Night Time Stroll

[woodman 131]

Just got back from a stroll with the night vision looking at the ground in this area where i now live.Some open ground warrens,but mostly hedgerow warrens as you would expect in this type of country.Because this new moon is a daytime rising and setting moon it was obviously pitch black so they where feeding well out,so had to spook them to get rough locations of warrens.I will take some daytime strolls to confirm the warren locations and access points to the ground.I will take further night time strolls up to probably next Tuesday to establish their feeding pattern being careful not to spook them,plus look at 5 or so other spots so as not to hunt the same ground to often and have options depending on the wind direction.i have always planned this way and found it successful.i believe successful hunting like most things in life is about preparation and careful planning.If as is usual for this area the first frost falls mid November i have not to long to wait.Happy Days

[Mr Wilkes 2,914]

Hey... I like your style. I think this is a excellent idea , I must admit I have been giving the idea some thought recently myself. What nv do you use.

[woodman 131]

i have two makes of night vision,my preferred one is a Yukon tracker but as that is on the blink(waiting for Thomas Jacks to reply about repair),i used a Dipol D3MK,always take one when working the ground as you can see exactly where to set,so no wasted drops,since night vision became available it has alway's been my way to take it with me,but i do not see it as a substitute for good field craft more an addition to good field craft,i would not solely rely on it because should it stop functioning you can still work the ground if you have the field craft or knowing ( as my grandfather used to say).Anyone considering strolling by night would certainly benefit from it's use.As well as being used to survey the ground at night some like the D3MK can double as a night attachment for a scope enabling the use of a silenced PCP thus increasing your options,which is never a bad thing.

good hunting woodman

Edited October 15, 2015 by woodman

[Mr Wilkes 2,914]

I think for surveying a potential drop it would be a excellent idea but I would only use it for that. I would do the drop on a later date knowing a little more about it. I have looked through a few but I must admit it does strain my eye badly, I think I would opt for one with a screen like the ones "some bloke" makes.

[woodman 131]

I must confess i have not seen one with a screen (are they bulky)so therefore use what i have(D3MK fits nicely in pocket).On the point of eye strain it is important to focus exit pupil and objective lens like you would on some rifle scopes. I have found putting a piece of bicycle inner tube (like a rubber band)over the adjusting bezels helps stop them being adjusted accidentally when returning NV to it's case or your pocket.NV aside, there is no substitute for field craft as it enables you to work without NV.I think night vision should be viewed as a useful addition, not a necessity.I have noticed when shooting with NV the quarry sometimes becomes "red eye shy" due to the IR illuminator,but have never had this problem when surveying the options.Possibly this is because the survey is done from a greater distance.I will stroll again tonight to survey more ground,weather permitting

Edited October 15, 2015 by woodman

[Mr Wilkes 2,914]

I think they are a little bulky but as it would be the only thing id be carrying then id find it ok. i have a new permo which ive been told (by the shoot captain) that its only ferreting and netting (at night) till the season ends then i can do as i like, so the hand held nv would enable me to suss out the land without upsetting any one .

[woodman 131]

Sounds just the thing for you then Mr Wilkes.I prefer all my equipment to be compact and as multi functional as possible.I only ever hunt alone,as then i only have myself to blame if mistakes are made,which i am glad to say is rare.Never use a vehicle except occasionally i have been known to use a bicycle.i look upon the outdoors as natures living larder and only take what i need and do whatever i can to help preserve the rest and above all i am always humane in the dispatching of quarry.i completely understand the need to take large numbers of quarry were one's job is pest control,but believe the quarry should not be wasted.So in a nutshell i would class myself as a table hunter,which after all is how it all began.

[bunny bandit 98]

Very well said! Not many like that around anymore. Good on you woodman.

[terryd 8,029]

I can certainly see the advantage of night vision and saving wasted drops. But for me part of the thrill is not knowing. But I do like the way you go about things

[fluff 409]

a good hunter shouldnt need nite site,i do all my speculating late summer then check runs warrens through season ,then long net it , i can see the piont of nite sites but a lot of places i do are blind sets so better runing quick set , couple of fifty yarders and getting on with it rather than star gazing as it isnt a party and to much equipment to bother with at times, net ,dog ,small torch plenty enough

Edited November 29, 2015 by fluff

[terryd 8,029]

I can see the advantage of surveying the ground with minimum disturbance

[smithie 2,424]

a good hunter shouldnt need nite site,i do all my speculating late summer then check runs warrens through season ,then long net it , i can see the piont of nite sites but a lot of places i do are blind sets so better runing quick set , couple of fifty yarders and getting on with it rather than star gazing as it isnt a party and to much equipment to bother with at times, net ,dog ,small torch plenty enough

I think I prefer you way to the night vision. but each to there own and as long as we're getting some done.

[Mr Wilkes 2,914]

Summertime or nv..... It's all about observation ,which in turn makes it easier for us to carry out the task .

[Leeview 787]

speculating late summer and get it done there and then before the ferrets go in, the lampers and the shooters not forgetting myxi rears its head, a lot can happen waiting and checking for that right night

Y.I.S Leeview

[masterhunter 3]

Hi Woodman,

A man after my own heart. A good post. Especially about the night vision,I personally would not go night netting without scanning the ground to be netted with night vision.to see if the rabbits are about in numbers and where they are feeding on the netting grounds.

There might not be rabbits on the ground to be netted due to foxes,badgers,humans,stray dogs,other netters, weather conditions or mixy.

I have been using night vision for at least 35 yrs, from the very first basic type to pilkington kite and beyond. The first one i had was

a monocular 4x, This I mounted onto a 1" tube fitted with rifle mounts. Inside the tube I fitted a small laser with four adjusting screws.

This was sighted in to about 40yds. One memorable night, I shot 42 rabbits and two foxes.

Going back to the night netting a lot of field craft is necessary to constantly make good bags. Most of this is achieved by watching

your quarry day and night and learning their pattern of behaviour.

The best two sets I had on one night in the same place using 250 yds of net was 115 rabbits.On the same ground over two months

I took 600 rabbits off it.

Good Hunting all you netters. Master Hunter