Day 18.

[Brimmer 220]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a few will know, i'm pretty keen on my rabbiting. Anyone reading the posts before xmas will have seen how often me and the old feller were out.(One day missed on a weekend since the end of Sept.)

This year has been different. Sunday the 13th of December was the last time we were out, the old feller said we needed to get out as much as possible before the snow came. He was right.

Probably only the lads across and above the northern belt understand what effect the snow has had on our sport.

On the 18th of December the snow fell, pretty heavy. It does it a few times every year, and usually the majority is gone within a few days. This year was different. It came it stayed, it got added to many times, it just got thicker and colder witout any any sign of a thaw until Wednesday the 13th of January.

 

 

 

We called time out on the hunting hoping it to clear by weekend, we kept waiting.

 

Nearly one month later, it cleared in patches. A reprieve at last for the poor starving animals. And I mean starving.

 

Every tree at ground level stripped of bark, every garden stripped of plants, anything that could be eaten was eaten as the rabbits got more and more desperate.

Farmers on our land and surrounding farms have been shooting them in their hundreds, more out of mercy than necessity, as the rabbits dropped out of the hills looking for the slightest bit of food. (Silage being the life saver for them.) Bailed or clamped.

Many of these animals being skeletal and desperate, even been told today, one farmers silage clamp was two high in rabbits on the ground level, with them only moving inches away from the loadall cutting the silage to feed the stock.

 

Even today, large patches of the ground are covered in thick snow 6 weeks later.

 

 

Many of the tracks with vehicle access are still blocked by drifts onto the high ground.

 

Today was the first look out since then. Nothing serious. No old feller though, he thought another weeks grace was in order.

 

Took myself, two very fat jills, one very deaf russel, and tried out the lowland.

Last year over two days we had 70 plus off the same ground i covered today. There are a few about but not many, i feel bad about killing the survivors. They were in decent shape, but ........ even the rabbits need a break.

 

 

First mark was in this pile of twigs, the terrier looked dumb when the smell of a rabbit dissapeared all of a sudden! Its gone you dozy fool!

 

Not long before we got a mark or two.

 

 

The nettle stalks played hell with the netting up. (Thats my excuse for having 3 rabbits slip the nets today!)

 

 

Not long for the first dig though, with two jills i though i stood a chance!

 

 

Pretty much the same all day, decent marks, lots of nets set for little rabbits out.

 

Dog did ok, ferrets did ok. Last warren another dig, 3-4 foot of stone and boulders, took a bit to get through.

 

 

 

Even the fatties kill.

 

Took another 20 mins to dig around a boulder to get the kill though, but feel better for getting it.

 

End of the day got 12 rabbits, not huge rabbits, but survivors, with enough fat on them to start things off again.

 

 

By the way, the rabbits wre just starting to tube up, there will be cherries in them within a month.

 

Getting home found one of the fat jills had taking a near disemboweling!

 

 

Ouch!

 

Thats it for now folks. I'll tell you how things look on the high ground next weekend. Hopefully there will be a few survivors up there!

[trapper123 7]

good post and pics mate,well done.

[auld salmon 28]

nice one brimmer bet your glad to get back out thought you had retired not heard from you for a while hope the old fella gets oot next week nice picts

[dytkos 17,917]

Once again Brimmer, great post and pics. Cheers, D.

[Brimmer 220]

nice one brimmer bet your glad to get back out thought you had retired not heard from you for a while hope the old fella gets oot next week nice picts

Nice to be back out mate. Been watching your posts mate, you are doing enough for the both of us!

[ace32 4]

good bit of sport there son,at least we can get out a bit more now,well saying that snow back again,not as bad ,its pain,my land been well covered,as yours,ferts are getting fat,fit as out but fat,i,me setting my sights on next week,gonna have a run up,see if i can get on my land in the morn,take the new guns for a walk,i need to fire form some hornet brass,well you had a canny one, ,a bit dig keeps you warm,well done son,ian

[longnetter 32]

Good write up and pics mate and lovely country as well .

That much snow in my neck of the woods (W/Norfolk) would be considered a national disaster

[stealthy1 3,964]

Well done Brimmer

[ArchieHood 3,692]

Good to hear from you again Brimmer

[longdog13 36]

Good to see you at it again,

Out today and had a good few with cherries already

[andy s410c 62]

Managed to get out at last B ,got the snow back up here about 4-6 inch fell on Friday/Saturday .I'm sick of the f g stuff just as it had thawed out the regions frozen solid AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

[Halfinch 51]

Nice one Brimmer, good to see you back at it,

A great write up with good pics as always.

[supersam 65]

excellent read and pics

glad your back at it lad

[ferretville 69]

Aye the rabbits have had it hard this last month mate . Good to you and the team getting back out

[grdavison 0]

nice to hear from you again mate bet your pleased to get out!