The Unintended Keeper ( Diary of a keeping blagger )

[BEARINATOR 2,825]

14 hours ago, foxdropper said:

Fag smoke arrrrh .Can’t stand it .

I like a smoke but not out with the dogs or hunting 

[Dervburner 2,548]

1 minute ago, BEARINATOR said:

I like a smoke but not out with the dogs or hunting 

I don’t mind fag smoke, it’s them vapes I don’t like the smell of. Massive clouds of sickly smelling vapour. Each to their own.

[foxdropper 17,092]

Sorts out the real hunters from the weekend warriors  though .

[shovel leaner 7,648]

On 26/12/2022 at 22:52, foxdropper said:

Fag smoke arrrrh .Can’t stand it .

I quit 30 years ago , and can’t ever understand how I could put one to my lips , let alone inhale , but I did . 
             But in later years when I’d packed in , I was out and about on my rounds , I could smell fag smoke ( Wolfdog , it’s not what you guys think …. It’s tobacco) a couple of fields away , so imagine how a fox could wind you . The same goes for aftershave or deodorants. An absolute no no when night shooting in my book . 

[foxdropper 17,092]

I can smell it from a good way off mate .Ex smoker myself ,roll ups .
 

[Stavross 13,782]

Well, it’s been a busy week, I’ve managed to get out most days dodging the rain, the lad I took out on Boxing Day took me up to a private estate in Northumberland where someone we know has taken the keepers job on a wild bird shoot, we’ll be back up there over the coming weeks/months to help him out as the old lad he has taken over from hasn’t been keeping on top of it 

Ive also been back and forward to the shoot, the birds that are about look in really good condition and although we are limited on drives I think we could be in for a good day next Saturday, it certainly won’t be a big day but I think everyone will just be glad to be out after a 3 week break, I’ve been bashing the tree rats on my rounds and hopefully I’ll have a squizzer shoot at the end of the season, I’d put a couple of piles of wheat out today in hope of getting up there tomorrow to have a look for a fallow but looking at the weather that may be best left until Monday 

[Stavross 13,782]

[Sausagedog 7,381]

That wild bird shoot sounds interesting. Kill more vermin, some more vermin and more vermin I bet.

[Stavross 13,782]

1 minute ago, Sausagedog said:

That wild bird shoot sounds interesting. Kill more vermin, some more vermin and more vermin I bet.

It’s a stunning place mate, once the lad takes over fully in February he’ll be flat out on the pests, foxes, deer and the winged variety are his main things at the minute, ( I think it’s got a bit much for the old boy ) he gave up his job as under keeper on a commercial grouse moor to take this job as he’s never had anything to do with a wild bird shoot, there must be a lot of money in the family because the house, vehicles and allowance to kit himself out with whatever he wants is a very nice package 

[Sausagedog 7,381]

1 hour ago, Stavross said:

It’s a stunning place mate, once the lad takes over fully in February he’ll be flat out on the pests, foxes, deer and the winged variety are his main things at the minute, ( I think it’s got a bit much for the old boy ) he gave up his job as under keeper on a commercial grouse moor to take this job as he’s never had anything to do with a wild bird shoot, there must be a lot of money in the family because the house, vehicles and allowance to kit himself out with whatever he wants is a very nice package 

I think the word will go around amongst the private wealthy shoots that the current state of affairs is unsustainable.

I had three years on a wealthy private estate under the old time keeper. I had total freedom of the 5000 acre estate. Shoot all vermin, trapping too . I got fuel, ammo and all the firewood I wanted.

The gather only provided 3000 poults but we shot ten days always in excess of 300 bird days. The keeper depended on wild birds to boost the numbers. I had to report all young wild broods found.

We were out every Friday night until gone midnight. Year #1 resulted in 142fox, #2 136 and #3 127 fox's.

It was the best three years of my life!

[foxdropper 17,092]

The keepers life still lures me but I fear it’s a fading trade ,round me anyway .All the big syndicates have folded and just the local estate putting a few thousand down for what they call boys days whatever that is .Used to be all the lads from all  the tenant farms but they are gone so not sure who the boys are now .Looking back I was silly to Jack my job in the trade but then again I wouldn’t of seen the world as I have now .

[FOXHUNTER 5,020]

I always wish that I had become a keeper when I left school. 

A way of life that I would have thoroughly enjoyed , maybe in my next life .

[foxdropper 17,092]

2 hours ago, FOXHUNTER said:

I always wish that I had become a keeper when I left school. 

A way of life that I would have thoroughly enjoyed , maybe in my next life .

You’d better start going to church then mate cos your headed when I’m going .

[ianm 2,594]

A mate of mine is a gamekeeper and I help him quite often. He once asked me if I never fancied being a keeper and I told him “ nobody in this country has enough money to entice me into the job “. If he isn’t talking about pheasants he is thinking about them. No I would much rather make good money doing a job I really like then spend whatever time I want in the countryside.

[foxdropper 17,092]

I’d give up all the money I have ,all 20 quid of it to be a keeper now in a steady all expensive position on an estate .I can’t get enough of the outdoors at the  moment with family and work commitments .I need more .