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StephOC

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Everything posted by StephOC

  1. StephOC
    A few years ago my husband showed me a video he’d just taken in a stubble field nearby. It clearly showed a large cat shaped figure. As tall as the dead grass and weeds beside it, about 2ft, making its way along the field side. Its movement was a bit lumbering, more like a badger, quite short legs, but the long tail could only have been a cat. He was in his truck, and slowly drove to where the lane would meet the field margin. I couldn’t understand how this big wild animal wasn’t running away from the truck, surely it could see and hear it. Lost sight of it for a moment behind some
  2. StephOC
    Thank you Shaunnaltoft. Bought a copy. These’ll keep him going a while. Thanks.
  3. StephOC
    That’s kind, thanks. Every hare and pheasant we see out walking its “Well my harris hawk might’ve got that one.” And another lecture about how to hold your arm just right for it. Walked half a mile yesterday carrying his water bottle in his outstretched arm to ‘build up his arm muscles’. He’s only 17kg, probably fair game for the eagles he’s been watching in Mongolia!
  4. StephOC
    Thank you Moorman1. I’ve found one of Martin Hollinshead’s books on eBay. I’m further north now, in Angus, there’s a falconer near here I’ll go and have a chat to. Thanks again.
  5. StephOC
    My son is very keen on falconry. He understands there’s a lot to do before he gets even close to buying a bird and it’s not put him off. We’ve watched YouTube from eagles in Mongolia to sheiks in Saudi. He’s only six but very capable in his manner. He’s been lucky enough to handle various birds on a falconry trip in the summer. Desperate to go again. We've Read books by jemima parry, Emma ford and James Harris. I wondered if anyone might be able to suggest your favourite books please? He’s thinking a male harris hawk would be best. I found an American book, The Harris Hawk Revolution, b
  6. StephOC

    THIS ADVERT HAS EXPIRED!

    • Wanted
    • Used

    My son is interested in shooting but my air rifles are too big. 10th Birthday is end of the month. looking to buy a second hand junior .177 or .22, probably prefer .177. Thinking I’ll get him something second hand now and if all goes well he can have something fancier down the line. Would need to be local to Angus/North east Scotland or posted please. I’ve got my ticket, insurance, cabinet, private land, lecture him on safety, etc.

