Are we going back to the old Days

[Mike1979]

After dark I go out foxing. The lamp that I search with, and the torch on the top of the gun that I shoot with, cost me less than £100 for both. I have had them for years and years, and they still both work as they should. They have an "on" and an "off" switch, and nothing else.

Nowt wrong with simple. If it works for you thats the main thing

 

[old keeper]

Probably wont be seeing half of whats out there.

Does that really matter? If you are targeting specific foxes, they are the ones you concentrate on. I've been doing fox control for well over seventy years and have never felt the need to shoot every fox I see.

Going Back mentions lampshy foxes. Today, they are, as far as I can tell, except for extremely remote areas, a thing of the past. The countryside now has lights here, there, and everywhere. The last couple of dozen foxes I've shot have been with lamp and thermal, none of them took the slightest notice of the lamp.

 

[Heym SR20]

After dark I go out foxing. The lamp that I search with, and the torch on the top of the gun that I shoot with, cost me less than £100 for both. I have had them for years and years, and they still both work as they should. They have an "on" and an "off" switch, and nothing else.

Like cars. I don’t really how its powered, but I want to get it in, turn a key and drive. If I want lights I flick and switch, ditto for heating / ventilation etc. I quite like a bluetooth connection for my phone and a bigger screen so i can use my maps is not a bad thing.

But I really don’t need ti have through whole series of menus etc etc to accept conditions warnings etc etc or to make micro adjustments to the set up.

I take same approach with other kit.

 

[finnbear270]

finnbear270 said:


Probably wont be seeing half of whats out there.
Typical tunnel vision,
Read it again, .... this time without your obvious views on thermal equipment gaining the upper hand.?

 

[Goingback]

Proper keepers dont rape the land for every predator, there is always 1 or 2 that serves a purpose

Met a few Norfolk 'proper Keepers' and I think a more structured way of putting it would be a zero tolerance in breeding and rearing season, easing off over the shooting season - the same as most 'proper' keepers throughout the country.
Lamping has ebbed and flowed over the decades. wiring and shotguns were similar. When skins were of a value, everyone was out and after them. The price fell and very few carried on, another price spike and all out again. We were shooting from a truck years before it was trendy (and we were very slick too!). Many were lamp shy and most bar a few were squeak shy. It's the same with stalking/trophy/culling, it comes and goes.
I do agree with 30-06 to keep it simple although a little technology does make for a more slick operation

 

[Klenchblaize]

Hopefully there will never be a substitute for good fieldcraft, if only for the satisfaction factor that does not alone come from access to the best cutting edge kit.

K

 

[finnbear270]

Fieldcraft doesn't need to be conducted completely naked.

 

[CookM]

I know of a retired keeper and his Lamping partner they are now I have to say early 70s of age and they are out four nights a week an old defender and night force lamp, and paid to do so, they say bumped up the pension

I did catch up with the old boy a few weeks ago and I said crafty old bugger creeping about he said well someone’s got to clear up the **** up to everyone’s making with thermal and night vision, and electric callers

He swears by a night force lamp, red filter and a bit of polystyrene on the window proper old school

Well it works!!
Bless them for being out and at it.