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Showing posts with label rabbit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rabbit. Show all posts
Camouflage and Concealment
The change in the
season, as it often does, has brought about a reassessment.
Specifically, my clothing.
For the past two years
I have lived in two pairs of cheap DPM trousers that have now faded
to the point of exuding a pale cream hue, the knees have worn thin,
buttons on the pockets long lost and the disruptive pattern not even
that disturbing. No wonder my hunting trips have been more
challenging and less fruitful!
I didn't honestly
expect trousers I work in to also remain effective in the field,
certainly not for long. I do have work trousers, but not wishing to
upset the washing cycle I often neglected to change in to them.
Even if the above were
not the case, it is optimistic to expect predominantly green
camouflage to provide concealment in autumn and winter. Whilst the
knock off DPM's have been placed in the 're-purposing' bag, and
proper heavy duty replacement ones purchased in their stead, still
I am conscious that soon the shading canopy above me will disappear
completely, and the woodland will be much lighter as a consequence.
The basic principles of camouflage and concealment are as follows;
Shape, Shine, Shadow, Silhouette, Sudden movement, Surface, Spacings.
Adhere
to these and you should succeed in bagging game. Even dressed in
Jeans and a yellow t-shirt. Of course, wear the same colour as the
predominant one around you, generally green or brown, and you should
see improved results. Wear a disruptive pattern in those colours and
you should fare better. The other end of the scale is a full blown
hide. But lets stick to the context of clothing.
I
decided to research camouflage patterns and available products that
would better conceal me these next two seasons where foliage and
cover are thin on the ground.
There
are a multitude of patterns from a wide variety of manufacturers. The
selection is greatly narrowed if you consider your landscape and the
plant species that predominantly grow in it. Not only that, but I also had
the seasons as a criteria.
Now
consider this. Many patterns are sold that appeal to the hunters eye,
but I don't wish to avoid detection from humans. So lets consider our
prey. This is mostly rabbit, wood pigeon and squirrel.
Of
the three, the wood pigeon certainly has the keenest sight, so
movement (or lack of it) is key with them. Rabbits and squirrels, are
a touch more forgiving, but they all have difficulty with depth
perception.
As
we know, the pigeon overcomes this to an extent by bobbing its head,
the squirrel by moving its head up and down or side to side relative
to the subject, and rabbits are just plain terrible. Why is any of
this of any relevance? Well some of the most effective patterns have
what is called a 3D effect to them whereby the pattern includes
blurred background and sharp foreground, this all helps in confusing
the senses of what is looking at you. The aim and result is that your
shape is broken up almost by employing a 'magic eye' optical effect.
What
about colour?
Well
rabbits can differentiate only between green and blue, seeing shades
of light and dark. Squirrels have 'dichromatic' vision comparable to
a human with red-green colour blindness and wood pigeon can see the
same spectrum as humans plus ultraviolet!
The
latter two species make your choice rather important even if they
have trouble gauging your distance.
Then
of course, there is that very human factor. Price!
So I have chosen to go with the HSF Stealth Evolution Camo Jacket and Trousers (both just £29.95 each) from Stock and Tackle (www.stockandtackle.com)
I will be testing this outfit and posting a full review soon so watch this space...
The Hunter's Chronicles - Thursday 25th October 2012
By noting the date of the first frosts, and comparing to my observations, I can say with some degree of certainty that we are approximately two to four weeks ahead of schedule this year.
Every so often, the trees seem to randomly and spontaneously shiver, dropping a shower of leaves that as they fall, make a sound similar to that of rain.
Clouds, heavy and laden with moisture, find themselves snared in the near skeletal forest, trapped until the Sun eventually burns them away or the wind manages to dissipate them.
The same clouds, though they make for a grey day, keep temperatures fairly even. So it was in preparation for their dispersal and the resultant plunge of the thermometer that the procurement of fuel took precedence over meat and food.
These activities still provide windows for surveillance, an important part of hunting. An empty garden trolley rattling and bouncing along the woodland path can make for a lonely afternoon however...
The savvy hunter, certainly in this day and age, has a few modern technological aids at his disposal. A recent sell off of surplus rifles has released equity with which I have purchased a 'Trail Camera'. This sentinel may be secured via an adjustable strap to a tree or suitable anchor at likely 'hotspots'. This tool has provided useful intelligence on the intrusions and visitors to my little patch of woods.
