A little pestie job

[Stavross 18,864]

Out last night to have a look at some problem Canada’s, cleared a few from around the private duck ponds and was asked to shoot the foxes, so a few hoppers for bait strategically placed along a couple of hedge backs and I’ll be back in the next few days for a go at them, it really was a lovely evening to be out, if I didn’t have to come to work I’d of stayed out all night

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Man there is some geese about isn't there. The greylags are going to have to be controlled more so soon I think.

I watch some adults ushering about twenty goslings into the river when I popped up.

The geese around here consume more grass than rabbits!

[Stavross 18,864]

I’ve never seen so many, this lot is a mixture of Canada and lag, so can only take the Canada at the moment, not an ideal time of year to be doing it, having to be very selective but they are a major issue here, not only are the wrecking the ponds and the other birds nesting sights ( they have even smashed the black swans eggs, the owner is fuming about this ) but they line out in the wheat like a forensic search team and graze off the crop like flying cows

[Alsone 789]

That's the side the anti's don't see. Doesn't help when the RSPB website describes them like this:

"The canada goose is a large goose, with a distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch. An introduced species from North America, it has successfully spread to cover most of the UK. It forms noisy flocks and is often regarded as a nuisance in areas where large numbers occur on amenity grassland and parks."

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/canada-goose/

As I read that, apparently they're regarded as pests because they form flocks that are noisy on football fields, dog walking areas and parks. Not a helpful description. It's no wonder people object if they believe they're being shot simply for being noisy.

Also, the "protected species protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act" whilst not inaccurate is somewhat misleading as all birds are protected unless licensed out for control. It should add control is permitted under licence in problem areas.

At least the wildlife trusts page host a more helpful description.

Can't help but think these are the kind of things that the BASC should be challenging with the help of the Government. There needs to be some regulation of websites to ensure information provided is accurate and complete.

Edited May 26, 2020 by Alsone

[BenBhoy 4,706]

46 minutes ago, Sausagedog said:

Man there is some geese about isn't there. The greylags are going to have to be controlled more so soon I think.

I watch some adults ushering about twenty goslings into the river when I popped up.

The geese around here consume more grass than rabbits!

Second year running we've had greylags raise goslings here. Like you say they munch some grass & don't half fire it out the other end too!! And yet they never bloody here September 1st! 

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Cracking second pic.  More fox shooting,  lucky you  , must try knock some doors this year once things are settled.

[shovel leaner 7,650]

We have a trout fishery on the estate and the fishermen are always moaning about goose muck on their line . They also raise the nitrogen levels in the water which can lead to  algae blooms making the fishing impossible. 
       I shoot loads of them . I have even resorted to knocking them off the water when they are in moult , which won’t be long . 
        They make good fox bait !!

Edited May 26, 2020 by shovel leaner

[Stavross 18,864]

2 hours ago, FOXHUNTER said:

Cracking second pic.  More fox shooting,  lucky you  , must try knock some doors this year once things are settled.

I’ve had all the shooting here for a long time, if you can shoot it you will find it here, from deer to rats, not so many foxes about now though

 

2 hours ago, shovel leaner said:

We have a trout fishery on the estate and the fishermen are always moaning about goose muck on their line . They also raise the nitrogen levels in the water which can lead to  algae blooms making the fishing impossible. 
       I shoot loads of them . I have even resorted to knocking them off the water when they are in moult , which won’t be long . 
        They make good fox bait !!

I’ve used them on many occasion as fox bait, I like to watch them trying to drag it away, they won’t give up a free feed

[Sausagedog 7,381]

15 minutes ago, Stavross said:

I’ve had all the shooting here for a long time, if you can shoot it you will find it here, from deer to rats, not so many foxes about now though

 

I’ve used them on many occasion as fox bait, I like to watch them trying to drag it away, they won’t give up a free feed

The bloomin stink too!

[Stavross 18,864]

For me, lag should be on the pest species list like Canada’s, their numbers in certain areas are out of control and they do most of the damage when they are out of season, so when they are in season I’ve known places where they shoot every one they see, no sport involved or ending up in the food chain, just pure pest control 

[shovel leaner 7,650]

The only good Canada is a dead one . If more owners of lakes took responsibility for their control it wouldn’t have to come to this sort of culling . I hate doing it and I get flack from twitchers , but they are a real pest . Culling is having an impact locally because this year there are a lot fewer about . 

[ianm 2,594]

There are a bunch of them on the farm i was silaging at last week, they are about to find out what it's like to be on the wrong end of a .204.

[shovel leaner 7,650]

3 minutes ago, ianm said:

There are a bunch of them on the farm i was silaging at last week, they are about to find out what it's like to be on the wrong end of a .204.

Well done that man

[ianm 2,594]

That second picture looks like a sunset in Africa, but then again so does most of the North East.

[Stavross 18,864]

2 minutes ago, ianm said:

There are a bunch of them on the farm i was silaging at last week, they are about to find out what it's like to be on the wrong end of a .204.

That will do the job, my .243 is also a fine tool for the task at hand, if we want a bit of sport from it we’ll shoot them flighting in to the ponds on an evening, but at the minute the numbers are so big this isn’t really an effective option