vermin control

thehound

any ideas how to get club members more interested in vermin control done count last week 47foxes 29greycrowes 62magpie all got by 3members out of 35 in club

ace86

I think its a case fellows want to do it or not simple as, but one way of trying to get fellows active is to increase there membership fee if they don't return x amount of vermin or a tally of so many points for the club. I think your story is similar to a lot of clubs all made for action the 1st of November and nowhere to be seen on the 1st of February on.

dodderangler

Tbh I can't see why lads don't want to be out hunting. I love hunting and even when I get nothing I still enjoy being out seeing the wildlife and being in an area untouched.
I was thinking of offering my services to local gun club for control of foxes but wasn't sure of how to approach it

villa1979

I have this problem with the club im in, i bursted my bollox this year the early mornings then late nights lamping, checking traps the money i spend on traps and petrol whats thanks do you get **** all, its the same lads doing all the hard work every year i think anyone who hands in over 500 or 750 points for vermin should not have to pay membership fee that would get the ball rolling

slingshot88

I think it's the same in every club,the club i am in which has near 40 members only 4 of us handed in vermin. Same old story havnt the time and this and that, but come 1st November on no problem going out every chance they get to shoot around them.this year was our first year to rear birds, and besides 1 other member I got no help at all with them. I made all the pens, put them up,collected birds down the country, getting up an hour early before work to check on them, and check Larsen and mink traps,check them again after work, go out most nights lamping for foxs and after all that to watch the lads that never lifted a finger to shoot near everyday of the season is dishearten to say the least

skipking

i gave up game shooting about 10 years ago, only shoot vermin now i am out 3 times a week, still pay membership.
around 70 members in club, 60 of them will only be seen between 1st of november and 31 of january.

1jay1

Well lads I live in Dublin and all I want to do I shoot vermin and I'm finding it impossible to join a club. I go out lamping foxes with a friend on his permissions which is a good drive away so end up only getting out once a week. If I was a member of a club I'd be out every other night.

mikeyboo

Same thing in our club there's only me and my brother trying to get min 100 points so we can get subsidies back to us.

deerhunter1

mikeyboo wrote: »

Same thing in our club there's only me and my brother trying to get min 100 points so we can get subsidies back to us.

Every club is the same. same faces at the AGM same faces at the vermin shoots, wasting your breath trying,but they are the very one to first whinge that there is no pheasants to shoot in the club. and they are the first ones out on the 1st november too shoot all the simple birds.

dodderangler

Why is nothing being done about these lads then.?
Call me all to a meeting and tell them that they've to give in their time for vermin shoots or gtfo

deerhunter1

dodderangler wrote: »

Why is nothing being done about these lads then.?
Call me all to a meeting and tell them that they've to give in their time for vermin shoots or gtfo

Unfortunetly it doesnt work that way unless it is in the constitution of the club. With some members being land owners or their friends shooting they will tell you feck off they can shoot anyway

dodderangler

deerhunter1 wrote: »

Unfortunetly it doesnt work that way unless it is in the constitution of the club. With some members being land owners or their friends shooting they will tell you feck off they can shoot anyway

But it not fair on you lads having to go out for 2-3 hours a night or morning shooting foxes and checkin traps and rearing the birds aswell. Same lads tht do this will take maybe one pheasant each time they're out while the lads who do fcuk all will take 3or4 a day

Varmint Shooter

thehound wrote: »

any ideas how to get club members more interested in vermin control done count last week 47foxes 29greycrowes 62magpie all got by 3members out of 35 in club

Every club is the same. My club have tried everything & nothing made a difference.

deerhunter1

dodderangler wrote: »

But it not fair on you lads having to go out for 2-3 hours a night or morning shooting foxes and checkin traps and rearing the birds aswell. Same lads tht do this will take maybe one pheasant each time they're out while the lads who do fcuk all will take 3or4 a day

