A mooch on the weekend, long winded explanation of f*ck all caught! for all you 'ows it bred' lads to winge at :-)

[bullmastiff 615]

Haven't written about a night out for a while and as I'm sat here reading another argument on what can (or can't) catch a deer, I thought I'd write a few lines about my night out on Saturday.

I didn't catch bugger all so You might as well stop reading now... lol

 

Tess's limp seemed to of disappeared and now she's finally finished her season I thought I'd get her out for a few runs on the bunnies and start trying to get her fit again.

The land I've just got permission on is 600 acres of mainly Dairy, set on both sides of a valley, with a few sheep and 5-6 fields of overwintering crops on the tops of the hills.

I've only managed to get out there 3 times so far. Once in daylight to see the lay of the land, runs, entrances/exits to the property the quarry are using plus run the dogs through the bushes, then once at night to see what species and in what numbers are on it. (Tons of Roe and bloody badgers... as it turns out)

The third time I had a guy from on here come down whilst on a hunting holiday with his boys to show me what a coursing bred dog can do. Took him to a few permissions to look at certain species then on to this farm.

Due to an unfortunate accident on the first permission, where Tess ran through his dog to get to a certain longer toothed quarry, it sprained it's ankle which although still later on caught in fine order and there was not even a whimper whilst behind the quarry, as soon as it caught whined/screamed like hell so was popped back in the car to rest up although soon to join us from a half open window without a whimper whilst his and my dogs were running together!! (amazing what decent drive can help them forget when theres some running going on!!)

 

So really this was the first time I'd managed to get out and actually hunt this ground in earnest.

I got there about 10pm and it was bitterly cold, windy, slightly cloudy but with an almost full moon (Tess could happily run without the lamp).

Got the dog out the car, let her empty out then flicked the lamp around the first field, Eyes light up in several spots so swept the rest of the arc in front of me, chose which would be the less disturbing run then started walking her in.

Now she's older (about 2yrs) and slightly less movement fixated, I'm trying to train her to walk to heel without the slip lead on (you'll hear me correcting her as we walk in on the vid), so it's one less thing I've got to hold! (better for filming but worse for ending in long slips!) Flicked the lamp on to see the closest Rabbit already hopping towards the hedge, nothing else is near so hiss her on to at least get her legs stretched/warmed up and get that first run silliness out of her, it straight lined into the hedge and Tess lost it somewhere in the ditch. I'm not so worried about her losing confidence on long slips any more as she has bundles of it and will commit 100% to anything she's slipped on.

Next few slips were the same sort of thing, spotting them 100yds out walking in closer flicking the lamp on just in time to see the Rabbit quietly heading for home. She tried her best but just couldn't get to terms with them?

 

It was after the 8-9 slips of still not catching I actually started concentrating on her running properly. Usually when I slip her, 60-70% of them she'd catch and most misses would be a close call. She's not the fastest of dogs but very agile and quick witted, usually right on their arse for every turn, picking them up with a fair decent strike.

She seemed to be losing ground on the straight line to the hedge and miles off on a turn/strike???

I thought drop back to basics and find some squatters,. It's good training to try and keep her to heel whilst walking in, and will give me a decent view of what's going on.

Somehow she always manages to headbutt the ground then roll in fine style when missing!

 

http://youtu.be/GsAH9-63dys

 

Although I had noticed the mud was sticking to my boots, this is when I realised Tess was virtually sinking to her ankles when running! The rabbits were just skipping across the top of the thick gloopy mud!!

I've heard of the ground in the Fens testing dogs stamina as they sink in to it whilst they run but never expected a Somerset version! lol

Another run, this was the last one. Poor girl had missed (fairly closely) 12 by now and was looking a bit tired on the run back! So caled it quits for the night.

 

http://youtu.be/XGbVX7LlXz4

 

She was on the Golf course by 12pm the next day bushing and chasing so should be fit again within short order!

 

Hopefully it wasn't too hard to read through!

I've got a fair amount of people coming down over the xmas period to try and get some ferreting and running in so should get some half decent footage hopefully!

 

ATB

 

Bully

[asanley 1,009]

ows it bred ?