By analysing the time stamps, and recording the positions the photographs were taken, I am quickly building a picture of the various species and their habits. I am not the only one.
As shown above, a fellow hunter (albeit utilising a far more primitive and specialised 'aid') has been doing the same. I cannot say how his rabbit hunt is faring, but we have lost two chickens in as many days during the night following the pictures captured and a recent dip in temperatures. The raids have been expert. I have not proof a fox is to blame, though I do have my suspicions.
As I followed the trail of feathers of the ill fated cockerel, I experienced how easy it is to take the 'theft' personally. It was as though my ego delighted in there being an adversary. I had purpose, focus, an aim, an objective, a goal. It rapidly constructed plans of how to trap, capture and ultimately exterminate this new foe.
But he is not my enemy. Quite the opposite. We have much in common.
I will continue to offer the remains of my kills that are beyond my use to the 'gods'. Though my gifts may in fact attract carnivores I would wish repelled, I keep the site of the sacrifices on the extremes of our boundaries and trust they will appease and distract those who would take more than I wish to give. For let us not forget, I too take from my environment. I too maraud the countryside, raid and slaughter (of course, only where permitted!)
The information gleaned from my sentry has resulted in the fine tuning of my timings. I know better when to keep the rifle to hand and not long after, my tax was exacted and the toll for entering my domain paid.
As I plucked this errant bird, I marvelled at its plumage. I was fascinated at the multitude of subtle colours, more so by how, collectively, the pattern served to create one of the finest woodland camouflage patterns I have ever seen (or not as the case may be!)
I pondered how it may be put to use. I am certain my ancestors would have sought to put such a gift to good use, to provide that edge and advantage on the hunt. It also led me to question how much of the new is really better than the old. An interesting line of enquiry warranting further investigation, though for another day.
Funds were also put towards decoys. Twice into the grey I ventured out with them. One Crow, two Pigeons. The first thing to be attracted took me most unawares. A buzzard plummeted from above and booted my crow three to five feet across the deck. The hollow sound of talon upon plastic shell took him by surprise causing him to retreat a good metre. As he regained his composure I watched in fascination and awe. Half fearful he would make off with my decoy. I soon had camera in hand, though he took his leave just as I pressed the 'on' button. Typical.
The next species to be fooled, was again, not any of the ones being targeted. In many ways it is one of the potentially most ignorant and stupid of all those that walk the earth despite its capacity for awe inspiring intelligence. I'm not talking about the dog, I mean Humans!
A woman, her son and black lab were heard approaching from my left so I made my rifle safe as they passed. The footpath runs to the rear of my position, yet some choose to not to stick to it.
It wasn't long before the dog and boy bounded past. It looked, for an instant, like the labrador would pass my pattern and leave it unmolested. The boy stopped to catch his breath and bent over, leaning on his knees. The dog, no longer being pursued, had a chance to glance about and quickly investigated the birds that did not flee. He went straight for the crow and nosed it.
Bugger. He's going to make off with that, I though to myself.
The womans voice called out. The boy communicated his confusion. The lad stood not three yards to the front of my position. In the hope he would call off the dog, I shouted "They're DECOYS mate!" He cast his eyes about the hedgerow uncertainly. "I just heard a voice" he intoned, half to himself and evidently forgot the message, even that one had been issued.
For the next ten minutes, a back and forth ensued reminiscent of a farcical pantomime. The boy twice took to hurling stones at the plastic birds, the woman seemed unwilling, even fearful of approaching them. Over and over they would ask each other, why weren't the birds flying away, were they dead? Why would someone leave birds out in a field? What should they do? Should they enquire at the house?
As the dog had been put on the lead I kept quiet, watched and listened incredulously. I was dumbfounded. Eventually and thankfully, they returned from whence they came and I was left in peace. Very much amused, I packed up and counted what I had seen as reward enough. I smiled and chuckled to myself all the way home, not before congratulating myself on what must have been excellent concealment.
Every so often, the trees seem to randomly and spontaneously shiver, dropping a shower of leaves that as they fall, make a sound similar to that of rain.
Clouds, heavy and laden with moisture, find themselves snared in the near skeletal forest, trapped until the Sun eventually burns them away or the wind manages to dissipate them.
