Unlucky Mink

[Ragley 10]

New Mink Hunting Seasons first meet today and although it was cold, windy and raining, it turned out to be a good although short day. Met at a pub for a Full English breakfast, a few pints of cider, then a short drive to the water. Some 20 odd people followed for an hour before drag was picked up. This led to a large Dog mink being forced up a tree after some hound and terrier activity around the base of the tree. A climber was sent up the tree to bolt the mink, which dived into the water, to be hunted for a short distance upstream before climbing another tree. The climber again tried to get to the mink, but he climbed to a higher position, probably some 40 feet up. There was no-way we could reach it, and rules of the game say that we can't throw things at them. Fortunately, the land-owner was with us, and he promptly ran back to his farm to get a shotgun. Two shots later, the mink was dead. Unfortunately, he was held up by his elbows in a 'V' formed by a branch and the trunk. It couldn't be left there, and there was no way it could be climbed to, or pushed out with a piece of wood. The farmer called one of his workers, who came down to the water with a chainsaw and felled the tree, which fortunately only had a trunk of about 10" diameter. The huntsman would have given it best, but we were there by invitation of the land owner, and he wanted the job done, as is his right. Thirty minutes later, it was pub time again.

 

If you lads have never tried following Mink Hounds, please try it. A bad day is like watching paint dry, a good day is like being 12-13 years old again, playing in the water, digging holes, climbing trees, and all on private land where the public has no access.

[timjim 43]

New Mink Hunting Seasons first meet today and although it was cold, windy and raining, it turned out to be a good although short day. Met at a pub for a Full English breakfast, a few pints of cider, then a short drive to the water. Some 20 odd people followed for an hour before drag was picked up. This led to a large Dog mink being forced up a tree after some hound and terrier activity around the base of the tree. A climber was sent up the tree to bolt the mink, which dived into the water, to be hunted for a short distance upstream before climbing another tree. The climber again tried to get to the mink, but he climbed to a higher position, probably some 40 feet up. There was no-way we could reach it, and rules of the game say that we can't throw things at them. Fortunately, the land-owner was with us, and he promptly ran back to his farm to get a shotgun. Two shots later, the mink was dead. Unfortunately, he was held up by his elbows in a 'V' formed by a branch and the trunk. It couldn't be left there, and there was no way it could be climbed to, or pushed out with a piece of wood. The farmer called one of his workers, who came down to the water with a chainsaw and felled the tree, which fortunately only had a trunk of about 10" diameter. The huntsman would have given it best, but we were there by invitation of the land owner, and he wanted the job done, as is his right. Thirty minutes later, it was pub time again.

 

If you lads have never tried following Mink Hounds, please try it. A bad day is like watching paint dry, a good day is like being 12-13 years old again, playing in the water, digging holes, climbing trees, and all on private land where the public has no access.

 

sounds good to me

[sue 1]

sounds like a great day out. start pub ,hunt ,back to pub i must say the land owner sounds a determined man lol

[chartpolski 28,445]

Now, before anyone jumps on me, I am 100% PRO hunting; follow the hunt, work my dogs, the lot !!! But is mink hunting legal, as in rabbits and rats, (it, of course, should be!!!), a genuine question, and I would have loved to be there, sounds like a great day !!!

Cheers.

[samba 534]

great days can be had out with the minkhounds most enjoyable

when things are going well

[Ragley 10]

Now, before anyone jumps on me, I am 100% PRO hunting; follow the hunt, work my dogs, the lot !!! But is mink hunting legal, as in rabbits and rats, (it, of course, should be!!!), a genuine question, and I would have loved to be there, sounds like a great day !!!

Cheers.

 

Hi Chartpolski

 

Of course all hunting is done within the law. Hounds are used to flush the Mink either to a gun as today, or if below ground, it is dug out and humanely killed by the licensed terrier men, most of whom work with local Fox Hunts.

 

Here endeth the lesson for today, next week may be a different story .

[ferret boy charlie 0]

sounds like a good bit of fun to me might have to try it what kind of hounds are used

[chartpolski 28,445]

Now, before anyone jumps on me, I am 100% PRO hunting; follow the hunt, work my dogs, the lot !!! But is mink hunting legal, as in rabbits and rats, (it, of course, should be!!!), a genuine question, and I would have loved to be there, sounds like a great day !!!

Cheers.

 

Hi Chartpolski

 

Of course all hunting is done within the law. Hounds are used to flush the Mink either to a gun as today, or if below ground, it is dug out and humanely killed by the licensed terrier men, most of whom work with local Fox Hunts.

 

Here endeth the lesson for today, next week may be a different story .

Cheers Ragley; thanks for a straight forward and honest answer to my query !! Sounds like great fun !! Why oh Why couldn't the politicians of thought it through, and made mink and fox vermin, like rabbits and rats ???!! Keep up the good work !!

Cheers.

[Guest manda]

That mink might have been hunter12's lol

[Ragley 10]

Now, before anyone jumps on me, I am 100% PRO hunting; follow the hunt, work my dogs, the lot !!! But is mink hunting legal, as in rabbits and rats, (it, of course, should be!!!), a genuine question, and I would have loved to be there, sounds like a great day !!!

Cheers.

 

Hi Chartpolski

 

Of course all hunting is done within the law. Hounds are used to flush the Mink either to a gun as today, or if below ground, it is dug out and humanely killed by the licensed terrier men, most of whom work with local Fox Hunts.

 

Here endeth the lesson for today, next week may be a different story .

Cheers Ragley; thanks for a straight forward and honest answer to my query !! Sounds like great fun !! Why oh Why couldn't the politicians of thought it through, and made mink and fox vermin, like rabbits and rats ???!! Keep up the good work !!

Cheers.

 

Hi

 

In 1947, the Labour part declared war on the Fox, by saying that as legal vermin, it could be killed in anyway at all. The fear at the time was that foxes, being a canine animal could carry Rabies, which was prevalent in Europe because of the War. How times have changed!!

 

Cheers

Rags

[sue 1]

That mink might have been hunter12's lol

:clapper: :clapper:

[Guest manda]

I couldnt resist haha

[earth&hounds 94]

nice to see you old boys still outthere doing a bit happy hunting how far east are you im in the west mids

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

Excellent. It sounds like a great day out. Do you have any photos from the day. Try to get some next time, and capture all the craic.

[Guest little_lloyd]

Yes Mink hunting defenetly gives you a buzz,, I can recomeended anyone with a chance to get out with minkhounds, to get out with minkhounds.

 

Hounds roaring,, terriers yapping,, in the reeds not knowing where minky is,, great fun and its started all over agian