Irish Extra June 2022
I met Mrs Faith White only a handful of times but was most saddened to hear of her recent passing, we met while Beagling and the first time was in Tuam, County Galway where the pack I followed back then had an annual meet over several days. Faith was a former Master of the Ballgarret Foot Beagles, a fanatical Beagler and an absolutely lovely lady so I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing last month as was the Beagling and wider country sports community. Condolences to her family and friends at this most difficult time.
My predator control work has continually busy and changing tactics regularly has been required as the corvids were and continue to be one step ahead – I don’t need to tell you how incredibly intelligent crows are and when they stopped going into the traps in good numbers I moved the traps, changed baits and did all sorts of things but when they know they know! The past two weeks or so I was decoying them and using an electronic caller (under license) and even then it takes very little time for them to catch on and I am required to switch areas and keep moving things around – I even suspect they know my vehicle at this stage as if a tractor passes were they often feed they continue to do so, but if I come along the road there gone like the wind. The fox control aspect has been a learning curve in so many ways and as I said previously it has taken some learning and fiddling to get used to night vision and thermal arrangements but I am getting there little by little and having continued success but I definitely enjoy the early morning and late evening calling the best of all. I have however found the entire world of night vision and thermal totally fascinating and was given a great introduction some months ago by Ashley Thompson of Scott Country Northern Ireland branch. The technology is simply incredible and right now totally invaluable for the current work I am doing. I have dispatched problem foxes recently using thermal and night vision when prior to using it the job would have been either a lot more time consuming and difficult or just plain impossible – An added benefit to is I have been able to watch a litter of cubs by night only a few hundred yards from home, they are occupying an earth I never knew existed and it is only a hundred yards from one I have bolted foxes from with Cider in the winter. Last Tuesday night I watched the cubs play and fight on the edge of the field while what I assume was the dog fox returned with something clamped in his jaws which he dropped near them and left, very interesting to have the opportunity to watch them and not at all possible without modern technology.
On top of this, rabbiting has continued and although we have seen a decline on the rabbit population countrywide, they have increased significantly in some areas – Only last week I spent three days ferreting on a private estate where the rabbits on one area had absolutely decimated a newly created garden area. They had eaten and dug their way through an enormous area of plants and shrubs and the manager had no choice but to reduce the numbers a little. Summer ferreting really is depressing, it requires different nets, the cover as well as nettles and brambles are high along with the temperatures – Being too warm with stung hands and young rabbits flying everywhere is not an enviable job but we got there in the end and will return again in a couple of weeks to see how things are. It was the first ferreting foray for my young Lurcher bitch “Sadie” who behaved herself impeccably and seemed to take it all in her stride.
From Inland Fisheries Ireland
Inland Fisheries Ireland led research on Twaite Shad in Irish Rivers has been ongoing for several years, particularly in the Rivers Barrow and Suir. Some shad were tagged by IFI in the River Barrow at St. Mullins in 2019 – anglers are asked to be vigilant and report any tagged shad they catch to IFI shad@fisheriesireland.ie . One tagged shad recapture was reported in 2021 but some may have been missed due to the tag not being seen. The tag will likely have a film of dark algae (or other microscopic plant) and may be difficult to see.
If you catch a tagged fish please clean the tag gently to expose tag number, and take a photo. Measure the fish (total length) and return fish with tag to the water.
Anglers catches have a role to play in monitoring of fish generally. As with all fish, but particularly shad in these catch and release fisheries, good handling is absolutely essential to ensure good survival. These fish need to be handled with great care and given sufficient time to recover.
Best practice handling for shad:
- Angling methods:Please use barbless hooks (preferably single hook) to ensure easy release of fish. Minimizing fight time will benefit the fish. If you must remove a shad from the water please use a landing net (preferably rubberized mesh)
Unhooking: Ensure your hands are wet and avoid touching the gills, keep fish in the water or in a damp landing net as much as possible
• Measuring your catch: Please ensure the measuring mat is sufficiently wet before measuring (preferably in a shaded area) and minimise measurement time
• Returning your fish: Allow adequate time for fish to recover in the water. Hold in a landing net or gently by hand, facing an upstream direction into the flow (this ensures oxygen flows freely through the gills). When it is strong enough to swim away on its own gently release the fish.
• Minimal handling is always encouraged with shad and always practice Catch and Release
Show Season
I have never been a person to show my dogs, I don’t think they would do particularly well anyway, maybe 3rd in a three dog show or something like that, however the Lurcher and terrier fraternity show calendar here in Ireland is a big one and attended by many people who solely show or working dog ladies and gentleman who simply take a day out for a bit of fun. The last number of years, many shows here have been run with proceeds all going to charity and some staggering amounts have been raised with local and national charities all benefitting and its very commendable for anyone to put the amount of work into a show that is required all for a good cause and often backed by a supportive sponsor or sponsors providing prizes by way of dog food. As we move into late June, many qualifiers from these shows will make their way to the Irish Game Fair at Shanes castle to compete once again for the many titles and great prizes on offer.
Congratulations to Cayce Leigh and her whippet “Prince” winning champion whippet at the Kiltrough working dog show in Carlow, with her dad JP taking the overall champion with his Lurcher “Tyson” but also winning champion terrier – Cayce Leigh and her dad had the final all sewn up! And rightly so, Cayce is a fine dog handler and one to watch out for in the future.
Until Next time….Good Hunting