Reading about Black Grouse got me thinking about other smallgame species hunted in the UK/Europe.

It would be interesting to hear about some of the lesser known animals, their habitat and how they're hunted etc. I think Badgers and Marmots have been mentioned in the past.

Stu C
bolted Coypu, terrier,shotgun, great fun!!

regards

griff

Griff,
Do tell. What is "bolted Coypu"?

Hazel grouse - also considered a big game in our parts - one of my favourite till there was an open hunt (its fully protected now)...I only hunted it by calling...It is highly teritorial and monogamus bird...the hunt takes place in woods early in the september on clear cold days...you need a special whistle made from hollow cat or marten bone and a good musical ear to imitate male`s call which is used by male to mark its teritory...every bird has distinctive chorus that never change, so you must also whistle your chorus exactly the same all the time because those birds have a keen ear and if you blow it just a bit you are out of game...so when hunting you must first locate the teritory that is occupied by teritorial male and find a good place to hide yourself...after everything settles down, you whistle your first chorus and normally get a rapid response by the birds answer...sometimes it flies over instantly other times it can answers you for 1 hour and after some silence time it comes by foot, but sometimes it just becomes silent and you wont see it this time...my best hunt on one perticullar male took 3 years - every time I came to his territory and whislte he answerd right away but never showed...but one day I was fox hunting with my hound that just passed that territory when I heard his call...I take a hide (havent had my whistle with me) so i just tried to imitate the sound of the wings (prrr or smthn) that got him of the hook and he landed in the slope 30 m above - that cost him his life...it was a nice old cock that outgrown any other hazel grouse at the taxidernist for 10%...otherwise its a great speciality in cuisine (beautifull soft white meat)...

http://www.ittiofauna.org/provinciarezzo/caccia/tabelle..._monte/index_big.htm

Stu C
A coypu is a large rodent that occupies river banks and grows to the size of a small cat.
Big teeth, so the terrier doesn't mess about with them!!

regards

griff

coypu:

http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th1f.htm

Hey guys do you hunt Marmots?

I thought this was something that comes in a small jar and you spread on toast?

quote:

thought this was something that comes in a small jar and you spread on toast

MARMITE


MARMOT



I'd almost rather eat the MARMOT.

Well, just color me stupid today! Got the names mixed up and oh ya, Stu - I do prefer the Marmot!

now I know why this thread is called "Different Game", not "Different Food"!

Isn't it the Marmots in Mongolia that are the last known carriers of the bubonic plague? That in itself makes them rather unappetizing!

Agree, for those of us who gain more from the hunt than the size of trophy - there are some excellent alternative hunts going on in Europe.

I have had a lot of low pressure fun with EXPRESS - chasing Italian Copyu with a .22rf. They 'are not great problem solvers' so bagging a trophy Bull is not an major challenge. However, as a long range sniping proposition I fancy they could be great fun.

Same creature, different tail and we have European Beaver - Mr Castor Fiber. Another great hunt - I make an annual pilgrimage to Norway. The truth of the matter is a fantastic 400 year old farmhouse, exquisite scenery, great company, food and wine. Hell, we may even get out and scare the occasional Beaver!

Both beasts provide a nice pelt as a trophy and talking point - the beaver skull showing off the amazing teeth that allow it to level even large trees.

For those with a sense of humour and spare time in winter, how about shooting Grouse and Ptarmigan and Hare with a .22rf? Full arctic camoflauge, cross country skis and plenty snow make this another memorable experience.

Stalking Capercaille as they fly to the tree tops and warm in the morning sun is another winter/ski option. A c/f rifle is normally required, with a solid bullet to minimize meat damage.

So many hunting experiences - so little time!

rgds Ian

One of my all time favorites in the UK is your "Rabbit Lamping". I find this a supreme shooting opportunity.

We always ask our Scottish gamekeeper if he can make this available for us; regardless of what type of other shooting/stalking we may be there for.

I have very fond memories with a Ruger 10/22, Subsonic ammo, a yellow filter on the light and a target rich environment.

The Gamekeeper gets his fun too, as he always has his 22-250 along for those "green" eyes that occaisionally materialize in the background!

Gerry,

You'd ennjoy drey poking in February for the Squidgells!!!

A team goes out into the woods with a long pole in sections and two or three shotguns. Then shoot the offending grey Squidgells as they run through the top of the leafless trees. Great fun, good for the game birds and hilarious when one of the little grey fells decides to run down the poking pole!!!

Rgds,

quote:

Originally posted by mouse93:
Hazel grouse - also considered a big game in our parts - ....

mouse93,
Where in Europe are you located? Your hazel grouse and black grouse hunting sounds really interesting.

