Poor show of me..sorry all

[chris ballard]

Greetins

Just thought id better let you all know who (or what ) I am. That way, the rambling might make sense.

Im a nearly 40 yr old ex soldier (?). Started on SAMs with the RA, and then transferred to the AAC because I wanted to play with helicopters. It never quite worked out, but I had a lot of fun trying.

As a "Bill oddie", I developed (well, had developed a long time before I joined) a healthy interest in shooting and wildlife.

I basically pestered the range warden at a local Naval Gunnery school (HMS Cambridge in Devon...now sadly bulldozed) until he took to me. I learned so much that I got prizes for my skill at arms and gunnery science as a "junior bleeder". I also represented my county in the cadet full bore team, and JLRRA at small bore (Anchutz 95?).

I also had the typical obsession with explosives that kids can develop. I got hurt once, blew my eyebrows off, melted my eye lashes together, and gave myself a bit of a sun tan...and I was meeting (what turned out to be) my first "serious" girlfriend the next day...I learned about messing with explosives from that . I just went and did it properly.

I did 14 Years in the mob, till a really bad decision meant I left (Got married to an out and out cow) . I had qualified as a few things (?), SAA instructor amongst them. I had served in Kenya, Canada, Germany, The Falkland Islands, and the Gulf (1st one), so I hd seen a bit. I also had a good gliding career, right up until options for change closed my local club in Germany.

I had a passion for helicopters and flew models for years, although deep down, the hunting and wildlife were always simmering away.

Some time ago, I got fed up with the club scene, and a chance remark from the wife (no2, love her to bits, not a Nazi) caused me to take stock and look into falconry.

I sold up and did a year as a volunteer in my local falconry, before getting a large famale Harris hawk (Czara). We get on well, and she is quite murderous when it comes to our big eared friends. We are only into our second season together, but she lamps, follows on, and soars well too. She is a real all rounder and a priviledge to work with.

Anyway, my mate who was my contact on the farm suggested I try shooing again. He came out with the girlie, and it seemed to be a good idea to reciprocate. All my hunting is against pest species, although I support all forms of sustainable and humane country sports, so rabbits, rats and corvids are our main targets. I am a Countryside Alliance member, and wish the current bunch of tyrants (Tony and his mates) would concentrate on improving rather than "banning in haste and not giving a damn at leisure"!

I also feel that, where most of us now dont have (or feel we dont have) freedom of speech (lest we be branded racist or politically incorrect), that the press and certain public figures get away with far too much under the smoke screen of governement or journalism. The recent drivel in the Scottsman was a prime example. They owe us an apology!

Opps, I digressed..again. A shotgun was not my bag (although I do go rook shooting with Rob occasionally) and an FAC was not really practical. There is a lot of flint locally and ricochets are a real problem. Rimfire hunting is minimal.

I picked up a second hand HW77 and was convinced I was back where I belonged. My father in law recently gave me a Webley Hurricane he had bought and never used...more fun on the farm dump...cans, you can never trust them...B*****ds!!, Never know when one will jump out on you (Rubber room time again).

One of the legacies of the Army was several knackered bits, mostly back and shoulder, which make using the HW77 a bit of a chore . Add the noise and length (awkward in a vehicle which we do use for flying rabbit sessions) and a PCP carbine seemed ideal. A Logun Axsor is on order .

So, Its good to be back. Its amazing what a buzz "dusting chalkies" at 25m gives you (always seem to be able to hit the first 3 out of 5 consecutively then loose the plot!!).

The missus is pleased too. She does her St John bit, so was a bit worried that as we dont hawk through the summer, I might get up to no good...I will now!!

Appy doin whatever it is you are in to!

[Geordie]

Nice, and very comprehensive intro mate

Welcome aboard

Dan

[Taff Williams]

Welcome aboard Chris,
You are amongst folks of similar backgrounds here, many, ncluding myself Ex forces (me, Ex RAF, also helicopters).
Your outlook of the hunting scene is pretty balanced and its great that you have an interest in a minority (can I say that?) country sport.
Hope you enjoy your time here, and I know it won't be long before you can grace other newcomers with your knowledge.