The savvy hunter, certainly in this day and age, has a few modern technological aids at his disposal. A recent sell off of surplus rifles has released equity with which I have purchased a 'Trail Camera'. This sentinel may be secured via an adjustable strap to a tree or suitable anchor at likely 'hotspots'. This tool has provided useful intelligence on the intrusions and visitors to my little patch of woods.
 |
| As one hunter sleeps, another prowls... |
By analysing the time stamps, and recording the positions the photographs were taken, I am quickly building a picture of the various species and their habits. I am not the only one.
As shown above, a fellow hunter (albeit utilising a far more primitive and specialised 'aid') has been doing the same. I cannot say how his rabbit hunt is faring, but we have lost two chickens in as many days during the night following the pictures captured and a recent dip in temperatures. The raids have been expert. I have not proof a fox is to blame, though I do have my suspicions.
As I followed the trail of feathers of the ill fated cockerel, I experienced how easy it is to take the 'theft' personally. It was as though my ego delighted in there being an adversary. I had purpose, focus, an aim, an objective, a goal. It rapidly constructed plans of how to trap, capture and ultimately exterminate this new foe.
But he is not my enemy. Quite the opposite. We have much in common.
I will continue to offer the remains of my kills that are beyond my use to the 'gods'. Though my gifts may in fact attract carnivores I would wish repelled, I keep the site of the sacrifices on the extremes of our boundaries and trust they will appease and distract those who would take more than I wish to give. For let us not forget, I too take from my environment. I too maraud the countryside, raid and slaughter (of course, only where permitted!)
The information gleaned from my sentry has resulted in the fine tuning of my timings. I know better when to keep the rifle to hand and not long after, my tax was exacted and the toll for entering my domain paid.
As I plucked this errant bird, I marvelled at its plumage. I was fascinated at the multitude of subtle colours, more so by how, collectively, the pattern served to create one of the finest woodland camouflage patterns I have ever seen (or not as the case may be!)
I pondered how it may be put to use. I am certain my ancestors would have sought to put such a gift to good use, to provide that edge and advantage on the hunt. It also led me to question how much of the new is really better than the old. An interesting line of enquiry warranting further investigation, though for another day.
Funds were also put towards decoys. Twice into the grey I ventured out with them. One Crow, two Pigeons. The first thing to be attracted took me most unawares. A buzzard plummeted from above and booted my crow three to five feet across the deck. The hollow sound of talon upon plastic shell took him by surprise causing him to retreat a good metre. As he regained his composure I watched in fascination and awe. Half fearful he would make off with my decoy. I soon had camera in hand, though he took his leave just as I pressed the 'on' button. Typical.
The next species to be fooled, was again, not any of the ones being targeted. In many ways it is one of the potentially most ignorant and stupid of all those that walk the earth despite its capacity for awe inspiring intelligence. I'm not talking about the dog, I mean Humans!
A woman, her son and black lab were heard approaching from my left so I made my rifle safe as they passed. The footpath runs to the rear of my position, yet some choose to not to stick to it.
It wasn't long before the dog and boy bounded past. It looked, for an instant, like the labrador would pass my pattern and leave it unmolested. The boy stopped to catch his breath and bent over, leaning on his knees. The dog, no longer being pursued, had a chance to glance about and quickly investigated the birds that did not flee. He went straight for the crow and nosed it.
Bugger. He's going to make off with that, I though to myself.
The womans voice called out. The boy communicated his confusion. The lad stood not three yards to the front of my position. In the hope he would call off the dog, I shouted "They're DECOYS mate!" He cast his eyes about the hedgerow uncertainly. "I just heard a voice" he intoned, half to himself and evidently forgot the message, even that one had been issued.
For the next ten minutes, a back and forth ensued reminiscent of a farcical pantomime. The boy twice took to hurling stones at the plastic birds, the woman seemed unwilling, even fearful of approaching them. Over and over they would ask each other, why weren't the birds flying away, were they dead? Why would someone leave birds out in a field? What should they do? Should they enquire at the house?
As the dog had been put on the lead I kept quiet, watched and listened incredulously. I was dumbfounded. Eventually and thankfully, they returned from whence they came and I was left in peace. Very much amused, I packed up and counted what I had seen as reward enough. I smiled and chuckled to myself all the way home, not before congratulating myself on what must have been excellent concealment.
