As part of hunting.be tips a series on Hunting Revere care.
Here we take a closer look at the small and large needs of small game and the care of large game. We pay attention to field work and equipment and also consider predator control.
Thanks to Paul Wyndaele, author of the book Enduring Hunting.
The book with a full year overview of Revier care on the HVV website
By the end of this period, it is important to disperse and strategically choose feeding sites. In late February, the Partridge and Pheasant hens disperse to pick out their breeding grounds.
In severe winter, supplemental feeding with concentrate may be necessary. Anthelmintic can then also be administered here, if necessary. In severe freezing weather, moisture-containing food such as apples or sliced beets is recommended.
And, mid-January, the Reejacht starts. Counting and identification can begin now.
To rejuvenate cover, shorten sections of forest edges, thus providing young wood. Also throw some lime at forest edges and hedges and plant elder bushes where possible.
After hunting, there is time for winter work. Preparation of the high seats or mooring screens, feeders, water troughs. Planning can also be done for the game fields. Here, be sure not to forget the highly coveted Brem.
In the month of January it is mating season for foxes. An ideal opportunity to encounter, and fight, Foxes during the day as well.
March showers and April whims. But as of this month, Spring is clearly in the air.
And this new spring is sure to be seen in the Hares with their March banter.
Especially now at this time to do is the inventory of what wildlife has made it through the winter. So the counts can start again. The Hares, normally a bit day-shy, are now showing well, the Pheasants are giving their place and number with their crowing, and the partridges are still reasonably good to count on the bare fields.
Especially with the Reds, there are some things going on. The weak pieces are falling out or can still be hunted. With the bucks there is the bark antlers and with the goats the bulging belly (for settling time in May). Counting here is best done on a sunny day, when the Roe deer are also looking for energy-providing heat.
Planting time has arrived. But one must be quick: a March planting stake is an April oven stake (or planted too late, ends up in the oven or fireplace in April). And planting hedges, always good. Willow branches just cut off and plant, most grow by themselves. Or Elder Shrubs or Laurel Cherry or Blackthorn, all good, as long as it gives cover and provides much needed insects. The wild meadows get a lime supplement. The previously sown Brem can now be planted out in the field.
A minor intervention in the revier are nest boxes. See our Hunting Equipment for a plan to craft them yourself. The roe deer often suffer terribly from throat hornets. The tits love the eggs of the throat hornets, preventing the deer from weakening. Therefore, a nesting box for the Tits.
At this time of year, let’s pay attention to a smaller predator, but no less dangerous, the rat. Both the black and brown varieties feed on our feeding places for small game and, of course, also like young rabbits and chicks. Rat poison, shielded from birds of prey, for example, is a good remedy here.
We pay attention to the places where the pheasant cocks lure the hens. These are the places to feed and provide the hens, close to their nest with some extra food.
With the large game , especially the roe deer then in Flanders, this is the period when the pregnant goats start to shed their young. Because of this exodus, quite a few young roe deer end up under vehicles and in canals. Hence the usefulness of roe deer traps and exit stairs.
During the month, we can already mow the paths for the first time to give the chicks some space to gain solar heat later in the summer.
Also to be planted are our suggestions: Jerusalem artichokes (with its 1.5 to 3.5m good cover plants and wind catchers, as well as the easily digestible tubers), corn (cover and food for pheasant and partridge) rye, buckwheat, leafy cabbage, grain (depending on the intended game species, or specifically sweet lupins (especially for the Ree), Rhubarb (an umbrella for game – for example, close to the feeding site, a protection from the sight of predators, and at the end of the summer tasty too).
Next month, then, the Bokken hunt starts and perhaps now, when we check the highseats, we can take advantage of the habituation tip.
Also focus on the Righthawks. For the cages it is best to use a decoy foreign to the area so that the territorial drive of the place crows overshadows their shyness. It is also best to place the cage under a tree to reduce the suspicion of diving into the cage from a tree.
The word in Small Game this month is Lime. Necessary for the formation of egg shells in Partridges, Pheasants, Ducks and Wood Pigeons. But mammals also feed on it for the formation of their bones, as well as the production of milk. (More details on how, what and when in the book, we just want to remind you).
Further for the Small Game, especially the ground-breeding birds, we look for the nests, to provide drink and food as close as possible. Of course, an additional supply of animal food for our ground-breeding birds is also always good. This can be done by placing meatworm dividers or establishing wood ant nests.
