Irish Extra November 2019
October was a good old month. The weather started to cool as it drew to a close and I had some great hunting with the Teckels. Earlier in the month I had a few mornings hunting locally with usually two of them and my old Lurcher “Fudge” as her son “Reggie” was laid up with an injury. These days were good but by close to midday it always got too warm, the grass was still high and the cover was thick so when the mercury a little and we had some early morning dew it was more than welcome. There are some great forestry areas near to me and to hear the Teckels baying on as it echoes through the area on a good frosty morning definitely lifts the spirit!
Unfortunately after my success on the opening day of the Duck season it has went all downhill and I have bagged only one single Teal since and one I will remember for a while as I was up to my waist looking for both the duck and my Teckel “Cider” who was attempting to retrieve it. The area was a in the centre of a field and it started life some a couple of years ago as a splash and I thought it had remained this was even though the reeds were growing heavy in it. I first noticed ducks using last summer and watched closely all September and October only to spring two Teal from it last weekend and I folded one. Cider entered the thick reeds and water and disappeared leaving me waiting for quite a while until I had heard nothing and went to check. I ended up well over my knees just as he she appeared with the duck looking rather pleased with herself but she was so cold and shivering so hard I got her back to the truck and dried her off quickly! My usual spots have unusually fruitless and it is doubly strange as we seem to have had birds in September and now when they should be arriving they aren’t.
As I write this the shooting season in really getting into full swing and I have had reports of many Snipe on the local Bogs and there have been reports of Woodcock, the first of which has been shot by Northern Ireland shooter, Kyle Cummins.
Coursing News
I wrote some weeks back on the RHD2 virus being discovered in Irish Hares in Ireland which lead to a ban on the netting of Hares for organised coursing which then led to no coursing schedule for 2019 / 20. However it seems common sense had prevailed and the NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service) the governing over aspects of coursing in Ireland have a made u turn and also issued the following statement:
National Parks and Wildlife Service and Department of Agriculture to undertake four field studies on RHD2 virus and Irish hares.
2019/20 coursing licences to allow netting of hares outside areas with positive RHD2 tests
16 October 2019
The suspension of the annual license for the netting of hares for coursing is being lifted, allowing netting on a managed and restricted basis and only in areas unaffected by the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) virus. At the same time, it has been agreed that a number of field studies at some coursing clubs, which will involve veterinary and virology expertise and input, will be carried out to supplement existing knowledge of the prevalence and nature of RHD2.
This follows the conclusion of discussions between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Irish Coursing Club on a roadmap to allow a managed resumption of netting for testing and coursing in areas unaffected by the RHD2 virus, charting a responsible way forward in terms of the management and understanding of this virus.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) are to undertake four field studies with the co-operation of Irish Coursing Club. These field tests will allow greater understanding of the effect of the RHD2 virus on the Irish wild hare population.
Restrictions are also being lifted on the issue of licences to the Irish Coursing Club for netting of hares, permitting netting outside of areas where wild hares and rabbits have tested positive for the virus.
In August, following the first detection of RHD2 in an Irish wild hare, the Minister suspended the 2019/20 licences for the netting of hares for coursing meetings which had issued earlier. Since then the NPWS and DAFM have continued to test wild rabbit and hare carcasses to establish levels of the virus in Ireland. Of the 10 hares tested for RHD2 in this period, three have tested positive. These positive results were in Dublin and Wexford.
Given both the levels of RHD2 virus confirmed in the wild hare population to date and to increase the understanding of the levels of RHD2, the NPWS and DAFM are to undertake four field studies with the co-operation of the Irish Coursing Club in a number of locations. Sample populations of up to 100 wild hares will be captured and kept in pre-approved locations. The NPWS and DAFM will test the hares for RHD2 and observe them.
In the context of the renewed licences for netting hares, capture will be prohibited in areas from a 25km radius of where either wild hares or wild rabbits have tested positive for RHD2. Positive tests for RHD2 in wild rabbits and hares have been returned in the following counties: Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Leitrim, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow. Similar restrictions will operate when new positive tests for RHD2 are returned. There will be an agreed regime of spot checks for RHD2 in those coursing clubs that are being licenced.
- (More) New Arrivals
It has been a very busy spring and autumn at Longnetters house! Not least with the arrival of a Harris Hawk. I have always had my eye on a bird of prey since a child and recently had the opportunity of not only a bird but mentoring and advice from my old pal and lifetime Falconer Pedro. I collected the Harris who my daughter has named “Prince Ali” from the Aladdin movie and he has settled in incredibly well. Hopefully if things continue we will have more to write on as he progresses.
For now however, I am travelling back to Germany for some Boar Hunting and Teckling! Until next time…Good hunting!