We have been shooting one one farm for many years & and the mystery of the vanishing Fallow has proved a real annoyance.

Originally, we were taken on to control Wild Boar and Fallow on this patch - herds of twenty being seen regularly, as well as a bunch of 'locals' that numbered around ten.

Then, they vanished!

For five years, the sightings were sporadic and the numbers small. I really thought that changes in farming practice had done for any likely-hood of seeing them again.

I had recently taken a Client out for his first deer - & successfully caught up with a small herd. Hopes were high that the Fallow were back!



Out last night with Jo, we ambled around, noting a few fat Roe Does before the light faded.

Then, as darkness became complete, the ghostly figure of a white Fallow Doe was seen - as well as some nine further beasts in her company. Walking back to the landrover revealed a further herd of ten below the farmhouse. Again, one white, doe with the remainder being the dark brown phase we see locally.

Yippee - looks like poaching and forestry operations have driven them back into our woods.

Hope they are here to stay!

Happy Days Ian.
I'm down for the Mother in laws birthday at the end of July so it might be possible to fit something in with you?

Better cull the white doe if you want them to remain!

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
Happy Days Ian.
I'm down for the Mother in laws birthday at the end of July so it might be possible to fit something in with you?

You'll not be shooting fallow in July mate.

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:
Better cull the white doe if you want them to remain!

Yep. Better get at them a bit quick too. The longer they remain on the horizon the greater chance the dog men will clock them and then you'll be back to square one.

Best to get them out of the gene pool too.

Thanks for the thoughts folks.

I leave the whites in each group for exactly the reason that a poacher would do - however, it is private ground that cannot be accessed by road etc.

Trapper - looking forward to it, I feel sure there will be one or two Bucks around.

ATB

Ian

Good news Ian. I'm with you on leaving the white does.
The biggest factor I've noticed is whether the animals are visible from a public road...

quote:

Originally posted by Tophand:

quote:

Originally posted by Trapper Dave:
Happy Days Ian.
I'm down for the Mother in laws birthday at the end of July so it might be possible to fit something in with you?

You'll not be shooting fallow in July mate.

End of...............End of............ Barry!

quote:

Originally posted by IanF:
Thanks for the thoughts folks.

I leave the whites in each group for exactly the reason that a poacher would do - however, it is private ground that cannot be accessed by road etc.

Trapper - looking forward to it, I feel sure there will be one or two Bucks around.

ATB

Ian

Ian

It makes no odds to the dog men whether its private ground or not. It certainly makes no odds to them that it's not accessible by road. They simply drive over the ground to where ever they want to go. Locked gates are no deterrent either.

If you know they are there sooner or later they will know they are there and ripe for the taking.

Please enlighten me...what is a dog man?

Someone who hunts with only a lurcher and no gun. Illegal under the Hunting Act (other than for rats and rabbits).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tigmE3id0Wc

Aah...thanks Bog.

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:
Someone who hunts with only a lurcher and no gun.

Simply having a gun at hand does not necessarily make the use of lurchers legal, and long may it remain that way.

Are these lurchers bred and trained to catch up with deer and hold them down till the handler can finish the deer?
Or in which way do they perform their "art" of poaching?

Arlid

quote:

Are these lurchers bred and trained to catch up with deer and hold them down till the handler can finish the deer?

Got it in one! With the smaller deer species and the bigger bullX's the dog may be capable of finishing the deer off by its self. How ever as you know deer can be tough little blighter's. Usually they grip and hold until someone appears to cut the deers throat. Sometimes their grip is not as good as it should be and the deer manages to get free having suffered some horrific injures.

There have been a number of studies done by various interested groups on the incredibly high levels of stress suffered by deer that have been hunted by dogs. Stress levels that have contributed to the deers subsequent death a few hours or aq few days later.

Tophand you seem to know a lot about the lurcher and its way of hunting have you owned one or watched one. As i find it fascinating to here the tails of bygone days good or bad they all teach us.

quote:

Originally posted by SLDG:
Tophand you seem to know a lot about the lurcher and its way of hunting have you owned one or watched one. As i find it fascinating to here the tails of bygone days good or bad they all teach us.

Longshot/SLDG or what ever pseudonym it is your are posting behind these days.

Correct I do know a lot about how lurchers are used,. Nope never owned one, but have watch a fair few whilst in the process of gathering evidence in order to send their owners to court though.

Lets not try and play the innocent here. As you and I both know the bygone days aren't bygone at all. All that has happened has been the less dedicated poaching dogmen has all been forced to some how obtain FAC and are all despertae for some kind of legitimacy. Some even think they can hide behind DMG's. Whilst the die hard's are still at it. Only now they cant afford to brag about it, otherwise they get their collars felt pretty quick, and their dogs taken away and destroyed. Plus they also loose their vehicles. Now ain't that a shame.

The same should happen to anyone guilty of stealing another mans deer. Even if they choose to shoot it with a legally held firearm rather than chase it down with a longdog

why am I getting the feeling of Deja vu?

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
why am I getting the feeling of Deja vu?

+1

I've had it for a while!

Sounds like an episode of the The Twilight Zone

Well, out again on the same patch with the aim of finding a friend his first deer.

Came across this young fellow, hanging around on his own. Decided to take your comments to heart & the deed was done.



Rgds

Ian

Well done Ian you know it makes sense. On a side note. If you had left him in the gene pool you call have called him Chalkey.

You do have a lot of friends looking for their first deer.

Nice one.
This'll go to Tophand's head!

Ian,
I really don't know if I can trust you on this matter. Are they really back?? I need to come and check for myself..

Tophand

You are right - the majority of my shooting Client's are treated as friends.

Only way to go if you want to enjoy your work!

Anders

You have a good point there. Get in touch because until we put something in the diary - it ain't going to happen!

Rgds

Ian

quote:

Originally posted by IanF:
Tophand

You are right - the majority of my shooting Client's are treated as friends.

Only way to go if you want to enjoy your work!

Ah! The old business-client relationship equation.

Everybody is your "friend" when they put money in your pocket.

Tophand,

Not sure if you are having a dig at me here, I do hope not.

It would spoil the potential of a lovely relationship!

Rgds

Ian

Ian

That would be the last thing I'd do.

I have read very good things about your hospitality on various fora over the years.

I was simply supporting your comment that business-client relationships are best if they can be on friendly terms.
There's little to be gained from upsetting the man who pays the bills.

It is good that sometimes clients become friends, I'm not so sure that it is so good that friends become clients to often. They always expect mates rates!

Thanks for the clarification.

Rgds

Ian