Ian,
Those are exactly the kind of hunts that would take my fancy.

Is the cross country ski hunting something that’s done in the UK, or are you referring to Scandinavia? I might have a chance of keeping up with a bunch of English on skis, but wouldn't have a hope with the Norwegians

- stu

What's Marmite taste like?

Is it similar to that Aussie favorite Vegemite?

Griff,

Is there anywhere in the UK where Coypu can still be found? I was under the impression that historically they were pretty much confined to the Norfolk Broads and had since been eradicated?

I would love to think there are still a few knocking about...

Regards,

Pete

Pete,
unfortunately they seem to have been eradicated from the broads, We shot them with a friend of mine who was the keeper for Louis Vitton near Orlean just south of Paris, small eatate of just 2000 acres but just stuffed with every game imaginable...

regards

griff

quote:

Originally posted by Stu C:

quote:

Originally posted by mouse93:
Hazel grouse - also considered a big game in our parts - ....

mouse93,
Where in Europe are you located? Your hazel grouse and black grouse hunting sounds really interesting.

Ian,
Those are exactly the kind of hunts that would take my fancy.

Is the cross country ski hunting something that’s done in the UK, or are you referring to Scandinavia? I might have a chance of keeping up with a bunch of English on skis, but wouldn't have a hope with the Norwegians

- stu

Sorry Stu - Im thinking of Norway and Sweden for the ski hunting.

rgds Ian

We have a fast growing beaver-population here in Sweden. A very interesting animal to stalk on a spring evening. I once hunted beavers from a canoe in a small river, a very nice form of hunting and very convenient. And a beaver-skull is a nice trophy and a good conversation piece. Also lovely skin and a lot of meat but with a rather special taste...

Martin,

I've also shot some beaver (we are beginning to get too many of them over here), and I find that the meat tastes a bit too much like birch bark for my taste. Which isn't very strange since they love to eat birch trees! I have also found the skin on their backs to be a real pain to skin. It dulls a knife pretty quick. The fur is very nice though, once you get the skin off, and prepaired.

Yup squibbles get my vote. More people should get out there and get them any way they can. Save a tree marmalise a squirrel (grey only obviously) gret fun wih shotguns air rifles pole catapults traps or just about anything. Not a lot left with a centrefire though.....
Stoat hunting with terriers or 'stoaty' gundogs can be very amusing especially if several terriers are in on it. You can often go miles for these things in winter.
Ratting with sticks spades terrier lamps shotguns etc all very amusing fun especially in grain silos. Same gos for feral pigeons.
Feral crats in buildings or out on the range make for similar sport to either ratting or foxing depending on the environment and it takes a brave terrier to face off a big tom, they often learn sense very quickly indeed when faced with these gentlemen.
Coots and morons are surprisingly entertaining in the right season too and make top grub for the ferrets (as do squirrels)
Best fun of the lot. Feral bantam hens at night catching them by hand. If you want to end up collapsing in hysterical fits of laughter seeing your mates chasing these around. They are fast fit and feisty when cornered.
Watch those spurs boys.....

ATB

zaitsev,
I hope you meant moorhens and not morons!!
would have to get reloading now to have enough for all the morons I know, let alone all the others morons that inhabit this planet!!

regards

griff

quote:

Originally posted by Stu C:
mouse93,
Where in Europe are you located? Your hazel grouse and black grouse hunting sounds really interesting.
- stu

...Stu C I am from Slovenia - tho sadly hazel and black grouse are fully protected species since ornithologist loby is very strong here and we are left with only mallard and pheasant to hunt...its interesting that much (if not all) of a knowledge about hazel grouse came from hunters, but after the bird was put under protection we "lost the contact" and sadly you cant get a realy clear pic right now...

Erik,
Unfortunately, Bubonic Plague is well established worldwide. We have it here endemically in the American Southwest in our native ground squirrels. Just what sets it off from a rodent disease to a human pandemic isn't understood, yet, so we keep a close watch on the bug. One or two people still die of it each year.

Sarge,

I didn't know that until you mentioned it. So I did a search to find out a bit more and see now that it is far more widespread than I had imagined:



I still think I'll keep Mongolian Marmot off my menu anyway!

Suit yourself. My partner Jim shot one and thought it was absolutely delicious. Just let the guides do the skinning so the fleas stay away from you? I'm giving serious thought to an ibex hunt in '08 so in a couple of years I may be able to report back personally . . . hopefully without the plague!

Marmite tastes pretty bad -it´s big in SA where I tried it.

I guess it´s an aquired taste...

Thanks, I was wondering what it tasted like?