seasons highlight

whitser

seasons over now for most. what was the best day/highlight/hunt of your season?
mine was a hunt on xmass eve. my hounds picked up a fox and hunted him in full cry for about half hour crossing river and ditch and back again. he ran them in a big circle back to near the little wood where they picked him up. he went to ground in a earth on a big bank. we entered my terrier and had him out a while after a hard little dig. he was dispatched swiftly and the hounds were given their deserved rag. foxecution at its most natural and effective and selective. a fine big dog fox accounted for, no doubt he would've helped himself to some of them juicy lambs come lambing time. i was happy,hounds were happy,terrier was happy and very importantly the farmer was happy.

meathstevie

A fox through his left eye with the hornet out lamping in atrocious wheather a couple of weeks ago and a double on snipe sometime earlier in the seaon ( can't remember the date but bejaysus do I remember the shots ).

foxshooter243

:nine foxes for nine shots one november night, and one of them a moving shot, with my good old 220 swift:D sorry whitser

whitser

ouch,it hurts me to read that. good shooting though. but next time think of the likes of me and maybe let numbers 7,8and 9 go for the hounds.

Terrier

7 from 7 while out lamping in December & my 8 month old Patterdale finding and killing a large male Mink:D

whitser

never got or even seen a mink. i'd say they tough little ****ers, well done the patterdale pup. im hoping to find a stretch of water in the summer that will hold a mink on it so i can introduce the roundtower harriers to some mink hunting. i've heard theres some on a river that flows through swords,co.dublin.

foxshooter243

whitser wrote: »

ouch,it hurts me to read that. good shooting though. but next time think of the likes of me and maybe let numbers 7,8and 9 go for the hounds.

yeah we halted our lamping season at xmas though, to give next years a chance;)

foxshooter243

whitser wrote: »

never got or even seen a mink. i'd say they tough little ****ers, well done the patterdale pup. im hoping to find a stretch of water in the summer that will hold a mink on it so i can introduce the roundtower harriers to some mink hunting. i've heard theres some on a river that flows through swords,co.dublin.

talking of mink, i was out with my springer dog a few years back and we took a walk past a small stream, the springer was switched on big time and
seemed to be concentrating down in the stream just at the waterline.
well i watched him for about ten minutes and he was scraping and digging
and shoving his head underwater but nothing showed so i thought okay
hes ratting, so i pulled him off his hunt and we walked on, later on as we
were heading home past the same stream ,the dog went straight back to work,so i thought ill give him some time and i stood back and watched him again-after 5 or 10 mins he flushed a mink up a small tree, the mink was so intent upon the dog he never noticed me shoulder the shotgun, that was my only encounter with a mink.

bitemybanger

Highlight for me was picking up my lovley new Tikka T3 and getting my first fox with it:D

meathstevie

Whitser, if you're thinking about the Broadmeadows river I suppose you can safely assume the place is fairly rotten with them. Since Swords has been expanding out west I don't think a lot of vermin control has been done on it's banks as it's too close too housing developments to shoot or leave traps out with any peace of mind.

riflehunter77

Every chance i got out was a highlight for me, thats the great thing about hunting :D.. But it is usually always the first pheasant of the season..

bunny shooter

whitser wrote: »

my hounds picked up a fox and hunted him in full cry for about half hour crossing river and ditch and back again. he ran them in a big circle back to near the little wood where they picked him up. he went to ground in a earth on a big bank. we entered my terrier and had him out a while after a hard little dig. he was dispatched swiftly and the hounds were given their deserved rag

Chase part is fine, but I personally don't agree with the digging out part. I don't see how that is giving the fox a sporting chance. I know they are vermin but I think they deserve a sporting chance. Just my opinion. I also agree each to their own, as long as no laws are broken.

foxshooter243

bunny shooter wrote: »

Chase part is fine, but I personally don't agree with the digging out part. I don't see how that is giving the fox a sporting chance. I know they are vermin but I think they deserve a sporting chance. Just my opinion. I also agree each to their own, as long as no laws are broken.

yeah me too..ive always believed that an animal in its den should be afforded sanctuary so to speak..but as you say each to their own.