That will never change

donacarney

Same story in my club

Want vermin done but den accuse u for dogging land if u have loads done or seen on land

We give €40 to who ever has must vermin does be the same 2 or 3 lads every year

donacarney

villa1979 wrote: »

I have this problem with the club im in, i bursted my bollox this year the early mornings then late nights lamping, checking traps the money i spend on traps and petrol whats thanks do you get **** all, its the same lads doing all the hard work every year i think anyone who hands in over 500 or 750 points for vermin should not have to pay membership fee that would get the ball rolling

Totally agree!!

thehound

`thanks for replies lads was thinking club will give 1 full membership free and 2 half memberships for prizes for vermin for those who make no returns charge 20euro extra see how it goes about rearing birds lads hatched 150 birds in old cooler that i converted into incubator worked well lucky we have retired gamekeeper in club himself and one more club member look after one pen and 2 of us look after the other pen that all the help we get

Backfire

Yeah same case with my club.
It's basically just 2 of us at it each year, with a new addition this year. But most of our members don't hand in any vermin. I handed in over 1500pts myself this year, my buddy handed in over 3500 pts, not one word of thanks.

But my mate always says, and he is right, if there was no vermin competition, we'd be at it anyway.

fabwing

i know how you feel i done vermin control for a few years while some club members lay in bed all day.

Backfire wrote: »

Yeah same case with my club.
It's basically just 2 of us at it each year, with a new addition this year. But most of our members don't hand in any vermin. I handed in over 1500pts myself this year, my buddy handed in over 3500 pts, not one word of thanks.

But my mate always says, and he is right, if there was no vermin competition, we'd be at it anyway.

Terrier

Have to agree with most of the comments mentioned here. My club was no different, 40 on members 30 of which I would never see throughout the year.
We got 4 extremely active members all now on the club committee. Those 4 of us have driven the club forward over the last 2 to3 years, yes it’s annoying when no one else supports or take part in events.

What we have done is increase activities on all aspects, environmental projects, developed clay shooting (inc professional coaching sessions), vermin control league, .22 target league, pheasant rearing and many more activities. With this we have slowly seen more and more become involved as they build up interest in different activities.

You will never get everyone involved, but once the club is getting fees via membership and being used activity to fund activities for those involved I personally feel this is all you can do.

You can see most things we do on our website www.odgc.ie

Birdnuts

Terrier wrote: »

Have to agree with most of the comments mentioned here. My club was no different, 40 on members 30 of which I would never see throughout the year.
We got 4 extremely active members all now on the club committee. Those 4 of us have driven the club forward over the last 2 to3 years, yes it’s annoying when no one else supports or take part in events.

What we have done is increase activities on all aspects, environmental projects, developed clay shooting (inc professional coaching sessions), vermin control league, .22 target league, pheasant rearing and many more activities. With this we have slowly seen more and more become involved as they build up interest in different activities.

You will never get everyone involved, but once the club is getting fees via membership and being used activity to fund activities for those involved I personally feel this is all you can do.

You can see most things we do on our website www.odgc.ie

Nice website and well done on that recent award for your club

dazed+confused

I get told what to do at home.

I get told what to do in college.

I get told what to do in work.

Does anyone else want to just enjoy their time in the gun club without being told what to do?
In the last ten years I have shot three times as many grey squirrels and corvids as I have pheasants. But that doesn't mean that I want someone coming along telling me that I MUST shoot more vermin than pheasants. It's a hobby and I treat it as such. I shoot as often as I can afford to and when I have time to, not when I'm told to.

Holdover

Terrier wrote: »

Have to agree with most of the comments mentioned here. My club was no different, 40 on members 30 of which I would never see throughout the year.
We got 4 extremely active members all now on the club committee. Those 4 of us have driven the club forward over the last 2 to3 years, yes it’s annoying when no one else supports or take part in events.

