Mixenden

I'd arranged for Paul (a member of my Rabbit Hunters groups) to come for a day on one of my permissions, and today was the day.

We arrived on the land at 2:30pm, and we headed for the warren under the Nettle patch, watching the banking as we proceeded.

We crept towards the bury, keeping out of site, and slowly got within range.

Unfortunately, there were no rabbits out, so we checked around the warren, and still didn't see any rabbits.

I took him across the scrubland and we approached the rock piles where rabbits are numerous, but difficult to get to because of the steep banking covered in stone piles, Heather, trees & large bushes. This is an ideal habitat for rabbits, because it's so inaccessible.

As we approached I spotted a rabbit diving for cover in one of the warrens under a large bush, so we got into position behind a small dry stone wall, and waited in ambush.

We'd been sat there a few minutes, when the German Shepherd and Jack Russell terrier from the neighbouring plot approached very noisily.

The German Shepherd came right up to us while we sat, still barking madly. We daren't move.

He came even closer, and was stood barking at the back of my head, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck as I sat still.

After what seemed an age of him barking at the back of my head, he backed off, and I asked Paul if he'd retreated, and could he stand up slowly.

The dogs headed back towards their home, so Paul sat back down, and we waited almost 1/2 hour, to see if the rabbits would return after the commotion...

But they didn't and time was pressing on.

We headed back towards the Nettle patch, from the field below it. We checked the banking & feeding area...

...then the fields, as we headed further down the land.

As we approached the woodland, our search turned towards grey squirrels, but this also proved fruitless.

As we stood looking around the tree tops, a pair of Roe deer passed us and stood no more than 30 yards away, staring back at us.

We left the farm with an empty game bag.