though, the likelihood of a seal going for a dog must be pretty slim. If there's a bird down, my dog's got to go for it either way *unless of course there was a seal obviously out near where you wanted the dog to go. But if I hadn't seen one then the dog can go fetch Edited October 12, 2012 by wildfowler.250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 Thanks for the reply in all honestly though, the likelihood of a seal going for a dog must be pretty slim. If there's a bird down, my dog's got to go for it either way *unless of course there was a seal obviously out near where you wanted the dog to go. But if I hadn't seen one then the dog can go fetch I agree... that is the only bird i've lost due to a seal. i still send my dog to get birds in our estuary as long as there are no seals about. if there are i'd wait for them to clear off and then send her for it... If i thought there was the slightest risk of her getting into trouble then she stays with me. For the sake of one bird it just isn't worth the risk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 For the sake of one bird it just isn't worth the risk! Very true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 I went out this morning, after packing up and retrieving the decoys a seal popped it head up about 10m from the bank. A few minuets later another 2 joined it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 I shoot at that spot the fella was at and wont be using the dug there again.Where he was theres a wee burn that the birds follow and can be a good flightline but wont be risking puting the dog in again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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