NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Don't normally do a write up about lamping as what can you say??... but for a change... here goes.. Went for a walk around the new farm on Saturday with Isla and the dogs, after half an hour scrumping in the orchard we headed up to the top of the farm where I hadn't yet walked. The fields are big and the winter crop is just starting to shoot, cracking running land and recent nights on the rest of the land had shown there to be enough game for a good night out. The weather was coming in shitty and I started to get the excited feeling as field after field had obvious traces of rabbits, although we saw none as we were making a load of noise and walking in the middle of the day.Due to a few different reasons I had to wait until Monday night before we could get out and run the dogs, Geth wanted to get out with Blue so we made plans to meet at 9 in the tescos garage jump in mine and move onto the land through the lanes, the missus made me late but we were on our way by 9-30, the wind had dropped a bit but it was blowy enough and nice and dark.I took my small bitch and the pup along, the pup would stay in the truck and have a quick 10 mins walk at the end of the night, just small bits to see whats going on.. We pulled into the farm and parked beside the orchard, we planned to walk the large field parallel and work our way up hill until it plateaus off then keep walking to the right over the top few fields before coming back over the hill towards the opposite side of the farm.The first field is a big arable (most are) field, undulating and difficult to lamp, we see eyes on top of the hill, walking around and into the wind we move up the hill to get into a position where we can lamp without losing sight in the dips, back on with the lamp and a big old hare stands up, another is 15ft away from him idly muching away, there left to enjoy their scran... we spot another hare further down the field, but no rabbits..we walk through the top of the orchard and out into another open field, this one is empty apart from one rabbit at the top next to the hedge, the next field is full of swedes under poly tunnels, a quick flick around with the lamp for a look, although un-runable and a couple of roe are stood right amongst the tunnels..the next field takes us right to the top of the farm, there are a couple of rabbits sat out, we manage to get blue a run which he just misses against the hedge, as we walk up there are a few sets of eyes showing, the ground is perfect a bit wet with an inch or so of crop coming through, we get to a better position and flick the lamp on... 6 hares are sat out munching away... this would become the theme for the early part of the night... we are on the top of the farm now looking down the valley back towards Exeter, all around is nice open farmland, the winds blowing and it's great to be out.. The first really run able rabbit is in the next field, another massive field with winter crop sprouting and a small patch of corn left... I slip Martha and shes quick up to the squatter, a short run back up the beam and he hits the patch of maize, Martha crashes through and the squeal of the caught rabbit means the first one is in the bag.. There are more hares in this field, around 8, with a few rabbits which aren't worth a slip..Blue gets another slip on a squatter which again heads for the maize, same outcome and another in the bag..Martha misses one which runs down over the hill and out of the beam, I tried to run and keep it in the beam but I'm a slow f****r lol... we get to the far corner and there are 3 sat out, blue gets slipped and with a sliding strike grabs the bunny, a nice retrieve back to Geth and another in the bag... there is another still sat out so I slip Martha, thinking Blue is back on the slip, but Geth was fannying around trying to break the rabbits neck or something so Blue takes up the chase and catches well, another back and in the bag..The next few fields again have more hares than rabbits, I've not seen this many around here for years, We are now on the lower side of the farm the fields are the same affair, big with winter crop... A few rabbits are out in the dip below us and one clamps down tight, I send Martha down the beam and after a couple of turns up and down the hedge she grabs another..We go through a hole in the hedge and Geth decides to fall flat on his back, he blamed the rabbits in his ruck sack, I just don't think they make soldiers like they used too lol... The field slopes one way towards a dyke at the bottom, we are at the top hedge line, There is a rabbit a long way down the beam near the fence line, Geth slips Blue and we expect the rabbit to make his escape through the fence, but as sometimes happens the rabbit panics, blue is now on top of it and the rabbit decides to run the width of the field back to us it was never winning that race and blue picks up beautifully on the run and number 6 is in the bag...We carry on up the other side of the farm towards the road, now with the Orchard behind us, a rabbit is sat out in the short crop, I send Martha down the beam and she duly picks it straight out of it's seat, I know we all like to see a run but for some reason there's something rewarding about watching your dog pick them up before they've had chance to move..We now get to the road and make the decision to jump over the fence for a quick scan across the road, it's kind of on permission These fields are cracking, short grass on nice paddocks with a good few rabbits, the first field and we spot a pair of ears flicking out of the grass, Blues down the beam quickly and the rabbit makes for