Lily

This is Lily, a Basset Hound that passed away today at 4.30am this morning. She was Jane's dog, my birthday present to Jane earlier this year. She was only 10 months old when I got that call from the vets to say that she died. The picture here is Lily at 4 / 5 months, you couldn't want for a more gorgeous dog.

She was her normal self on Sunday night, legs in the air by the fireplace having her tummy rubbed, then by 7.30am Monday she was extremely ill. After going to her normal vets she was then transferred to a super vet in Hursley near Winchester. By this stage her colour was back in her gums and the outlook looked positive, as we kept telling ourselves. Update call from vets at 7pm and 10pm was also ok or least not worsened. Then I got the call at 4.30am today with a call I never want to take again. The infection on her lungs was very aggressive and had passed into her blood stream even after all the injections etc that they could use. This caused organ failure thus Lily passed away peacefully under sedation.

Even though Lily was not my dog I will miss her, more than words can describe. I would look after Lily very often and she was very much loved by Jane and myself, I would gladly take her place without one second thought if I could, that is how much she meant.

To a beautiful, gorgeous, loving, loyal Basset called Lily....you are safe forever and will be deeply missed until we meet again.

18th Oct 2008

Here we have two pics from yesterdays shoot at the farm.

My cocker Charlie with one of the pigeons that I brought down, the other showing Roger with some of the bag.

It was bright sunny day which started off chilly that soon warmed up. Not ideal conditions as far as pheasants are concerned as the weather encourages the birds to feed on the stubble fields and hedgerows. Once the weather starts to cold down then we will see the birds back in the coverts and woods. It is two weeks before the next shoot which should allow the temperature to drop.

So far my ratio is 3 shots 3 pigeons, which is pleasing. Hopefully Charlie will stop whinning non stop on the next shoot day, lost my rag with him. He is old enough and wise enough to know but I suppose he was eager to do what he is best at....

Which Night

Eager to get out to the farm in the next two nights. But which night, Friday or Saturday? Metcheck.com is forecasting a clear night tomorrow with a reasonable breeze whilst Saturday has a near 100% cloud cover with a lesser breeze than Friday. What should swing it is the moon that is clearly evident tonight dictating that Saturday would be the better time to go. Which ever night we decide, crossed fingers that the mist and fog do not make an appearance like it did first thing this morning, fog and rain are the lamper's worst culprits to ruin any chance of catching those reynard eyes in the beam.

4th Oct 2008 - Feed Hoppers

We achieved the main objectives this morning by placing feed hoppers and straw rides in the following area's

Beachwood Shore

Sausage Wood Strip

The Island (On the grass track)

Worthy Park Corner (Wood Cutters End)

Worthy Park Corner (Telecoms Tower End)

Hedge Row / Game Cover (Leading from Farm to River Field)

Game Cover Strip (Leading from Cow Shed).

All these hoppers were filled with corn and should last a week.

Modelling the feed hopper in pic are Stephen, Kevin and Greg (left to right). The spreading birds will now have food to rely on plus it should stop them wondering off to far. The other pic is just a good shot of the River Itchen. A good few grayling were spotted, reminds me of the days grayling trotting with very light tackle, excellent sport.

Fog Bound

Saturday morning proved to be a fog out on the stalking front. After seeing 7 Roe out on the last lamping night I was eager to get out and try for one more buck before the season end. Unfortunately due to the pea soup the only Roe spotted were making their way back into the maize for the day. I think both were doe's anyway.

Also had no luck on the search for the other fox from Tuesday. Searched high and low for a body in the tram lines but to no avail. Although I did find a blood trail going into Beach Wood Shore. It was not a heavy trail at all so by all accounts not a good strike.

The photo shows a good head of birds milling around the Shore which was good to see.

Education Education Education

As Tony Blair once said, Education Education Education! The relevance being that last night was an education on a few fronts. Firstly, not to take a shot on a fox that is hurried thus missing said fox giving it a lesson on not to get caught in a the lamp beam. Secondly, there are a number of Reynard's on the farm that are already lamp shy which makes it difficult to even get a shot off let alone getting them in the scope. There must be at least 4 of the beasts that are well educated to first degree honours in the fine art of running at full pelt when a beam of light comes their way. Thirdly, when taking a shot on a moving target a little more lead is required as the pictures demonstrate. This dog fox was acquired in the Ring of Trees field when at first he was spotted by Stephen in a nice sitting position. As I got the scope on him, he started to about turn and depart for the nearest hedgerow offering a going away shot which I took by aiming at his head. The bullet hit the back side area thus stopping the target but not an outright kill. Stephen had to finish him off when we located the animal.

Towards the end of the session another two sets of eyes were lamped. After a few minutes to determine that the bright eyes belonged to Reynard's I took another shot. The bullet strike sounded spot on to me and Stephen. At present no body found to confirm another kill. One of the targets slinked off in to Beach Wood Shore not looking too happy. I will have a good look again on Saturday. If it did hit then there should be either a body to pick up or at least a decent blood trial as 55 grain darts do tend to make a wide exit wound.

A big thank you to Stephen for putting up with the effing and blinding as various targets moved off.

Withdrawal Mode

Absolutely nothing to report from the weekend, just mundane boring home stuff like gardening, hoovering, polishing....where's my pinny..........
Need to get out lamping soon. Hopefully the farm have harvested the maize over the last few days if not made a good start. If that is the case then a major field comes into play where we had a good number on last year.
Crossed fingers!