THE PRETEND KEEPER

[stavross]

After being let down twice today by someone who wanted to go out and shoot a buck, firstly he couldn’t get out of bed at 4 this morning and then he came up with another excuse for this evening, I decided to pop up the shoot to see the old girl and to put the camera out over on a ride between the two drivers known as “ The Piggeries “ where the majority of foxes are shot, I baited with a bit of cat food that the cat turns his nose up at and some of last years roe mince from the back of the freezer, I may of said this before but I’m very limited as to where I can shoot foxes up here this time of year, I can wait until combine, but that’s a dangerous game to play as it’s normally a no more than a couple of weeks before the birds go in, so we’ll see how the baiting works until then

 

[stavross]

A few more, has anyone noticed just how much blossom is on the hawthorn this year, if my old nanna was right, we could be in for a ruff winter

 

[BenBhoy]

Bloody fussy cat that!!

 

[BenBhoy]

A few more, has anyone noticed just how much blossom is on the hawthorn this year, if my old nanna was right, we could be in for a ruff winter

Strange how some plants get so much special folklore. My nain always told me hawthorn was the chosen home of the fairys (tylwyth teg) and very bad luck to cut it down without asking permission from them & offering a trade. welsh folklore, fairys aren't the cute tinkerbells & supposedly could be pretty vicious! Was enough to stick in my mind all these years..

 

[Foxyboy43]

A few more, has anyone noticed just how much blossom is on the hawthorn this year, if my old nanna was right, we could be in for a ruff winter

Yep - incredible showing in NI and the same with gorse! The Ice Age cometh……

 

[Smellydog]

We are due a harsh winter.
My old mates, long gone now use to say, if the oak is out before the ash we are only going to get a splash. If the ash is out before the oak we are in for a soak! Over the years I have observed an element of truth to it.
This year the oak was out way ahead of the ash.

 

[foxhunter]

A few more, has anyone noticed just how much blossom is on the hawthorn this year, if my old nanna was right, we could be in for a ruff winter

Loads of pink Hawthorn too

 

[foxhunter]

After being let down twice today by someone who wanted to go out and shoot a buck, firstly he couldn’t get out of bed at 4 this morning and then he came up with another excuse for this evening,

You cant believe some people, getting an invite and letting you down . If it was me it wouldn't be happening again.

 

[nick.308]

wish id seen this thread earlier. Stavross, do you lime your pheasant pens?

 

[stavross]

wish id seen this thread earlier. Stavross, do you lime your pheasant pens?

I have in the past but I treat for gapes in the water now and I also do 2 cycles of medi feed, when I limed the 2 release pens I did it at the end of the season to allow it to work well before the next season’s birds were introduced to the pens

 

[stavross]

You cant believe some people, getting an invite and letting you down . If it was me it wouldn't be happening again.

Couldn’t believe this chap, plagued me to go out, then cancelled half an hour before I was due to pick him up, I don’t think he’ll ask again

I went and checked my camera and to bait again after work today, checked the camera and there’s a fox on it Sunday and yesterday around 11pm, now this is a place where I have in the past removed full family groups around this time of year but have seen next to no evidence of foxes around here lately, so I’ve baited again and I’m going to have to get up there on Thursday evening and hopefully put a hole in it

 

[Smellydog]

Couldn’t believe this chap, plagued me to go out, then cancelled half an hour before I was due to pick him up, I don’t think he’ll ask again

I went and checked my camera and to bait again after work today, checked the camera and there’s a fox on it Sunday and yesterday around 11pm, now this is a place where I have in the past removed full family groups around this time of year but have seen next to no evidence of foxes around here lately, so I’ve baited again and I’m going to have to get up there on Thursday evening and hopefully put a hole in it

Are you wearing one of those paper party hats?

 

[jall55]

wish id seen this thread earlier. Stavross, do you lime your pheasant pens?

Hi Nick
It could be your pen needs resting or numbers reducing if you are thinking about liming

At this time of year really you should not even be able to because the cover should be up

Post a couple of pics of your pen if you think it may help

 

[stavross]

The fox is going to get it, just working out how to upload a full image, cheers smellydog

 

[stavross]

Are you wearing one of those paper party hats?

It’s my Nepalese smoking hat

 

[Smellydog]

The fox is going to get it, just working out how to upload a full image, cheers smellydog View attachment 312855

You get the little.... amazing creature.

 

[BenBhoy]

Are you wearing one of those paper party hats?

Thats just the shape of their heads up round that way!

 

[stavross]

Thats just the shape of their heads up round that way!

At least my odd shaped head fits in a hat, not like that picture you sent of your special little guy hat

 

[BenBhoy]

My Mrs absolutely ****ed herself when you sent that at weekend!!

 

[BenBhoy]

With a head like mine, hats are an essential!