If You Went Down To The Woods Last Night - Monday 22/10/2012
After a couple of no shows, and following the recommendation of another trail cam owner to utilise the burst mode, I got Mr Fox on camera!
What intrigues me most is the timing of his incursion. Last time it was 20:18 with the rabbit photographed at 01:02.
The time stamp puts this latest one at 01:40. Very close to the time his prey was about.
My musing is this, was Mr Fox able to determine an approximate time to expect his meal from the rabbit faeces?
Most pleasing were these snaps;
Delicious.
Guess where my 'old faithful' TX200 and I will be lurking approximately 15:11 tomorrow!
What intrigues me most is the timing of his incursion. Last time it was 20:18 with the rabbit photographed at 01:02.
The time stamp puts this latest one at 01:40. Very close to the time his prey was about.
My musing is this, was Mr Fox able to determine an approximate time to expect his meal from the rabbit faeces?
Most pleasing were these snaps;
Delicious.
Guess where my 'old faithful' TX200 and I will be lurking approximately 15:11 tomorrow!
If You Went Down To The Woods Last Night - Friday 19/10/12
To catch the layer of the rabbit dung I spied, I employed my latest acquisition. A Trail Camera. (Write up to follow in due course)
The culprit was captured;
But the other results were somewhat worrisome;
A Comparison;
Tonight I will re-site the camera so that subjects are caught approaching rather than across the field of view. I will also switch to video and, in future, reduce photographing intervals from five seconds to two.
T'would appear my urine is powerful stuff, because the chickens fencing isn't! My habit of relieving myself upon their perimeter appears to be deterrent enough. For now. I am concerned that come winter, the hungry fox will overcome any foreboding my scent currently instills, and the chickens intended for my stomach will be 'diverted'.
The culprit was captured;
But the other results were somewhat worrisome;
 |
| A Fox. |
 |
| http://www.gatesheadbirders.co.uk/Design/Assets/images/Red-Fox.jpg |
 |
| A rather bushy, ghostly behind...(right hand side) |
Tonight I will re-site the camera so that subjects are caught approaching rather than across the field of view. I will also switch to video and, in future, reduce photographing intervals from five seconds to two.
T'would appear my urine is powerful stuff, because the chickens fencing isn't! My habit of relieving myself upon their perimeter appears to be deterrent enough. For now. I am concerned that come winter, the hungry fox will overcome any foreboding my scent currently instills, and the chickens intended for my stomach will be 'diverted'.
Waste and Dishonour
I had the pleasure of
receiving a communication from a forum member today.
He wished to know how
he may reduce the waste and fully utilise the parts of the animals he
hunted. It was/is a firm belief featuring heavily in the mythology of hunting tribes that to do so is to
honour and respect your prey, to neglect to, a sin and a crime.
I may know a smidgeon
more than many regarding this field, but I cannot by any means claim
to be an expert. I would guess they live in Africa and the Rainforests of South America, but I shall do my best in future posts to
share what experience I do have and the knowledge I have gained.
Before I do, I have to
say that it was the enquirers mention of having witnessed the people
of Afghanistan and “seeing what they do” that really caught my
attention and set the little cogs turning. I believe I understand
what he is referring to.
When I was fifteen I
had the privilege of visiting India. This was a profound experience
that I have no doubt has shaped my present and will my future. I, a
teenager at the time both blessed and cursed with having been born in
an age of rampant technological progress and the economic boom of the
90's, seeing people living in abject financial poverty. These people
had few to no possessions of monetary value and yet were seemingly
happier and more content with their lot than any single person I had
ever come across. From the overcrowded train carriage, a relic of a
bygone age, I observed filthy young scamps very much enjoying a game
of cricket in the Sun, wickets constructed from gnarled sticks,
laughing and evidently happier than any of my fellows in Britain with
their Playstations, televisions and mobile phones. An impossible number of houses
lined the railway banks, constructed from a myriad of salvaged waste
materials. Here was necessity mothering invention on an awesome
scale though now the materials were not natural, rather the economic and industrial cast offs in an urban setting.
