Lurchers and Air Rifles

[Caravan Monster 323]

A mate of mine is always on at me to leave the dog at home when I take the gun out. My dog works well enough with the gun- she knows her heel, wait and retrieves after a fashion. Always seems a bit boring to go down the fields without the dog- to me, one rabbit with the dog is better than several with the gun, but you won' t get many pheasants or woodies without the gun.

 

Would anyone on here leave their dog at home?

[hairybull 3]

Sometimes I take just the rifle out, other times both. Depends on what I'm after, I think its good for the dog to get out- they seem to like shooting just as much as we do.

If I'm on the farm I'll take the dogs as just as likely to pick up a fox along the river but usually just shooting a few birds so the dog has a wander with me.

(.223 and .22)

[allgame 0]

if its only one firearms and one dog then i havnt got an issue because you always know where the dog is but once there a few poeple and dogs running around i put my dogs away or my gun away (usally guns) iv seen dogs get shot by dangerouse shooters and iv seen dogs get shot by carful shooters including ricochet's i have a pionter and i still only occasionaly use it when im shooting usally only ducks and deer (mainly run it with the stag and ferrets ) if your dogs well behaved and you've done abit of shooting and your in safe country i dont see an issue its only when it gets abit crowded is it an issue

[mad al 146]

I do both

[Guest world.hunters]

always take dog out with air rifle, unless i need to be extra quite

i enjoy takeing dogs and rifle out as it adds that bit more to the day out and i love shooting squirrel with dogs there aswell as sometimes if u miss the decide to make a run for it and grounf level and they are some good sport.

[Caravan Monster 323]

if its only one firearms and one dog then i havnt got an issue because you always know where the dog is but once there a few poeple and dogs running around i put my dogs away or my gun away (usally guns) iv seen dogs get shot by dangerouse shooters and iv seen dogs get shot by carful shooters including ricochet's

 

I agree- once got roped in to beating for a rough shoot by a farmer on whose land I had permission. I knew all was not well when they started swigging port from the bottle. I was helping two labradors beat a hedge when a fox made a run for it just in front of me. Some idiot gave it both barrels with the twelve bore, missing both times. The shot came so close, I could hear it rattle through the hedge right next to me. Since that, I won' t have anything to do with other people shooting.

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Took my bitch out once with the gun, never again, she missed everything

 

Always take her out when I go for a stroll with the rifle, she is great company.

[Guest Frank]

Pity we have to get a cert over here IL, for a air rifle, unlike the Uk, where you can get one without a cert under 12ft lb.

[maty j 6]

i usually take her out with me. if your mates allways going on at you, leave him behind! she's helped put game in the bag were i wouldnt have spotted it....or been fast enough to catch it but at the same time gave me the 2 fingered salute and gone running out too early. luckily she's getting the hang of it...slowly

 

Edited December 28, 2007 by maty j

[Guest Frank]

Cracking picture Maty.

[Guest SJM]

I take my old dog with me to retreive the shot rabbits quite a lot heres a video of him back in the summertime fetching a shot rabbit off the railway embankment. You need a well trained dog for working with the gun, hes had years of working beside me off the lead, ferreting, lamping etc so his heel and obedience are very good anyway. Hes learned without really needing to be taught, to stand behind me when I raise the gun, every time I lift it up and look over at him, hes backtracking to get in behind me and wait for the command to go fetch. Ive never told him to do this, he just knows from my body language and the way I look at him or gesture to him. You cant beat being out with your dog and that unspoken bond of teamwork starts to build. I find taking older dogs out with the air rifle gives them a useful vocation for their golden years, they still get the pleasure of being out and some game between their jaws, but its not as strenuous for them. I was out last night with the scope light and shot these 4 which he retreived 2 of them. The other 2 were over the other side of a 5ft fence so muggins here had to go get them

 

 

[Guest Frank]

Nice one SJM.

Can you buy air rifles below 12ft in shops over their in scotland too?

[Guest SJM]

No Idea I bought this one off a mate

[Guest Frank]

No Idea I bought this one off a mate

 

Your doing well with it anyway SJM.

[Guest SJM]

Its a brilliant gun, I love it, I am going through about 4 mags a week at the moment I could never go back to one of those old break action dinosaurs now