First published in “Rural Pursuits Magazine” 2021 It’s been many years now since I decided the indoor life was no longer for me and became a full-time rabbit catcher. A job title that leaves most people bemused when I answer the question of “What do you do for a living”! In those years a…
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Taking a train journey in Germany is heartwarming. Leaving the City and rolling further into the countryside you begin to notice the many high seats or stands dotted across large tracts of flat tilled land. These “Sitz” are a symbol of tradition and a country with a deep hunting heritage. Hunting is deep…
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14 and a bit years is a good innings for any dog but more so a lurcher. They work hard, live fast and often die young – Many killed in lethal accidents. Running at high speed at night under a beam of light and often over rough and unpredictable ground isn’t the safest…
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An excerpt from – Hunting Life, Moments of Truth. By Peter P Ryan Up Close and Personal FOR FOUR DAYS WE CIRCLED water looking for the right spoor. Buffalo hunting is a bit like sex and religion, in that ‘right’ means a lot of things to a lot of people . In…
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Saint Patricks day heralds the end of the Gun packs season in my local area. They have a mixed pack of hounds and many of these too are mixed with hound spaniel crosses, harrier beagle crosses and many others, if it hunts its welcome! The club hunt various areas locally throughout the winter…
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I set off last week for the real capital of Ireland, and after a few hours arrived to a very warm county Cork where I had been invited to judge the Lurchers in a much-anticipated show organised and ran by the Irish Terrier Federation. The federation which has been in existence a long…
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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…
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In contrast to my usual work, I have been doing something a little different the past few weeks and will remain doing so for the next few months. As part of a conservation project, I have been assisting in vermin control on a considerable stretch of ground and have been thoroughly enjoying it. As well…
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New Teckels – New Season My Teckel bitch “Cider Vom Nonnenkloster” celebrated her first birthday in September. It seemed like her third or fourth as not only does it feel like she has been here a long time, but she has matured very quickly. Cider has been a different experience for me in…
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