It is therefore little
wonder that whilst my local tip proudly displays a sign claiming to
have recycled 73% of the waste handled last year, countries such as
India and those in Africa can easily claim over 95%. The common
denominator? Money, or rather the lack of it.
Money is a magic bullet
that can often bring about a desired outcome or secure an acquisition
that outsources the challenge of manifestation to another. I view each pound sterling
as a unit of time. Sometimes the exchange is very efficient, for
instance an air rifle. How long would it take you to construct and
manufacture such a device? If a good quality rifle costs £300 new,
and you earn £50 a day, six days of paper shuffling/labouring/bin
collecting/filing sees you outfitted with something that it is fair
to say would have taken you a damn sight longer than that to make!
Conversely the hundreds
of pounds spent heating, running, renting/buying your home each
year and the hours spent working a repetitive job you ultimately
resent and despise and keeps you from those you hold dear in order to meet those bills is an example of the
insanity money perpetuates. I find it more efficient to live close to my family in a
caravan with a wood burner and collect and process the wood myself.
Gas for heating costs me £35 every five months! Barely a days labour
if I do choose to sell my time...
Now it may seem that I
have digressed, but the above is intended as a background
illustration of why most of us (myself included to an extent) do not
fully exploit the resource and opportunity each of our kills
presents. We lack need.
I am told that food is
the cheapest, for us wealthy countries, than it has ever been before.
- We do not need to eat that rabbit.
Clothing is practically
disposable, - No need for the fur.
No need to tan, - no need for the
brain.
Needles are mass
produced and lets face it, with clothes no longer mended who the heck
needs those anyway, so – bones not required.
Glue is readily and
cheaply available manufactured from chemicals, - no need to boil the
scraps of hide/ eyeballs.
I daresay the list
could go on but I think you catch my drift.
To the enquirer and the
curious, as a start, I refer you to my 'Make Your Quarry Pay' post.
Regarding pigeons, it
did seem somewhat shameful and criminal to use just the breasts, and with this in mind I
experimented with skinning it in order to cook it like one would a
chicken. Please see this post for further details. Unfortunately I do not believe in this case that the extra effort required is beneficial for anything but the conscience. Amazingly those birds are seemingly 95% breast!
Feathers are the most
obvious usable item of avian quarry. Jays for the electric blue wing
feathers, prized by fishermen, magpies I believe also.
For the remainder of my
life I will endeavour to experiment, test and research further ways
that I may honour that which I kill, but I will say this. In nature,
ultimately, there is no such thing as waste. This is by no means a
truth upon which we may excuse ourselves, only you can be the judge
of the acceptability of your habits, but it is a truth nonetheless. Parts that are
presently unusable to me, I 'offer to the woodland gods'. To date, no
offering has thus far been rejected and in this knowledge my conscience is soothed.
TH208 Scope Cam Hunting
Got this after going out 'hunting' straight after getting in from work at 17:00.
Didn't get to eat. (See vid)
Some woman brought her dog for walkies right in front of the warren I'd been sitting at for 2 hours (turns out she's the landowners horse training assistant).
The only shot I got was this one an hour later,
5x Magnification, he emerged slightly closer than the lasered 10 yard marker making him about 8 yards away. The shot should have impacted just below the crosshairs into the heart/lung region. That scoot he did was adrenaline before the lungs gave out of course, he expired behind nettles, thistles and an impenetrable barbed wire fence.
I should have gone for a Head shot as I always do but I was unsure of the lightweight Thunderbolt Pellets and penetration so elected for the softer tissue. The state of my metal funnel pellet trap should have assured me they were more than up for the job.
Make Your Quarry Pay! One Way To Derive An Income From Hunting.
Dear Fellow Hunters,
That'll get you some pellets!
Now for the juicy bit.
1) Crack open the skull. I use my Mora knife and a 'Bam Bam' on my log stump.
2) Extract the pellet! (can be seen at base of skull in the middle of the brain)
3) I find it best to use my finger and really get in there, but one way or the other, scoop out the good stuff and put onto your hide. This hide will have been dryed either through salting, or as I choose, by pinning to a board and placing behind the woodburner for a few days. When nice and 'crackly' it's ready for the meat and membrane to be gently scraped off with my old axe head which exposes a soft layer of the 'endermis'? (Inside part of epidermis). Doing this also aids absorption by the skin of your chosen tanning agent, in this case the lecithins and other chemicals of the brains.
