Irish Hunting Forum

DitchShitter · Last edited by DitchShitter on Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:28 pm; edited 2 times in total

Having long since decided to shift mine, I finally got my arse round to doing it today.

I have a vague notion about putting it on my higher ground, nearer to where I suspect the b*stards (Magpies) are nesting. But it's only a vague idea as there are many complicating variables I have to consider in moving toward my idiot neighbour. But that's another story .....

Thing is; When we have a wood and wire structure sat in a wet field for a twelve month, then pick it up and move it, we really See the damn thing, don't we? And boy, did I see my trap!

I'd also long since decided to repaint it. Originally I sprayed Racing Green over the bare wood and wire. But, over the year, I'd come to realise that was next to useless. It's stood out like a punch in the mouth for months now. I'm not so bothered about the mag's seeing it. I just don't like my traps to appear obvious to anyone from fifty yards.

Well, after more and longer pains taking study than ye'd believe, I Think I've finally discovered just about the best match for the prolific Juncas Rush as can be had. Obviously, Juncas doesn't just come in or stay one colour. But I hope I've matched the main green. If I had a fresh, wooden trap to paint, I'd probably let hints of the wood show through. That, I feel, would enhance the total cammofluage effect.

Anyway, I thought I'd may as well record what I can here, perhaps to some benefit to others reading. So here, to bring ye up to speed, is a look at one year old, Racing Green auto spray on old, dry timber.

I think ye'll agree; It could use a fresh lick? And that's just what I gave it this evening. With my new, " Juncas Green ". I went to such lengths to get the shade right. I only hope to god it dries and looks as good as I hope? We'll probably see tomorrow. Mheanwhile, here's what I had before the new paint job:

Also worth noting, by the way: The mesh floor beneath the Call Bird Compartment had dreadfully rotted away!

I think I have some chicken wire around here, somewhere? I'll probably attach it with cable ties or something. Save me later searching, like a vein hunting junkie, for a spot of wood to put a new staple.

DitchShitter · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:38 am Post subject:

And here it is, after one coat of the new paint:

I don't know. This just doesn't strike me as the shade I saw on the colour chart. Yet, when I put a randomly picked stalk of juncas on it? It was pretty damn close!

I think I may just give it another coat yet. Weather's dry enough and it's no hardship to larrop a bit more on there.

Then I'll probably go resiting it in the only square couple of yards, for miles around, without any bloody juncas in it!

Sean · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:44 am Post subject:

its looking well mate
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DitchShitter · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject:

Looking a bit better now, Sean, after another coat of green. That's Emulsion, by the way. Only form that shade came in. Bloke in the shop said, " Well, That won't last five minutes out doors!" ". Really? It's looking good to last five Years right now! Anyway .....

I've since added some dabs of black. Some time I'll get back to the grind stone and figure out a 'straw' colour to dash in there too. Juncas has a fair degree of tannish, orangey straw tones about it too. But that's not what I'm back here to talk about. And this is why I've edited the title.

See, we all talk of the Larsen 'Season', don't we? Start of spring to end of summer, basically. Then we pick up and pack up. This has always been the way and no one's ever questioned it. Well, I Do question shit.

That's why, seeing the magpies beginning to make free and easy with my own ground (

) I figured I had to try to do something about it. Or lose all face as a 'Pest Controller' round here. I mean, imagine seeing a crows nest next to a Gamekeepers cottage.

That's when fate took a hand and I caught a live and well maggie by 'other means'. Not being the 'See it - Kill it' type of idiot, I took time to consider this ones fate. And so a little experiment was born. I put it in my Larsen Trap.

That was probably less than three weeks ago. More like two. And yesterday I caught my Third maggie! Yeppers; I caught a mag on the first of November, for chrissake! Two in late October.

Might we accept, gentlemen, that I've just about shot the " Season " idea to ribbons?

The first bird died in captivity, sadly, after a week or so. I can't remember the details, but I suspect I just didn't manage to feed it enough of the right grub to keep it going through these bitterly cold nights.

Now I'm getting my shit together and have a huge supply of butchers scraps in the fridge. So, each day, as soon as I get up, I rush out there and check my birds. I'm always delighted to find them alive and then I set too slicing them up plenty of beef steak and deliberate additions of lots of fat too. All hand cut into bits almost as small as minced meat.

I've just dumped a small fist full in for yesterdays catch - he hardly got any yesterday as I found him late and was in a rush. I couldn't believe the way he pounced on that meat and started gulping it down! Now I'm off to fix him a drinker too. Raw beef and fat will make him dry inside.

I consider these birds POWs now. I'm a Pest Controller. I kill Pests. Couple of captive mag's are pestering no one. Thus I'll treat them with the care and respect due to Any creature we take charge of. I wouldn't neglect my Dogs, obviously. And no will I neglect or ill treat my Magpies.

My next plan, regardless of these ones longer term survival, is to build an aviary on my ground. That way, any I catch can go in there and have a far more comfortable captivity. I can then lend them out to others in need of a Call Bird. Once I satisfy myself that they too will take damn good care of my 'pets'.