Jonty

11 out of 11 foxies first night out with my new t3 tactical

foxshooter243

Jonty wrote: »

11 out of 11 foxies first night out with my new t3 tactical

thats how to "break in" a new rifle:D:D

mallards

Most memorable moment for me was Rosie my Brittany pointing a woodcock, then flushing it. I winged it as it flew over a large sloe bush. I sent the dog who went round the left side of the bushes. I then witnessed the woodcock make his way through the bush back towards me. It popped out about 15 feet in front of me and hid behind a rock. My buddy was shouting from the far side “She’s on it!". I then watched my dog slowly but methodically work its way through the bush till it froze on point inches from the woodcock. The Woodcock fanned its tail in surprise or anger and the dog picked it up. It then raced over to me and popped it into my hand. Priceless! :cool:

Mallards.

Jonty

foxshooter243 wrote: »

thats how to "break in" a new rifle:D:D

A pity I can't keep it up.

pestshooter7

well the highlight would have to be a fox, shot on the run with BB's @ 42 yards!
When it was examined three pellets in the head and 6 in the chest!
Died instantly! I was amazing! Didnt think the pellets would carry that much power at that range!

triggerpull

I was out looking for bunnies in my favourite haunt. I was prone behind a tree lined bank ready to stalk the other side. As I crawled up to the lip of the bank and started to sweep the hedge row on the far side I stopped dead. 20 yards in front of me and coming at me was the most beautiful fox I have ever seen. Looking at it centered in my scope with my finger on the trigger he stopped and looked at me.a perfect head with pointed ears erect and forward abig white chest and the rest was a deep fox red with black socks It felt like minutes but was only seconds. My heart was thumping in my chest I stood up slowly and watched as he/she retreated back across the field. Nothing in the bag that day but the memory of a perfect days hunting for me. I couldn't ask for more.

whitser

foxshooter243 wrote: »

yeah me too..ive always believed that an animal in its den should be afforded sanctuary so to speak..but as you say each to their own.

i cant actually believe the comments i've just read,from bunnyhunter and foxshooter, im in shock. this is supposed to be a hunting forum. are sports are under attack all the time from the anti's and then you read so called hunters coming out with **** like this. im trying really hard to keep this civil but my blood is boiling, for fcuk sake lads, you talk about shooting 9 foxes with a high powered rifle then look down your nose at me. fcuking cheeking bxxxxxx.
what chance have we against gormley and co. when some so called hunters come out with that crap. im in shock.

It wasn't me!

No need to lose the rag. Keep it civil. People are fully entitled to hold opinions with regard to their sport. I would agree with them and say I don't believe in digging out foxes. So what if they're shooting several in a night? The principle is there. And so what if they use a rifle? It's more efficient.

Horses for courses mate, but they can disagree with digging out if they like. It's a practice that's stopped in many areas and isn't very widely practised anymore, and I feel that's for the best. You're entitled to your opinion, as are they, but you're also obliged to keep it civil, lest you lose your posting privileges.

whitser

i seriously cant believe this. im on other forums and i've never come across this before. hunters actually knocking other hunters. well we're in trouble with gormley etc when lads are prepared to carry on like this. should i tell the farmer "sorry i couldnt kill that fox for you because he ran to ground" i wouldn't be long loosing my permission. you talk about rifles, a friend of mine caught a fox this year with his hounds that had a hole in its hip where he'd been shot and got away, it was rotten with infection. i dont come on here knocking lads that shoot with rifles,in fact i said i'd support your right to do it, and i have lads looking down their noses at me. its a joke.

It wasn't me!

No you don't. You have a bunch of people saying they don't mind if you do it but would have reservations about doing it themselves. What's the difference between digging it out and waiting until that night and lamping it, in practical terms? Really, you're the only one getting snide or nasty about this. Nobody's looking down their nose at you, just saying they wouldn't do it themselves, which they're entitled to decide for themselves.

tiny-nioclas

things are getting very reactionary around here very quickly arent they.......

whitser

im not being snide. i put up a post asking lads what the highlight of their season was. i didnt ask lads to pass comment on my sport. its a tradtional form and effective pest control. as for lamping what if the fox is lamp shy? fact is no one method of fox control is the ultimate solution to fox control.and im entitled to defend my sport against anyone who tries to knock it. as i said before this is a hunting forum and its united we stand.....and knocking one form of hunting as apposed to another only helps the antis

It wasn't me!

