Start of 2010 in a Fashion

[tdavepat 8]

It is still solid snow in a lot of my permissions. Far too dangerous to be running a dog on the lamp.

 

But down by the estuary it has been warm enough to give firm but not frozen conditions underfoot.

 

Merlin, my whippet and I recce'd it this afternoon and Lewis, my whippet x and I had a proper look tonight.

 

Conditions were great for walking hand in hand on the beach, but not for lamping. The moon stared down on a deathly still night and the whole country's population of foxes have met up at mine for new year.

 

Lewis hasn't been out lamping for a fortnight and it certainly showed in his lack of trust in the beam. Eventually he saw it my way and retrieved 3 to hand. For the first time in months he brought all 3 in live.

 

He still struggles with squatters and at one stage he stood and watched one stand up for ages. I tried to encourage him to nail it, but he just stood until it decided to move on.......then he bloody chased. My whippet has started that too, so it's defo something I am doing wrong.

 

Perhaps it is the result of frequently giving them all long slips, thereby knocking their confidence. Or perhaps they are now wise enough to know that the more than difficult chances have become too energy sapping to bother.

 

Anyway, a decent enough night and it's good to kick off 2010 in the right fashion.

 

The small handheld torch in the foreground is the Tiablo A9 with collimater (sp?) head. I followed its reviews on this forum and whilst it is good enough for small fields and squatters at 50-75 yards, I think the light is too white and short for my preference. Lewis caught 1 on it tonight.

 

[tdavepat 8]

Hi mate, I have always given them 200 yds plus.

 

Some of them they have had no right to get turned but they frequently seemed to manage it.

 

But maybe I have overdone the difficulty factor and given them some impossible, stupid asks.

 

I really don't know, it's just funny that they've both started it.

 

I have never taught them on squatters as I don't tend to get the opportunity to lamp virgin ground.

 

Maybe they don't really know what to do with one that just sits and sits.

 

I'm just speculating as I really don't have a clue how to work that into their armoury.

 

I lamp them without leads so I sort of have to rely on them being on the same wavelength as me. Perhaps if I thought it was important, I could leash them until I got close enough. But if I don't come across too many, it means they stayed leashed for longer periods than i would like.

[longdog13 36]

Hi mate, I have always given them 200 yds plus.

 

Some of them they have had no right to get turned but they frequently seemed to manage it.

 

But maybe I have overdone the difficulty factor and given them some impossible, stupid asks.

 

I really don't know, it's just funny that they've both started it.

 

I have never taught them on squatters as I don't tend to get the opportunity to lamp virgin ground.

 

Maybe they don't really know what to do with one that just sits and sits.

 

I'm just speculating as I really don't have a clue how to work that into their armoury.

 

I lamp them without leads so I sort of have to rely on them being on the same wavelength as me. Perhaps if I thought it was important, I could leash them until I got close enough. But if I don't come across too many, it means they stayed leashed for longer periods than i would like.

 

 

90% of my lamping had been done slipped from the lead, i find it's more productive and you end up loosing less/causing lamp shy bunnies?

 

ATB LD13