rob190364 2,594 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 This is my first season lamping and I must admit, beforehand I hadn't really given the importance of fieldcraft much thought Obviously you need to stay down wind if possible, be quiet, and position yourself between warren and rabbit if possible, but how much further do you seasoned veterans take it? Do you do much climbing through hedges, crawling through undergrowth, climbing through streams etc? What would your typical lamping session entail? I've never been out with anyone who really knows where they're doing so all I have to go on is my own humble experience at the moment, and while I am slowly learning, it'd be good to get a few pointers. When you watch lamping DVDs they make it look like you just walk into a field, there's a rabbit sat right in the middle, flick the lamp on and off you go....so that's what I was expecting when I started this season.....didn't exactly go like that I'm glad it's not that easy to be honest, it'll be much more rewarding when it does finally come together for us! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnasher16 31,602 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 This is my first season lamping and I must admit, beforehand I hadn't really given the importance of fieldcraft much thought Obviously you need to stay down wind if possible, be quiet, and position yourself between warren and rabbit if possible, but how much further do you seasoned veterans take it? Do you do much climbing through hedges, crawling through undergrowth, climbing through streams etc? What would your typical lamping session entail? I've never been out with anyone who really knows where they're doing so all I have to go on is my own humble experience at the moment, and while I am slowly learning, it'd be good to get a few pointers. When you watch lamping DVDs they make it look like you just walk into a field, there's a rabbit sat right in the middle, flick the lamp on and off you go....so that's what I was expecting when I started this season.....didn't exactly go like that I'm glad it's not that easy to be honest, it'll be much more rewarding when it does finally come together for us! So its not just me then ! The first few folk i started tagging along with it was like the blind leading the blind....be interested to see the replies you get anyway 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigdog Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 depend's on the ground really, if there's hedges, streams, etc. then id go through, around, over, whatever it takes. other than that id just stick down wind and try and put my self in the best position i can, for rabbits as you said blocking access to the warren is best, for fox id stick to the darkest corner of the field, preferably with a high hedge behind me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waz 4,293 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 This is my first season lamping and I must admit, beforehand I hadn't really given the importance of fieldcraft much thought Obviously you need to stay down wind if possible, be quiet, and position yourself between warren and rabbit if possible, but how much further do you seasoned veterans take it? Do you do much climbing through hedges, crawling through undergrowth, climbing through streams etc? What would your typical lamping session entail? I've never been out with anyone who really knows where they're doing so all I have to go on is my own humble experience at the moment, and while I am slowly learning, it'd be good to get a few pointers. When you watch lamping DVDs they make it look like you just walk into a field, there's a rabbit sat right in the middle, flick the lamp on and off you go....so that's what I was expecting when I started this season.....didn't exactly go like that I'm glad it's not that easy to be honest, it'll be much more rewarding when it does finally come together for us! Just get out there, dvd's of lamping are good for a bit of entertainment or seeing dogs of different crosses, never seen one thats filled with fieldcraft tips. Dont beat yourself up about making mistakes, just learn from them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
milliken 831 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 hi the most important in my eyes is after your dog misses one keep lamp of till dog comes back seen alot of people shineing lamp on rould field after a miss and wonder why there dog wont come right back after a miss keep tight to the hedge wind in your face and enjoy watching your dog out smart it quarry all the best for rest the season robert 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 stay down wind, try and stay close to hedges and from horizon line if you've got to climb gates make sure you climb over on clamp(hinge) side. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,217 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 A lot of folk who just lamp, don't know shit about field craft. As most folk have said, keeping the wind on your face, using the lie of the land to not cast shadows, skyline yourself etc (if there is a moon), looking at the ground and not marching through the boggy bits making noise like a bloody elephant, using the hedges etc in order to break up your out line etc etc. Making as little noise as possible. One of the biggest things though, is knowing the land and the quarry, and being able to second guess what it's going to do, where it's going to run, and even before you get into the field, knowing roughly where you would expect to see said quarry feeding, so you dont have to lamp the whole field. To be honest though, even a muppet will catch stuff on the lamp. Daytime. . . . . it's a whole other ball game! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moll. 1,793 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Knowing your land is very important. When i go on Woodga's land with him it is much easier to catch, he will say "don't slip on that one, it is right on top of a set" Whereas when i'm on my own i see a nice rabbit in the middle of a field, slip the dog and the rabbit disappears....making yet another long run with nothing at the end of it 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ratreeper 441 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 I have made a lot of mistakes, but you don't make them twice so no need to worry. Although I cannot believe this hasn't been mentioned yet, SCENT. There is no point wearing cammo, with the wind in your face ducked below a hedgerow if you smell of Lynx africa. I know staying down wind should solve it but realistically it won't always be windy, or windy enough in the right direction. I think peope might think I am weird but I rarely wash my cammo (if ever) and made a point of covering it all in dirt, grass, rain etc and don't wear aftershave or smelly shower gel when hunting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob190364 2,594 Posted December 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Cheers everyone, learning point from my last session.....I didn't wear scent, crouched in hedgerow, no wind so was quiet as possible, slowly moving towards the area where I'd be between the rabbits and the warren....and then the dog did a big shite cos I hadn't taken her on another field for an empty before we set out....DOH!!! And it fookin honked! and another learning point from a couple of weeks ago, I'd been sneaking round the edge of a field but spotted a gap in the hedge so the following session I went in the adjacent field and went to climb through the barbed wire where the gap in the hedge was.....only got my fukkin hood stuck on the barbed wide and as I was trying to release it got my sleeve stuck aswell so had to slide out of my coat and then untangle it. Arriving at the field in a monster truck and getting into position on a space hopper would have been more stealthy!! :laugh: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob190364 2,594 Posted December 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 A lot of folk who just lamp, don't know shit about field craft. As most folk have said, keeping the wind on your face, using the lie of the land to not cast shadows, skyline yourself etc (if there is a moon), looking at the ground and not marching through the boggy bits making noise like a bloody elephant, using the hedges etc in order to break up your out line etc etc. Making as little noise as possible. One of the biggest things though, is knowing the land and the quarry, and being able to second guess what it's going to do, where it's going to run, and even before you get into the field, knowing roughly where you would expect to see said quarry feeding, so you dont have to lamp the whole field. To be honest though, even a muppet will catch stuff on the lamp. Daytime. . . . . it's a whole other ball game! strangely I tend to get more runs during the day! I think it's a combination of most of the land round here being lamped to buggery, and my dogs ability to find prey being somewhat better than mine! So far this season the majority of what I would call decent sessions have been during the day with a ferret in the rucksack. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moll. 1,793 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 There is no point wearing cammo, with the wind in your face ducked below a hedgerow if you smell of Lynx africa. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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