the hedge, a couple of sharp turns and number 8 is in the bag...Through the gate and into rabbit nirvana, they are everywhere, there's too many to lamp easily, we head up the field and come back with the wind.Lamp on, Marthas down the beam quickly and a short run is put to a stop with her grabbing another, head further down the hill and rabbits are moving in a wave, we let a few run in then pick a squatter, Blue's slipped but this time the rabbit makes good it's escape, another squatter Martha runs on and nails it against the hedge,.. I say to Geth that a rabbit is still squatting where the other one had ran from, I'm sorting Martha's rabbit but can see Geth send Blue down the beam at first he over runs the rabbit, off with the lamp and back on the rabbit, Blue starts coming back down the beam (it's starting to really click with him now)... he grabs the rabbit out of the seat, Geth flicks the beam off, puts his head lamp on and waits for the retrieve... little does he no Blue has dropped the rabbit which is now hurtling at him at break neck speed with Blue close behind... WHACK... I see the head lamp go up in the air, flick my lamp on and Geth is laid on his back, groaning and cursing Blue lol... Fair play to blue he caught the rabbit again and retrieved it nicely back to a now horizontal Geth..lol... ensue piss taking!!We enter the bottom of the field we started in and there is another out, Marths hits it along the hedge row after a very good run, where she was back to her "sticking like glue" way of running..We've a dozen (which I thought was 11 lol) in the bag and decide to head for the motor, we see another 3 hares on the way back... I give the pup a little look about for 10 mins, and she wants to play with the dogs... they're knackered now and want her to f**k off lol..All in all a good night, we need to "secure" the permission over the road and thin the rabbits out a bit with the ferrets..Thats over 40 rabbits off this bit in the last couple of weeks which aint bad going down this way, there's a lot of other thing you could have some fun with with a gun as well.. 13 Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,740 Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Super, well written post... No boasting or bragging,..just a genuine report of an enjoyable night's sport... Wish I could write with such obvious enthusiasm.... 3 Quote Link to post
NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 (edited) Cheers lads.. Was a nice walk Joe, not far from where you stayed... Hedges are still right up mate, ferreted this farm last weekend managed 9 but it was hard work, only done a little hedge but it was enough lol.. No chance of any bragging Phil, I got f**k all to boast about lol Edited November 12, 2015 by NEWKID Quote Link to post
NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hopefully sort something mate, your always more than welcome down here.. 2 Quote Link to post
dytkos 18,046 Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hopefully sort something mate, your always more than welcome down here.. CMW next mate, only down the road Cheers, D. 1 Quote Link to post
Chicken_man 1,651 Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Great write up, enjoyed it :-) Atb 1 Quote Link to post
NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 (edited) Thanks lads, D, CMW don't think so mate I'd have to learn how to spell and punctuate properly lol.... we'll sort something up here over the Christmas break mate, try and do a day and night may be? Edited November 12, 2015 by NEWKID 1 Quote Link to post
Somewhereyournot 1,117 Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 I was reading that and started thinking you was on my ground for a second lol, then you mention Exeter haha. Nice right up and well done the dohs 1 Quote Link to post
white van man 3,547 Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Just to point out.....I fell backwards because I'm the one humping all the kit and our catch!! It f*#$^ng hurt getting hit full pelt be a 24" lump too. Thought I was back on the rugby pitch. Main thing is it was a cracking night and the dogs ran well. 1 Quote Link to post
NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2015 Just to point out.....I fell backwards because I'm the one humping all the kit and our catch!! It f*#$^ng hurt getting hit full pelt be a 24" lump too. Thought I was back on the rugby pitch. Main thing is it was a cracking night and the dogs ran well. Thought you were pissed you were on your ass that much !! Lol... And I carry a few rabbits, on the Shakira belt lol.. Quote Link to post
Snifferboy 659 Posted November 17, 2015 Report Share Posted November 17, 2015 Good stuff boys, Geths account of the night didn't emphasise quite so much time on his arse though...! 1 Quote Link to post
BlackStreak 498 Posted November 18, 2015 Report Share Posted November 18, 2015 Very nice story, thanks for putting the effort in to write it. I really enjoyed reading it and you did a very good job presenting it the way you did. 1 Quote Link to post
NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 Good stuff boys, Geths account of the night didn't emphasise quite so much time on his arse though...! It was like he was on ice mate!!... lol I spent as much time picking him off the floor as I did lamping!! Quote Link to post
NEWKID 29,297 Posted November 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2015 Very nice story, thanks for putting the effort in to write it. I really enjoyed reading it and you did a very good job presenting it the way you did. Thanks mate, appreciated Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.