What we have done is increase activities on all aspects, environmental projects, developed clay shooting (inc professional coaching sessions), vermin control league, .22 target league, pheasant rearing and many more activities. With this we have slowly seen more and more become involved as they build up interest in different activities.

You will never get everyone involved, but once the club is getting fees via membership and being used activity to fund activities for those involved I personally feel this is all you can do.

You can see most things we do on our website.

Well done Terrier, that's a really nice website.

Capercaille

Terrier wrote: »

Have to agree with most of the comments mentioned here. My club was no different, 40 on members 30 of which I would never see throughout the year.
We got 4 extremely active members all now on the club committee. Those 4 of us have driven the club forward over the last 2 to3 years, yes it’s annoying when no one else supports or take part in events.

What we have done is increase activities on all aspects, environmental projects, developed clay shooting (inc professional coaching sessions), vermin control league, .22 target league, pheasant rearing and many more activities. With this we have slowly seen more and more become involved as they build up interest in different activities.

You will never get everyone involved, but once the club is getting fees via membership and being used activity to fund activities for those involved I personally feel this is all you can do.

You can see most things we do on our website www.odgc.ie

Some great habitat work being done there

killintime

Every club is the same i droped 1 of mine as they are all armchair shooters dont want to do anything but sit an mone

Vulture 1

You think ye have it bad. I have to watch two lads on social shoot every deer in the area for their own profit while I work.
Then come the first of November they ll be swaning around all week at pheasant. I gave up putting in vermin return as it was just getting to be a joke. Not let alone that but they now want to bring in another social sponger so he can shoot all the gunclub area for deer no looking for permissions just using I m in the gunclub to anyone the would ask who he is.

thehound

is it not a proven fact if you get rid of more vermin you will have more phesants to shoot no one telling lads that they must shoot more vermin all we are doing is asking for a little help as it would make a big difference to birds on the ground for all club members

ace86

thehound wrote: »

is it not a proven fact if you get rid of more vermin you will have more phesants to shoot no one telling lads that they must shoot more vermin all we are doing is asking for a little help as it would make a big difference to birds on the ground for all club members

well since I have been at it the last few yrs I have noticed an increase in all different types of wildlife,this yr I had a kestrel nest with her 3 chicks close to the farm for the 1st time that I can remember.

slingshot88

thehound wrote: »

is it not a proven fact if you get rid of more vermin you will have more phesants to shoot no one telling lads that they must shoot more vermin all we are doing is asking for a little help as it would make a big difference to birds on the ground for all club members

Have to agree with you there, if you don't keep on top of the vermin, there would be little to no birds left come 1st of November, a little help here and there,be it feeding birds,repairing or checking pens or just putting out a trap for a month or two, I'm mean wats the point in joining a gun club,if you hav no interest in doin what club members are expected to do?

Backfire

slingshot88 wrote: »

Have to agree with you there, if you don't keep on top of the vermin, there would be little to no birds left come 1st of November, a little help here and there,be it feeding birds,repairing or checking pens or just putting out a trap for a month or two, I'm mean wats the point in joining a gun club,if you hav no interest in doin what club members are expected to do?

True.

Even with the control of magpies, I have seen a massive increase in small bird populations including green finches, bullfinches, grey/yellow wagtail, and many more. Before that, there was nothing but magpies. They raid many a nest belonged to small birds which can't defend their nest.
Less grey crows, less damage to young lambs, etc.
And as you say, shoot foxes and you'll have more pheasants.

It's not rocket science.

killintime

hope they make a change soon

dodderangler

Have a feelin that most people who prick around are just using the gun club to get a gun. I know a lad who done just that to get a gun

Capercaille

Backfire wrote: »

True.

Even with the control of magpies, I have seen a massive increase in small bird populations including green finches, bullfinches, grey/yellow wagtail, and many more. Before that, there was nothing but magpies. They raid many a nest belonged to small birds which can't defend their nest.
Less grey crows, less damage to young lambs, etc.
And as you say, shoot foxes and you'll have more pheasants.