ATB

Ogri the trog

[phil384]

Welcome matey. Good intro, most don't bother (like me )

[Tomahawkss]

Wow what an intro, welcome to you and your mrs who seems a goodun, you will probably need to use the rubber room alot after you have been on the board
Andy

[sbd]

Dobry Den Chris,

blimey I know more about you than most of me mates
I have a feeling you'll fit in fine.

SBD

[chris ballard]

Err yea, sorry guys, never use one word when a thousand will do. Still, WYSIWYG!

Nice day innit...and im gardening...DOH!!

[corb.177]

Well that was an intro and a half.
I have been reading a book about Harris Hawk's (by Lee William Harris) liked the Harris since i saw one at a display going through its paces.
The main thing I learned is how much time and effort goes into looking after one of these fantastic birds.
Guess I will stick to watching the displays.
Anyway welcome to the Best.

[sneaky beaky]

nice intro and good read

just getting into raptor* spotting myself...

but since i bought some decent bino's... things have been slim!

can you really lamp with one?

love to own one one-day

(*from the latin word "raptar" meaning to plunder, seize and carry away )

[Backache]

Hi Chris,
Nice to see a 'Drop Short' on here and an ex JLR at that. I started in the JLRRE in Dover myself....and we still have the RA lanyard

Welcome to the forum

Nev

[chris ballard]

Hey Nev, I wernt no steam gunner!!

I know, Red for the blood you never spilt, blue for the sea you never crossed, and yellow...cos thats what you are!(RA Stable belt colours)

We also reasoned that "Ubique" meant "everywhere" for the RE, and "all over the place" for the RA

Mind you, its better than "****S" Teenie weenie air taxis I suppose.

Its funny how these things go aint it. Love the old RAOC badge with the wrong sized balls! And what about the Gloucesters with a bolt that went right through their heads to holt their berets on!! (sorry lads, I know it was a well deserved battle honour, but you just have to)

Sneaky and Corb

Raptor keeping aint rocket science (never thought I would say that, just shows.) Its a lot easier to get help these days.

Best time for raptors is late morning or mid to late afternoon. They have 2 hunting drives a day by all accounts. We normally go out about 2ish.

If you do decide to do it, get a mentor, and think about it hard first. If you do it right (IMHO) then the clobber to support and house the bird (perches, telemetry etc) will cost loads more than the bird, and always get vets insurance...ask me how I know

Harrisi lamp really well. Mine took to it without any prompting, but she was a lot better this year (second season). To tell you the truth, I find lamping with an airgun really frustrating, as the hawk lamp (Clulite) lights up the whole field and the hawk picks her target. Not much stalking necessary. The harris loves to plunge through cover and kill, so she often takes things we never see till she hits it. On my patches, lamping is often the only way to see her actually chase.

If you want to read about top harris hawking, read "a passion for harris hawks" (or any of his books for that matter) by Martin Hollinshead.

Lee's book (IMHO) is full of contadictions and is much of a muchness, Such as saying the harris is all you would ever want and then saying "when you are ready to progress"...what, more like when you want to make life more difficult and limit you hawking!

Martin is an Austringer (hunts hawks, eagles and buteo) and a very successfull one at that. The Harris is truly unique, and it is this that makes it a good beginners bird...its feet still hurt though!

Look there I go again, jackableedinory!!

[sneaky beaky]

cheers for the reading pointers chris something that has always facinated me, but as you get older... you tend to catch up on the things you wanted to do years ago

be a nice hobby for me to get into over the next few years and i am shure there will be lots of people to talk to in my area as several hawkers around... one taking his raptor to the local pub on saturday lunchtime's

might just buy him a pint...

all the best, sneaky

[boltaction]

Nice intro Chris.........welcome......another ex RAF chap here.


jim

[airgunner2388]

Welcome to The BBS, I think you will like it here and it looks like you will fit in perfectly. Happy safe shooting.

Regards
Barry

[corb.177]

Nice one Chris i'll check out the Hollindshead book.