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ChrisJones

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Everything posted by ChrisJones

  1. You'd think with all this being common knowledge that people would be more discreet?
  2. Yep. Grasses. Antis. Police... in fact take your pick.
  3. I'm the guy with the most years in!
  4. I think DonnyC, on here, is your man!
  5. Nice pitch Timelord but I reckon he made his mind up before the original post!
  6. The internet is the easiest place to start. 1st thing is the law. Food and Environmental Protection Act. Control Of Pesticides Regulations. Food Safety Act. Pests Act. Wildlife and Countryside Act. 2nd is your pest species. Main things are winter problems regarding mice and rats. Summer problems are wasps and ants. Periodic problems will introduce you to cockroaches and other exotic insects. Rural jobs will bring you into contact with the stuff you already do. Learn as much as you can about the above. The RSH exam will test your knowledge on it. Some of the pesticide companies offe
  7. Buster. This place is crawling with police officers. I doubt many (if any) will come out and tell you, though. They're not here in a friendly capacity.
  8. Usually plenty of overtime with a bigger companies. I know what you mean about pay cuts. I did similar but I really didn't mind once I got my head around it. I enjoy it that much. Sure we had to cut back on things, and adjust our lifestyles but it was important, to me, to do something I enjoyed. Basically I've got to work until I'm at least 65. I'll be f****d if that's going to be anything other than on my terms. Pest control allows me to do that.
  9. Sure you can hit things with it but like with everything else I'd practice on a non-live target first. 20mm objective lens isn't going to be greatest, for letting light in, so your results will be solely dependant on your abilities as a shooter. Alot of companies do 1.5 mag x 20mm scopes. Optic quality varies with price, as a rule. The main thing is that you have to be able to see it to hit it. Magnification helps but the quality of the scope plays a huge part. If you've got a cheap Hawke, or Simmons, scope it's not going compare to a Leupold or a Swarovski.
  10. Tell you what, buy one and let us know how you get on with it. You're clearly keen on the idea. I'll be really interested to see what you think.
  11. Why do you ask? Very cryptic!
  12. That's a fair point too. A small rural firm is more likely to yield more rural type work but vacancies can be few and far between. Nationals tend to have a turnover of staff, some higher than others, so you might secure a job faster and get a high level of training. You have to honestly ask yourself whether you can stomach the pay cut. It'll never be anything like construction wages (until we get the next outbreak of bubonic/pneumonic plague) but half the battle of going to work is toleration. Actually enjoying what you do for 40 hours of the working week is a big step forward towards put
  13. That works too. Whichever you're more comfortable with... expect to fill in an application form though. If you're keen and in the right place you'll get the job. Good luck to you and keep me posted!
  14. Phone them up and ask if they're hiring. Peak season is coming to an end but if they're struggling for staff you never know your luck. Approach it the same way you would permission. Write a polite letter and expect a knock back or two! Write to the national companies too. They usually have operators in most areas and check the job centre as they do advertise there.
  15. No worries. I'll be honest. I love my job and I like going to work. It can be dirty and stressful but I'll never find another industry where I can meet so many different people, solve so many problems and be equally loved and loathed by all. I could go onto a massive tangent about insect infestations but I'll just show myself up as a complete anorak... It's seriously interesting stuff and the lads that do the job will know what I mean! I've never met a pestie that didn't want to talk shop, share advice, and strategy.
  16. Nice one! Any pics? What rifle set up are you using?
  17. Most firms will train the right person. There are industry qualifications but they're not necessary to start. Like I said most employers will look for the right attitude. My interview technique was unorthodox but I wanted someone I could work with rather than someone that had 30 years experience but knew f**k all apart from how to try and blag me and make me look stupid infront of my clients. I'm here to make money not babysit old men. I used to be in awe of 20 year veterans but you quickly find out that this is a job where time served doesn't mean you're experienced. A good technician learns
  18. Hard to say and alot depends on the firm. Average wage is between £14-£15k depending on the company. You can get more working for yourself but you have to start building up your business, which isn't the easiest. It's not mega money but man cannot live on bread alone. I'd rather do something I love than something I loathe. Some companies pay peanuts and as a result alot of the lads do private work to supplement their incomes. Don't be fooled by people telling you they make an annual salary treating wasp nests. They're a bonus, not a guarantee, and many people have come unstuck hoping
  19. Holy shit you've just given me a horrendous flash back... how many flies did you kill with the corks?
  20. Depends on the big company. It's pretty much the same as any other industry in that respect. Some are good, some bad, some ugly. The bad news is that the wages aren't too great, at least not to start. Most firms ask for experience but many of them will train the right person. Alot is dependant on attitude rather than anything else. I took a pretty big pay cut, from construction, to go into pest control. I didn't regret it for a moment though. Never two days the same and the time just flies. It's very interesting and you get to meet alot of people. If you're genuinely interested in the craf
  21. What do you need to know Jack?
  22. I've been shooting for 22 years. I work as a professional pest controller but I've been lucky enough to work in and around the airgun industry. Test it products and adapt them for my job. I'm not an expert but I've been lucky enough to be immersed in the sport. More by good fortune than anything else.
  23. I was thinking more the digital technique used to replicate these patterns onto clothes. I think it's been established that animals aren't stupid. The ones that couldn't adapt to man's predation are now extinct in the UK. Camo is about concealment. Realtree Hardwood is going to be useless in marshland. Likewise Realtree Hardwood Snow is going to be completely useless in woodland, unless it's snowing. Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) is a general pattern designed to break up body outline. It's vague enough to be used anywhere the colours match. Which is why they have green and desert.
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