The young kits are set in May. Just before mowing early grasslands, a good dog should be able to locate the calves. Never touch the kitsen with your hands. Better use a burlap sack or grasses to keep human scent away from the animals. Once the rescued animals are in a safe place, the mother animal will find them quickly. Below is an instructional video with more tips & tricks.
In places with many concrete consolidation roads and not the old “unloading roads,” it is important to spread some coarse sand here and there. Useful for dust baths, but also to aid in the stomach in grinding the coarse grains. If there are few rough field edges, it is useful to place some bean poles here and there as landmarks for the Partridges. The previously established trails may be mowed again in May as a sunbathing spot for the hatching Pheasants and Partridges.
In less than 2 weeks, then, the Bokken hunt will start and we may be able to take advantage of the habituation tip now, when we check the highseats.
Here we refer to the French proverb “En mai ou jamais,” all for the crows, now or never.
For June and actually July, the key is to let nature do its work, and little intervention is needed. The little we can do we summarize here.
Around June 9, most partridge chicks hatch and hope for warm weather. This makes it easier for them to maintain their body temperature, as well as easier movement of the much-needed insects.
The kits are now grown up enough that they follow the mother animal quite easily and so are not so likely to perish as victims during mowing. However, if you know when mowing is in progress in your deer area, a round with the standing dog can’t hurt, of course.
By mid-June, all deer are red-haired. Those not shedding are sick (usually worms, or guttural hornets). The yearlings and two-year-olds are also shedding now (given the small antlers, this usually succeeds in a few days). The roe deer are now also suffering terribly from throat hornets. The tits’ nesting boxes that were put up earlier are now proving their worth. The tits love the eggs of the throat hornets and thus prevent the deer from weakening.
The previously established paths may be mowed again as a sunbathing area for the hatching Pheasants and Partridges. Preferably with the old-fashioned scythe, rather than with the, ruthless and therefore dangerous, brushcutter.
If due to the poor spring (actually a mild winter) the sowing did not turn out well, we can try again now. It pays off.
Whoever has the luxury (in terms of soil or good providence) of having gorse (Sarochamnus scaparius) in his revier has a doctor and pharmacist with it. Gorse is a life elixir for deer and hares (it deworms and cleanses the entire digestive system).
With the warm days, hopefully they will stay for a while, it is also necessary and useful to provide wildlife with the necessary water. Checking water tanks, cleaning them out, refilling them. Work enough for the gardechasse, and presumably also the hunters and other outdoorsmen who take good care of our game.
Given the Adaptation Act, which has also been in effect since 2012, we can now “somewhat” take action against one of our worst predators, the Fox.
Almost identical to July. The little we can do we summarize here.
The chicks and downs have already grown considerably by now and have feathers. The warmth of the sun is now a boon to the small game. However, in warm weather, for water game, we have a chance of botulism. This occurs with still water above 20°. If you observe this, action! Regularly, daily, pick up the carcasses, best with gloves and boots, and better also without a dog. Pack the carcasses properly and have them picked up by a rendering plant.
Continued supplemental feeding is now necessary, but above all make sure to provide drinking water. This for the feathered game, but also for the hares. As food we use acorns collected in November, possibly threshing waste. Now for the mid-season we also deliver the seeds to the farmers who are willing to use green manure.
The kits are now losing their white spots and growing significantly larger. By the middle of July, we already have the rut. While the goats are charmed by the bucks, they leave their kits behind in the cover. Of course, if you know when there will be mowing in your deer area, a round with the standing dog can’t hurt. The rut is accompanied by quite a bit of running and running back and forth. Creating a few extra escape routes or openings through brambles never hurts, of course.
To avoid fall game, we mow funnel-shaped inlets in the roadside verges. This allows smaller game to flee the road on foot. If present, check the Ree speigels.
During the next few vacation days we can start some larger field work: Checking and repairing bridges over some streams, crossing steps over barbed wire, and possibly taking care of the perches. Above feeders or drinking troughs we will place mirrors to deter predators.
Given the Adaptation Decree, which has also been in effect for a few weeks, we can now “somewhat” take action against one of our worst predators, the Fox. For the suckling is now done and the nut fox is now out and about teaching the young cubs to hunt.
In August, it should be warm and dry. Too much is not good in either case. Good weather with some precipitation is good for Hunter and farmer.