Nobody took exception to your sport. They just said they wouldn't do it. You would do well to just relax and care less about what you think strangers say on the internet.

bitemybanger

Whistler, you're really getting off on the wrong foot on this fourm, we are hunters but not cold, heartless hunters, I personally have huge respect for anything i am hunting especially a fox, the only time i have ever dug on a den or warren is to retrive a terrier or ferret.

whitser

i didnt ask them would they do it or not,i asked lads what the highlight to their season was. what if i answered posts on here from lads who shoot that i disagree with this and that.....if you've positive or constructive to add to a post maybe you'd be better off saying nothing.

bunny shooter

Whitser,

I have reported you're post to mods. no need for that kind of reaction. There are hot heads on both sides of the debate and you are obviously ours. I don't agree with what you do and any amount of ranting from you won't change my mind ! I am entitled to my opinions, as are you. What you are not entitled to do is ram yours down my throat !

whitser

i can understand an anti's position but i cant understand yours. your quite happy to shoot an animal but you have a problem with me using dogs. the end result is the same. i find your position more of a threat to my sport then the anti's themselves because hunters who are ready to knock other hunters are only going to weaken our argument. im not trying to force my opinion on anyone, you where the first one to post an opinion on my choosen way of hunting. i simply put up a post about hunting season highlights.

whitser

bitemybanger wrote: »

Whistler, you're really getting off on the wrong foot on this fourm, we are hunters but not cold, heartless hunters, I personally have huge respect for anything i am hunting especially a fox, the only time i have ever dug on a den or warren is to retrive a terrier or ferret.

i also have huge respect for the fox, my choosen quarry. and i know it takes a really good dog to account for one wether that be above or below the ground. am i heartless cos i dug a fox, and other lads who shoot them aren't?

bunny shooter

Where is the sport in digging an animal out of it's den ? If I am shooting it has a chance to escape !

bunny shooter

whitser wrote: »

i can understand an anti's position but i cant understand yours. your quite happy to shoot an animal but you have a problem with me using dogs. the end result is the same. i find your position more of a threat to my sport then the anti's themselves because hunters who are ready to knock other hunters are only going to weaken our argument. im not trying to force my opinion on anyone, you where the first one to post an opinion on my choosen way of hunting. i simply put up a post about hunting season highlights.

I posted my opinion. You don't agree with it. I don't agree with yours. I didn't attack you.

As far as I'm concerned this matter is finished.

whitser

has a chance to escape alright probably with a bullet in its hip, it'll die sooner or later. least with hounds and terriers its either killed or gets away. i didnt join this forum to have to defend my sport to other HUNTERS for gods sake. as i keep saying united we stand....

NoNameRanger

bunny shooter wrote: »

Where is the sport in digging an animal out of it's den ? If I am shooting it has a chance to escape !

This statement proves one thing bunny shooter, you know nothing about digging foxes! Don't start that ****e about what is and isn't a sport or sporting.

I sympathise with you Whitser to a certain degree, I would not dismiss any form of legal hunting. I have done every form of legal hunting in my lifetime and some that have been made illegal since. Hunters should have more sense than to comment on forms of hunting that hey know nothing about. This is what the antis do! And this is what we always criticise about the antis.

Fox digging is a fine sport when done properly, the fox is held at bay by a terrier till it is dug and then it should be dispatched with a shot to the head in the earth. There are those that don't mind digging the "black and white" and have brutal ways of killing the animal and they are the ones i'd love to catch.

Hunting with hounds is nesscessary to pick up the injured animals as Whitser said. And when used with shotguns at the end of a cover is an excellant way of picking up lamp shy foxes. Shooting foxes with a rifle should not be seen as the only means needed for fox control. United we stand, divided we fall.;)

It wasn't me!

