Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3
The Decision
As ardent animal lovers we are not obsessed with the need to shoot living creatures. But we
did understand the need to keep pest numbers down to a manageable level. Therefore the real
benefit of our hunting trips was an excuse to steal a few precious hours in the countryside.
This, whilst doing a service to our local community of farmers who declared themselves to
be on the verge of pest-induced bankruptcy.
Setting out on hunting excursions with our canine companions became the source of
great anticipation and entertainment for the neighbours. Anticipation because there was the
promise of a rabbit stew or pigeon pie being offered in the unlikely event that we were suc-
cessful. But also amusement at the sight of us.
Deadly serious about performing our pest control duties proficiently, Jack would load
the quad bike with every conceivable item of kit required for this lethal business. As space
was at a premium we wore the camouflage clothing. Two humans, one Australian Shepherd
with cammo-coat, one Norfolk terrier (head sticking out of a rucksack), sailed off down the
road like a flurry of leaves in a gale.
On arrival, Jack would occupy one site in glorious isolation, whilst the mutts and I
would be dumped in another. This suited us both because Jack could play with his metal
moving parts and I could enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Hunting with the dogs involved either rabbiting or wood-pigeon shooting, both of
which were greeted with wild enthusiasm. They eventually became very handy at both, but
not before we'd overcome a few teething problems.
In the early days I would settle down, concealed amongst the foliage with the dogs.
They would lie peacefully until I began to raise my gun. Staring fixedly at me, Sam would
begin trembling violently and emit a low-grade whining sound that gradually increased in
volume until he sounded like a loose fan-belt. This wasn't at all stealthy, so training was re-
quired to get him to develop a modicum of composure.
Biff was fine during the shooting stage but things fell apart when it came to the retrieve.
He could produce a dead rabbit that had fallen back down into its burrow, brilliantly, but he
couldn't resist ripping it to bits before we had a chance to pick it up.