Here's one pre-dried and scraped.
4) I rub the brains in fully until there is only a sticky sheen that remains.
5) As I'm not interested in the painfully thin outer edges of the rabbit skin, I trim these off. This step is optional.
6) The next skin is then stretched and pinned by working from the extremes and round. So I'll start at the top right for instance, the bottom left, then bottom right to top left and the same for the sides until the result looks like the following.
7) And so the cycle continues with the next two ready to be dried.
That method is called 'Brain Tanning'. I do not wish to expose myself or my family to the alum found in proprietary compounds so I chose to use natural methods only. Egg whites can be substituted for brains, which is good as I have chickens and as the weather warms up the flies soon inhabit the heads making for a most unpleasant experience.
I leave the brain tanned pelt hanging for a day or so to allow for absorption then proceed to work the skin over the back of a chair. This also helps work in the brains and also to stretch the hide and break the collagen bonds. If it doesn't or you are happy with the result, the next step is to 'lock in' the tanning agent and preserve your work. I do this by smoking the skins.
I have had the best result with the thicker squirrel skins, but the rabbits have been very good too. To really water proof I then apply a light coating of Dubbin.
Pelts worked to this standard should fetch alot more than £10. Those pelts I've seen on eBay have only been dried. and possibly scraped. I'm upto twenty skins now with the intention of making winter clothing from them but I will soon start selling my surplus to fund my hungry Air Arms 'twins'.
All the best guys!
Tan My Paled Flesh - Monday 22/08/11
Kit very nearly got away with no one knowing that today was his birthday. This being one of the most productive since his return appeared to be celebration enough for him. The gods smiled upon us and granted the land a day of glorious sunshine. Strong enough to tan my paled flesh almost to the point of burning.
Yesterday I butchered the Rabbit and in the evening Kit, Saara and Henri joined us for Rabbit stew with dumplings and sweet potato. The leftovers of that meal fed us twice more today.
Frances has begun talking about Halloween. Whilst I may feel it premature, there are only two months left between now and then. Images of the dark and cold from the memories of last winter spring to mind. The near ripe blackberries do not comfort me either. We are in the evening hours of the time of plenty.
M Jones
Yesterday I butchered the Rabbit and in the evening Kit, Saara and Henri joined us for Rabbit stew with dumplings and sweet potato. The leftovers of that meal fed us twice more today.
Frances has begun talking about Halloween. Whilst I may feel it premature, there are only two months left between now and then. Images of the dark and cold from the memories of last winter spring to mind. The near ripe blackberries do not comfort me either. We are in the evening hours of the time of plenty.
 |
| Offal to the Cat. |
 |
| Legs and head to the dog - Nothing wasted. |
 |
| Yum Yum |
M Jones
Pork Rotavators - Friday 19/08/11
An almost instant way of disposing of Rabbit entrails would appear to be feeding them to pigs. Simon and Jasmine have some 'on loan'. I felt very guilty after doing so as one of the pigs got inquisitive and made contact with the electric fence. The scream that emanated shocked me. I put down the bucket and observed them. Three great beasts, one male two females. They had churned the grass to the extent that I am certain one could sow a successful crop upon it.
Kit and I had a useful conversation that concerned the relationship of our families and the agreement that exists and allows our continued presence. Things appear to remain satisfactory for both parties.
My afternoon was occupied processing firewood and transporting three barrow loads of 'pea gravel' for use in drainage. I walked Frances to Hoppi and Pauls where she had arranged a sleep over. Before I left however, she got very emotional. Hoppi and Paul were really understanding. It was recognised by Hoppi that Frances' feelings could be attributed to the recent arrival of Erin. She related to Fran the experience of her son, Jarro, after her daughter arrived. Fran admitted to feeling pushed out somewhat and not feeling as involved as I had thought. Something we shall need to redress.
Frances did stay over, as I thought she might. She had been looking forward to it and I knew once she got playing she would most likely not want to leave.
Myself, Emma, Kit, Saara and Nick collaborated to put together a delicious evening meal. Pork casserole with wheat and veg, broad beans and fried hemp seeds, onions soaked in vinegar followed by my bread and butter pudding.
The rabbit will feed us another time.
M Jones
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