People really need to just drop the agendas and let each other get on with things. I personally wouldn't dig a fox out, wouldn't feel right doing so, for my own reasons. If someone else does, fine, it's perfectly legal and they're entitled to do so. Can we get back to the hunting stories and stop asking what is and what isn't sporting?

foxshooter243

whitser wrote: »

i can understand an anti's position but i cant understand yours. your quite happy to shoot an animal but you have a problem with me using dogs. the end result is the same. i find your position more of a threat to my sport then the anti's themselves because hunters who are ready to knock other hunters are only going to weaken our argument. im not trying to force my opinion on anyone, you where the first one to post an opinion on my choosen way of hunting. i simply put up a post about hunting season highlights.

whitser , you made the first reference to other peoples methods of fox control, when you stated that you didnt like to see guys shooting large number of foxes by lamping , no one hurled abuse and acted like a three year old spitting the dummy, when that was said, but the minute any reference is made to your chosen method you go off on one, but ill just put it down to you being the sensitive type:D

bunny shooter

NoNameRanger wrote: »

This statement proves one thing bunny shooter, you know nothing about digging foxes! Don't start that ****e about what is and isn't a sport or sporting.

I sympathise with you Whitser to a certain degree, I would not dismiss any form of legal hunting. I have done every form of legal hunting in my lifetime and some that have been made illegal since. Hunters should have more sense than to comment on forms of hunting that hey know nothing about. This is what the antis do! And this is what we always criticise about the antis.

Fox digging is a fine sport when done properly, the fox is held at bay by a terrier till it is dug and then it should be dispatched with a shot to the head in the earth. There are those that don't mind digging the "black and white" and have brutal ways of killing the animal and they are the ones i'd love to catch.

Hunting with hounds is nesscessary to pick up the injured animals as Whitser said. And when used with shotguns at the end of a cover is an excellant way of picking up lamp shy foxes. Shooting foxes with a rifle should not be seen as the only means needed for fox control. United we stand, divided we fall.;)

It was a question not a statement ! There is a question mark at the end of the sentence !

That the best answer you have for the question ? I reckon you know it's not sporting but won't admit same.

I know more than you credit me for. Like fox cubs being dug out and sold as bait for certain legal sports. Not saying all terrier men are doing this but there is a good bit of it going on in my area under the guise of fox control !

As I said it wasn't for me but I also said each to their own ! A lot of farmers in my area willn't allow digging of foxes but will allow all other methods.

Public opinion is turning against us and we should do everything we can to ensure the cowboys are put out of business, as this is what it is to some !

NoNameRanger

bunny shooter wrote: »

It was a question not a statement ! There is a question mark at the end of the sentence !

That the best answer you have for the question ? I reckon you know it's not sporting but won't admit same.

I know more than you credit me for. Like fox cubs being dug out and sold as bait for certain legal sports. Not saying all terrier men are doing this but there is a good bit of it going on in my area under the guise of fox control !

As I said it wasn't for me but I also said each to their own ! A lot of farmers in my area willn't allow digging of foxes but will allow all other methods.

Public opinion is turning against us and we should do everything we can to ensure the cowboys are put out of business, as this is what it is to some !

bunny shooter wrote: »

If I am shooting it has a chance to escape !

This statement proves one thing bunny shooter, you know nothing about digging foxes!

bunny shooter wrote: »

Where is the sport in digging an animal out of it's den ?

As for your question, my reply/answer was:
"Don't start that sh1te about what is and isn't a sport or sporting."
Thats anti lingo!
It is not a debate i want to get into with a fellow hunter, i could ask you the same question. But i won't ask any hunter to justify their sport or activites provided they are legal.

I don't dig foxes anymore, some of my mates do and i know they are doing it the right way. It is very humane when done right. I have seen it done the wrong way many years ago and it was done that way because nobody knew any better. But they learned. The usual offenders are young men new to the sport who know no better. My biggest problem with digging foxes is the possibility of finding a badger looking up at you as you open the hole. Which then means you have committed an offence.