[Tyla 3,179]

I'd rather read that than all the bickering. Well done mate

[Westy76 546]

A normal night out ATM good write up cheers

[sandymere 8,263]

Good write up.

[suffolkpoacher 219]

that dogs got the turning abilty of a bus,good right up but dog did not look like it was run as quick as it could.is it better on other quarry rather than bunny

[bullmastiff 615]

Cheers for the comments,

S.P. as I said in the write up, thats the reason I went and found some squatters. She just wasn't keeping up with the rabbits in a straight line let alone when turning. Usually she can stick behind a Rabbit pretty well.

I don't know if it was to do with fitness, the really thick sticky mud or if the injury is still affecting her? or as someone else said just having an off day?

 

I'm off out for a few runs tonight on some differant ground so will see how she goes.

[suffolkpoacher 219]

They all have there off nights ,best of luck tonight

[WILF 48,377]

Please dont take this the wrong way as its a totally serious question, does that dog ever catch much matey?....I mean it all looks good fun but it must get a bit sould destroying for the animal.

 

Just interested and as I said, not trying to be a funny c**t in any way

[carp man 1 219]

hope she gets there 4 u atb 4 tonight

[dogs and quarry 40]

good write up mate

[bullmastiff 615]

Please dont take this the wrong way as its a totally serious question, does that dog ever catch much matey?....I mean it all looks good fun but it must get a bit sould destroying for the animal.

 

Just interested and as I said, not trying to be a funny c**t in any way

 

No offence taken

Simple answer is yes she does but she's basically a pet that I work though. She's never seen large numbers(as we don't really have them round my way) so wouldn't know if she was capable or not? 12 runs on Rabbits is a really good night round my way. Before her lay up she should of got most of them.

As I said further up she's usually pretty good on the rabbits and has decent turning ability and strike.

Other stuff more in keeping with her size and cross isn't worth discussing on an open forum but she hasn't needed help or quit yet. A few members from on here have seen her work.

 

I live in rented accomodation and I'm only supposed to have two dogs. Tia is 10yrs old now bless her so I'll be looking for a proper working dog to replace Roo. Until then, Tess has to do it!

[WILF 48,377]

Please dont take this the wrong way as its a totally serious question, does that dog ever catch much matey?....I mean it all looks good fun but it must get a bit sould destroying for the animal.

 

Just interested and as I said, not trying to be a funny c**t in any way

 

No offence taken

Simple answer is yes she does but she's basically a pet that I work though. She's never seen large numbers(as we don't really have them round my way) so wouldn't know if she was capable or not? 12 runs on Rabbits is a really good night round my way. Before her lay up she should of got most of them.

As I said further up she's usually pretty good on the rabbits and has decent turning ability and strike.

Other stuff more in keeping with her size and cross isn't worth discussing on an open forum but she hasn't needed help or quit yet. A few members from on here have seen her work.

 

I live in rented accomodation and I'm only supposed to have two dogs. Tia is 10yrs old now bless her so I'll be looking for a proper working dog to replace Roo. Until then, Tess has to do it!

 

Fair one :victory:

[king squirrel 53]

Please dont take this the wrong way as its a totally serious question, does that dog ever catch much matey?....I mean it all looks good fun but it must get a bit sould destroying for the animal.

 

Just interested and as I said, not trying to be a funny c**t in any way

i think am with wilf on this one if you knew the dog wasnt running right should of packed up its dishearting for the dog if not fit aswell going the right way for the dog start picking and choosing her runs.just out of curiosity while you have been training her off slip have you chastised her much and again not having a dig just wondering atb ks hope you get her fit or get to the bottom of it let us know how she gone on or if there was a problem with the old injury

[nighteyes 275]

Cheers for the comments,

S.P. as I said in the write up, thats the reason I went and found some squatters. She just wasn't keeping up with the rabbits in a straight line let alone when turning. Usually she can stick behind a Rabbit pretty well.

I don't know if it was to do with fitness, the really thick sticky mud or if the injury is still affecting her? or as someone else said just having an off day?

 

I'm off out for a few runs tonight on some differant ground so will see how she goes.

nice write up i think the dog would benifit on some different ground [rough grass etc] remember its dec and everything is flying now,just keep her at it atb