robbiep Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 A nearby farm had been empty for close on 3 years. It's only 80 acres or so, steep land, so it's a pain to farm, and the buildings were in a bit of a state. Anyway, a couple of months ago someone took the tenancy on. Met him at the time, briefly, and then last week when we were doing some fencing repairs on our top field, which borders on his. He asked if we wanted half the costs of the repairs, as his tenancy notes seem to show that the fence is shared responsibility. I said that I was quite happy to bear the cost - we had the posts and wire already, down on our yard, and it had been our sheep that had been getting through. (Old school, I suppose. I view it as I'm responsible for keeping my stock at home). Anyway, while we were chatting, he said that he was going to be getting his sheep on the top fields, and hopes to be lambing on the middle fields. But he's seen a couple of foxes in daylight. So I said "They're coming from a big den in the gorse patch (about 4-5 acres of gorse) between the 2 top fields, it's always active". "Do you shoot, then ?", he asks. "Yes. Shotgun, air rifle and rifle too. Had plenty of foxes on our land. But I've only got a closed FAC for the rifle", I reply. "Could you sort those foxes for me, and rabbits too ? There's hundreds of them out there. I'll sort you out a permission letter and map, and then you can use the rifle on there" Job sorted . Sent off the permission letter and map to NWP yesterday, we'll see how many months it takes them to get it done. Anyway, went out there with the red scope-mounted lamp and the air rifle last night. 17 rabbits for 20 shots, in a bit over an hour. And I only walked along 400 yards of one hedgeline of the land at most, so barely made a dent in the population. Dropped a few of the bunnies off by the big fox gorse patch, I'll see if I can get them used to food in an area, and then either cage trap or shotgun, if I can sort out a nice spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Nice one Robbie, sure the new owner will appreciate your efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 That sounds very promising, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 arrows m8.ask mr plod if u could get your fac opened to sort them foxes out ,word of mouth could get you more as his neighbours maybe worried bought them foxes too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Good luck with NWP, got to say they have been really good with me and getting land sorted in various areas in North Wales, mainly a chap called Loz jones who seems to do most land clearance for them, Cheshire firearms though are a totally different matter !!!. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) arrows m8.ask mr plod if u could get your fac opened to sort them foxes out ,word of mouth could get you more as his neighbours maybe worried bought them foxes too Oh, I know most of the farmers within 4 or 5 miles anyway. With my 20 acres round the house and yard, and the 60 acres that I own on the mountain, I never really bother with chasing permissions. In addition, we have about 30 sheep, so will be lambing next spring ourselves too. So being able to hammer the foxes on there is a nice bonus. Edited September 25, 2014 by robbiep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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