I know all about the cowboys but they exist in every form of hunting including lamping foxes and deer shooting. This does not give us a reason to put down the guys that are doing it right and to label their sport or activity.
There is negative sides to lamping foxes also but i won't be pointing them out. That would be shooting myself in the foot. Let it go lads, don't be battling eachother.
If it came to a public vote, any hunter that voted against digging foxes without ever seeing it done properly would be no better than the Anti's.

bunny shooter

I agree, lets leave well enough alone and not feed the anti frenzy or the hot heads within our sphere

foxshooter243

and peace was restored to the valley......:D

ivanthehunter

:DBut it took decades for the green glow of the plants and the fox numbers to return........ :DWOW

foxshooter243

ivanthehunter wrote: »

:DBut it took decades for the green glow of the plants and the fox numbers to return........ :DWOW

ivan your priceless:D:D

stevoman

I think there should be a change made to the charter on this forum.

This is a hunting forum after all and we should be allowed to discuss freely different aspests of hunting once it is within the laws of this country. I thinks its crazy watching members of this forum getting into arguements over what they think is right and what they think is wrong about different forms of hunting.

If the anti's or the Greens got their way in the morning and made announcments that they were to start banning diferent forms of hunting, everybody would be crying to stand together, so why are'nt we know? Its ridiculous!

Banjax

This thread, perhaps more than any other so far, is an example of why I want to quit this forum. I asked Sparks when he was a moderater (ah the glory days eh?) to no avail, and I've asked Devore to delete me but he/she ignored my request.

I've only had a limited amount of experience regarding online forums but this one is the worst. Anyone with questions a little bit out of the ordinary are lambasted, anyone with opinons contrary to that popular with those members who make up the status-quo are lambasted, anyone who is a little bit cavalier in their attitudes is condemned as a cancer on our sport.

And our sport, what is it exactly? it seems to be getting narrower in terms of definition day by day, and those practising what is, for whatever fanciful reason, considered "cruel" are vilified, or at the very least attempted to be vilified.

I'm not whinging, I don't want to change anyones mind or save the beached whale that symbolises the closed mindedness and smug self righteousness of this forum in general.
Just delete me, I can read stuff as a guest easy enough and be content that I can't reply to it.

And save your damned awful finger wagging, good riddances, and snide guff for someone who is naive enough to care. The downfall of the internet forum is it makes brave men out of everyone, anything can be said without fear of consequence or manner, I'm tired of it.

Delete me please.

stevoman

Banjax wrote: »

This thread, perhaps more than any other so far, is an example of why I want to quit this forum. I asked Sparks when he was a moderater (ah the glory days eh?) to no avail, and I've asked Devore to delete me but he/she ignored my request.

I've only had a limited amount of experience regarding online forums but this one is the worst. Anyone with questions a little bit out of the ordinary are lambasted, anyone with opinons contrary to that popular with those members who make up the status-quo are lambasted, anyone who is a little bit cavalier in their attitudes is condemned as a cancer on our sport.

And our sport, what is it exactly? it seems to be getting narrower in terms of definition day by day, and those practising what is, for whatever fanciful reason, considered "cruel" are vilified, or at the very least attempted to be vilified.

I'm not whinging, I don't want to change anyones mind or save the beached whale that symbolises the closed mindedness and smug self righteousness of this forum in general.
Just delete me, I can read stuff as a guest easy enough and be content that I can't reply to it.

And save your damned awful finger wagging, good riddances, and snide guff for someone who is naive enough to care. The downfall of the internet forum is it makes brave men out of everyone, anything can be said without fear of consequence or manner, I'm tired of it.

Delete me please.

your right banjax, i joined boards.ie spefically for this forum about a year ago and have been a regular contributer since. since joining i have seen loads of well informed regulars leave and not come back due to ridiculous arguements in this thread. I am a member of other hunting threads and have never seen the likes of it. Dare i say it, but the behaviour here sometimes is typically "boards.ie'ish", its as bad as after hours in here sometimes. Im getting sick of the seeing these arguements myself too TBH.