    £75

  7. StephOC
    Junior Air rifle wanted View Advert My son is interested in shooting but my air rifles are too big. 10th Birthday is end of the month. looking to buy a second hand junior .177 or .22, probably prefer .177. Thinking I’ll get him something second hand now and if all goes well he can have something fancier down the line. Would need to be local to Angus/North east Scotland or posted please. I’ve got my ticket, insurance, cabinet, private land, lecture him on safety, etc. Advertiser StephOC
  8. StephOC
    I read that this is against the law now; breeding vertebrate animals for the purpose of feeding to other animals (without licenses or something). So long as its not poisoned, can't imagine the way you kill the mouse make any difference to the ferret.
  9. StephOC
    I've fed a rook I shot: no problem. Mites are largely species (or at least class) specific. I'd reckon freezing would kill the mites anyway. sorry I'm too far away to take them off you.
  10. StephOC
    I've had these two ferrets for a few weeks now. They don't bite anymore, and i can pick them up, but I wouldn't trust them enough to stick my hand down a rabbit hole after them! I have photos, but turns out I don't know how to get them off my camera phone onto the PC. I think they've come too tame to be wild polecats. Saying that, they're still terrified every time I open they're hutch. They either run into the pipe and refuse to come out or just lie totally still in their bed, apparantly petrified. I've had them in the court a few times, and after a while they do move about, but
  11. StephOC
    I'll prob not be able to get my camera sorted and get photos till begining of next week. Ferretertom: They are very 'mussely' to touch. I was suprised as previous strays that I've ended up with have been really thin. Will post photos when I can. Cheers.
  12. StephOC
    I did this a few years ago for my local fair. It and had some sections of see-through pipe that I'd scrounged and some wire sections so that prople could see. A roll of chicken mesh and wire hoops (a bit like croquet hoops) and tent pegs, every few meters, is a really easy way to support the wire into an arch and pin it into the ground. Connected to purple drainage pipes, etc. There were small cages at the start and end of the courses to hold and catch the ferrets. I think I had just two courses, and four ferrets. I had a big cage for them to rest in which fitted inside an old canva
  13. StephOC
    They're in Angus, Scotland, so nowhere near you. Thank you though. I had a look on the internet and it seems the colouration is slightly different in wild polecats, so I'll have a look when I can!
  14. StephOC
    Neighbour trapped two ferrets in his chicken shed and I ended up with them at the weekend. They're pretty wild, although I have picked them both up (had to to get them out of trap) and stroked them a bit (to see their condition and any injuries). In the trap cage they were petrified and limp, as soon as I set them in my pen (not with any other ferrets) they shot off to the darkest recesses and I've mostly left them to it. They both now hide, hiss and have tried to bite me and ended up with a mouthful of jumper! Anyone lost them? Or want them?
  15. StephOC
    Thats really rubbish for you and your team. I'd be gutted. Not that I'm planning on buying any boxes, but this DD timbers company, perhaps a strongly worded letter? So that they may at least refine their design. Has anyone else had any problems? Are there any ferret rescues in South Wales that you could try for an adult? Even the RSPCA rehoming?
  16. StephOC
    Damn: November 2009 and to think I've not been up there since! What a shame.
  17. StephOC
    Thanks to Ideation. True enough about there being loads of other road kill on the road and to be honest, I was bloody angry this morning, but yeah, if cars hit deer, then sure they can hit ferrets, its obvious, I'm stupid and prone to over-react. Droid, I have no idea what you mean. Fortunately I'm of a very forgiving nature.
  18. StephOC
    Ok, maybe an over reaction on my part, sure accidents happen. I'd just like to think that anyone would notice something thats only a bit smaller than a cat and bright white, going from the number of drivers I've seen braking and swerving to avoid rabbits! It looked in good health and even though it was in pain seemed well handled, so assumed escaped rather than dumped.
  19. StephOC
    Had a call this morning of an albino hob found on the road between Montrose and Forfar. He couldn't move his back legs and was clearly in pain so I put him out of his misery. He must have escaped (fairly recently?) as was otherwise healthy, clean, no ticks, well handled and tame. Thought I'd post in case anyone on here knows anyone who's lost one, a great shame, as if you can't drive your car AROUND a fucknig ferret in the road!
  20. StephOC
    One of my jills bolted a rat in the spring from a little warren that I'd had rabbits out of previously. She bolted one that ran off down the slope and then got hold of another just as it popped its head through the purse net. I was so worried that it would turn round and hurt her - I tried to help, but she had hold of it and kept dragging it back down the tunnel, it all eyes and teeth screeming between me and her! I widened the tunnel, reached further in and knoched it on the head with a long metal net peg (they're old barn roofing pins, so not small!) I pulled her out, still hol
  21. StephOC
    Well I had a go the other night, didn't catch any. There was a bit of a breeze but a bright moon and it wasn't very dark. It clearly wasn't the best night, but as said previously, I didn't expect to catch anything. It is really hard to be quiet! I think the rabbits knew I was there, I tried to be quiet but could sometimes make out their ears further up the field and they seemed to be looking at me. I like to think that I was quiet enough not to panic them, but in reality, they probably could see what a rubbish job I was doing and that's why they weren't scared! I guess they all ran arou
  22. StephOC
    Thank you for your replies - sounds quite positive. I'm really suprised to hear that they'll bolt for home even if you're only a few feet from them - maybe I have some hope then? I don't really expect to catch any somehow, but will be as quiet as I can and post how it goes.
  23. StephOC
    I have a 50 yard long net which I have never used at night. I have practiced setting it a couple of times in the day and it seems ok. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but wondered how far away the rabbits normally are when you are trying to set up a long net? I am hoping to try a long strip of grass about 120m, 40m wide. The warren is amongst some trees at one end, and the rabbits feed further along the strip. There is a wall on one side so they can't go there and whenever I go after dark, they do all run into burrows under the trees (maybe about 12 rabbits). From what I've read,
  24. StephOC
    Hi everyone, thanks for your replies, I belive I have messaged everyone who has a nest. Thanks also for the links to the other thread about a couple of nests. No offence by not replying quickly - I was away from the computer for a day. Females can sting, and as someone pointed out previously, they are not barbed stings, so the same bee can sting you repeatedly! Although after a couple of stings, an average bumblebee seems not to have much venom left and they are less sore! The females do all the work in the nests. They have to do all the brood care, foraging for nectar and pollen to
  25. StephOC
    I'm researching bumblebee nests. I've had loads of people from the general public who have found a nest in their garden, and filled in a questionnaire for me about their bees, which is great. I was just reading another post about how kids from hunting families know more about nature and thought that as nearly all of the site's members spend most of their time in the countryside probably loads of folk have found nests this year. If you'd like to take part, I'd really appreciate your help if you would pm me. Thank you!
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