It's not rocket science.

Corvid control will have some impact on small bird populations, but good habitat would be of greater importance. If the habitat is not there you can forget it.

Varmint Shooter

dodderangler wrote: »

Have a feelin that most people who prick around are just using the gun club to get a gun. I know a lad who done just that to get a gun

Nice sweeping generalisations & accusations there.

Lots of people have jobs & families that have to come first. Those here whinging that they're doing it all I wonder how many are young lads with no kids. Older lads in clubs have probably done more vermin & other work for game conservation in their care free days than any of the lads here who've just started in the sport have or will ever do.

There's always two or more sides to every situation.

killintime

goin to join a new club see if ther more attive vermin controll

Eddie B

Capercaille wrote: »

Corvid control will have some impact on small bird populations, but good habitat would be of greater importance. If the habitat is not there you can forget it.

This is so true! With more and more land being reclaimed, and the effects of using pesticides, good habitat has dwindled in mosts area's!

In my Father's day, there was lots of vermin, not so much vermin control, and birds everywhere!

dodderangler

Varmint Shooter wrote: »

Nice sweeping generalisations & accusations there.

Lots of people have jobs & families that have to come first. Those here whinging that they're doing it all I wonder how many are young lads with no kids. Older lads in clubs have probably done more vermin & other work for game conservation in their care free days than any of the lads here who've just started in the sport have or will ever do.

There's always two or more sides to every situation.

My post was in reference to those who do fcuk all and yet come pheasant season are out 3 days a week. We can understand when someone is too busy with family and work etc but come pheasant season these same lads who are always too busy are out shooting 3 days a week taking 2 or 3 birds a day.
Can't be taking excuses of being too busy but come season time they're not busy

Eddie B

Varmint Shooter wrote: »

Nice sweeping generalisations & accusations there.

Lots of people have jobs & families that have to come first. Those here whinging that they're doing it all I wonder how many are young lads with no kids. Older lads in clubs have probably done more vermin & other work for game conservation in their care free days than any of the lads here who've just started in the sport have or will ever do.

There's always two or more sides to every situation.

dodderangler wrote: »

My post was in reference to those who do fcuk all and yet come pheasant season are out 3 days a week. We can understand when someone is too busy with family and work etc but come pheasant season these same lads who are always too busy are out shooting 3 days a week taking 2 or 3 birds a day.
Can't be taking excuses of being too busy but come season time they're not busy

Both posts have a valid point! I used to spend most my spare time hammering vermin, even during game season! Best year I got over 300 mags, and over 250 Gray's, along with a few mink and fox's!
Since the kids came along, I dropped all bar the mink, because I just don't have the time!

What does p**s me off, like most here, is lads who say they don't have the time, but seem to make time for ducks and pheasants!

Varmint Shooter

dodderangler wrote: »

My post was in reference to those who do fcuk all and yet come pheasant season are out 3 days a week. We can understand when someone is too busy with family and work etc but come pheasant season these same lads who are always too busy are out shooting 3 days a week taking 2 or 3 birds a day.
Can't be taking excuses of being too busy but come season time they're not busy

Fair enough in that case & I agree with you 100% in cases like that but you didn't mention that in the post I quoted/replied to.

Ballina Hunter

Why not make new clubs where only active members are welcome?
If you are interested and live in the Ballina region (passionate hunters only), please Pm me.

killintime

To much work

Capercaille

Eddie B wrote: »

This is so true! With more and more land being reclaimed, and the effects of using pesticides, good habitat has dwindled in mosts area's!

In my Father's day, there was lots of vermin, not so much vermin control, and birds everywhere!

With Food Harvest 2020 habitat destruction will increase. Milk quotas are going so dairy farms will get even more intensive. The widespread scrub removal by farmers at present is shocking. Intensification will lead to more generalist species like crows. Sensitive species like corncrake, curlew, skylark will be hit hardest. All the "vermin" control will not matter then.