karl Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Hi folks, Just bought a second hand Theoben Fenman, absolutely immaculate condition for a great price. Anyway, I last went air gun hunting around 16yrs ago. I have been buying Airgunner and Air Gun World for the last three months and love reading the articles about hunting forays etc. I fully intend on eating most of the rabbits and pigeons I shoot but there will be a time where I won't. I fully understand that I will be shooting various species for pest control reasons and that there will be times when I will have more than enough for the pot. What I have not seen mention in the mags is how air gunners dispose of the quary that they do not want to eat. Where do you put a load of crows, magpies or rooks etc. Do you leave them in a hedgerow for nature to do it's thing? I can understand leaving a rabbit for a fox to feed on but is this really the correct practice? I know that rats should be burnt but what about the rest? Can anyone shed some light on this subject? I'm in the Swansea area if anyone is interested. Many thanks, Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 There are a few options. 1) Pet food 2) Double bag it and put it in the bin 3) A skip at work if you have one. 4) The odd one here and there on the way back to the car With an air gun though I doubt you will have that many to deal with though, anything edible then you can freeze it. It has also been known to freeze rooks and magpies to use as decoys next time you go out, they might ming after a bit but they look better than the plastic ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl Posted March 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 I don't have a freezer! Yeah, I know that's a bit wierd to some folk but this way we have to stick to fresh food etc. MInd you, I would like a chest freezer for the simply for the convinience factor but would have to convince her in doors! I can't see me ever going for the frozen decoy option though! I like the double bagging idea and I do have a Border Collie who loves meat so the pet food option is good too. Sometimes things are so simple that you need to have them pointed out. Thanks for the reply Snakebite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony9r Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 Have a chat with your neighbours... you may be surprised how many people would love the chance of a rabbit/pigeon for tea (especially the more "mature" folk) Just last night I was stopped by a guy living at the back of me as I was loading up the truck requesting a couple of rabbit's for the pot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theskyfox Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 If you get anything particuarly edible, always worth offering to the landowner/friends/family. I find theyre usually more than happy to help out. Otherwise the occasional one or two left in the ditch won't do any harm, but be careful because they can encourage foxes etc which won't make you popular if its a farm! Kudos on the magazines, they're the same ones I get...very good reading! Enjoy your shooting and don't forget to post field reports and photos ! Happy Hunting, -Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Thanks for the advise guys, always appreciated. Theskyfox, nice armoury mate! I'm off to Swansea Rifle Club tomorrow or Tuesday to get my Fenman + scope zeroed and then it's off into the Welsh countryside for some shooting, (once I've touched base with an associate whose Grandfather has a farm nearby). What attracts me the most is hide shooting. Not sure why, perhaps the thought of fooling quarry into thinking that those lifeless lumps of plastic are their long lost cousins who happen to have found a hoard of food! I sound as though I'm running before I can walk but it's the enthusiasm speaking. Blame it on the well written ariticles in the mags!! Once again, thanks for the replies. Keep in touch and I'll let you know how I get on. By the way, do you know any sites that have articles like those in the mags or just any sites that are of particular interest to our sport? Kind regards, Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Hi folks,Just bought a second hand Theoben Fenman, absolutely immaculate condition for a great price. Anyway, I last went air gun hunting around 16yrs ago. I have been buying Airgunner and Air Gun World for the last three months and love reading the articles about hunting forays etc. I fully intend on eating most of the rabbits and pigeons I shoot but there will be a time where I won't. I fully understand that I will be shooting various species for pest control reasons and that there will be times when I will have more than enough for the pot. What I have not seen mention in the mags is how air gunners dispose of the quary that they do not want to eat. Where do you put a load of crows, magpies or rooks etc. Do you leave them in a hedgerow for nature to do it's thing? I can understand leaving a rabbit for a fox to feed on but is this really the correct practice? I know that rats should be burnt but what about the rest? Can anyone shed some light on this subject? I'm in the Swansea area if anyone is interested. Many thanks, Karl. ROOKS RABBITS SQUIRRELS pigeons. dont throw em skin and gut, pop in a large oven tin slow roast in a low oven for about 3 hrs or till they are well brown. then cover well with water, and slow roast for about 3/4 hrs on a low oven. strain the stock and boil to reduce by half let it cool slightly and pour into warm jars with a spoon of lard, put tight lids on while still hot allow to cool and save it for the best gravy ever. then strip the meat off and what you dont eat feed the dog with it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl Posted April 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Thanks Peter, Lets face it though, if I went through that much effort the dog wouldn't get a look in! When you said 'cover well with water' I take it you don't mean to totally cover them? You say 'a low oven'. Are you using gas? We have electric so I'd have to work that one out. I'm going to have to research as to what the difference is between a rook, blackbird and a crow is. Any takers on helping me with that one?!! Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 I'm going to have to research as to what the difference is between a rook, blackbird and a crow is. Any takers on helping me with that one?!! I don't mean to come across as condescending in any way but one of the most important aspects of shooting in any form is quarry identification. Have a google, click "images" and search for the different quarry you are interested in. If you don't know the difference between a blackbird and a crow you shouldn't be shooting anything with a face just yet. Whatever you do don't point a gun at anything until you know beyond doubt exactly what it is and that you are legally entitled to shoot it. Have a look at this link and familiarise yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 And just to add to Pins comment, Just because it is there doesn't mean you have to shoot it. Balance "pest control" with "total extinction". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEFTY478 Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Clich here for link to Directory of British birds and do your target recognition homework. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl Posted April 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2007 I don't take ANYONES comments as condescending because I did say that I will have to 'research' the difference between a rook and a crow etc. I know what a magpie looks like, I know the difference between rabbits and hairs, red and grey squirrels, I know the difference between a collared dove, wood pigeon and ferral pigeon and I am able to identify a Jay! I am not getting back into this with my eyes closed. As an Army Skill at Arms Instructor, (Weapons instructor). Handling weapons in a responsible way is second nature to me and I have a high level of awareness of how the countryside works and with this comes the knowledge of identification of quarry. All advice is welcome and is never taken in a condescending way. One bit of advice that was offered to me through this thread was to ask the 'older' neighbours if they would like a rabbit etc from one of my forays. I have asked a couple of them and they're 'game' for it! All I need to do now is to actually get out on a foray i.e. get some land to shoot upon. I have the Easter weekend off so I intend on getting out and knocking a few doors. Rest assured that if I get lucky I will keep you all posted. Keep the replies coming though as it's great to chat with like minded folks. All the best, Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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