Although sufficient food (grains, berries, animal food) is available, supplemental feeding can certainly help. If only to keep the small game in its own revier. But above all, also provide drinking water. This for the feathered game, but also for the hares. The hares now normally have their last litter. For the two-year-old does this may be their fourth and largest litter.
With the onset of August, we at the Ree are in full rut. Wait for a warm, scorching hot day, and head into the revier to see fawning goats and floating bucks. While the goats are charmed by the bucks, they leave their kittens in the cover. Of course, if you know when mowing is going on in your deer area, a round with the standing dog can’t hurt. The rut is accompanied by quite a bit of running and running back and forth. Creating some extra escape routes or openings through brambles never hurts, of course. By the end of August, after the rut, everyone in Reeënland is exhausted, the work is done. And so territory boundaries also begin to blur. As a result, we now see Roe deer showing up in lesser-known places.
Also check out the video (see May month) with more tips & tricks to prevent mowing casualties.
We keep the trails and roads short. To feed, but also to give the juveniles a drying place after a rain. A small effort, but so useful for growing game. These places and the surrounding cover may group the small game but also attract the predators. Mirror balls and mirrors on feeders helps here. The mirror effect makes the raptors think the territory is already taken and fly off.
During the next few vacation days we can start some larger field work: Checking and repairing bridges over some streams, crossing steps over barbed wire, and possibly taking care of the perches. Above feeding troughs or drinking troughs we place mirrors to scare off predators.
Possibly visit farmers to explain the use of wildlife rescuers and, cfr above, show a wildlife-friendly mowing technique.
Given the Adaptation Decree, which has also been in effect for a few weeks, we can now “somewhat” take action against one of our worst predators, the Fox. For the suckling is now done and the nut fox is now out to teach the young cubs how to hunt.
Herewith the version of Arnold Van der Wal, late editor-in-chief of the Dutch Hunter: I am more and more convinced that our efforts to keep Foxes short have no impact on the population at all ! Hunting sensibly does no harm to the population of any species, so … let us quietly continue hunting !
September is the last straight line to the “Harvest” in our hunting season. The important thing is to protect the game that has already endured the bad weather and other dangers for so long. In September especially then for poaching and traffic collisions.
Although sufficient food (grains, berries, animal food) is available, supplemental feeding can certainly help. If only to keep the small game in its own revier. For the pheasants, we feed mainly around the forest edges to gradually lure them from the barren fields to safer places.
In late August, after the rut, everyone in roe country is exhausted, the work is done. And so territory boundaries also begin to blur, but allow the Deer to lave in larger areas. As a result, we are now seeing Deer showing up in lesser-known places. This makes it a little more difficult for counts.
We continue to mow trails and roads short. Especially also funnel flight paths from the road back into the revier. Pheasants like to stay on the road, because it is dry there, but especially for the small stones they need to digest the food in their stomachs.
Continued attention also for the harvest work, the late wheat and soon the corn. Herewith again the 5 tools:
During these last days before the start of the hunt, we can finalize the larger fieldwork: checking and repairing bridges over some streams, crossing steps over barbed wire, and possibly taking care of the high seats. The first Mast (acorns, beechnuts) will fall in September. Possibly with some fellow hunters or the youth movement (for a small fee) pick up the harvest and save it for the harsher winter months.
In September, we will conceivably start rifle hunting. Be sure to remember to make the necessary applications to “legally” control predators coming for the runs during hunting days.
Supplemental feeding, supplemental feeding, the same every month. However, not too one-sided: all kinds of grains, and if possible also animal protein.
Sand baths remain important here, especially for feathered game, to escape parasites. Maintain and loosen sand baths.
After the Red Deer, in previous months, the rut has now arrived at the Dams.
And, although it is cold, mud baths are still necessary for forest animals with hair. This allows them to trap ticks, lice and other pests in the mud and then scrape them off against a tree.
It may happen that during early frosts the ponds are already freezing over. This allows crossing the pond through the ice and otherwise performing difficult chores. Such as cleaning islands, placing or inspecting duck baskets, mowing reeds growing along the sides. Or placing a bale of straw a little farther out on the ice. After the thaw, it sinks to the bottom and provides protein-rich food for ducks and chicks there in the spring.
If you have both a large supply of food and can make the time for it, ensiling is an excellent action. You can ensile acorns, beets, potatoes, apples. But only pure and of the best quality to avoid lactic acid. Dig a pit, wooden floor and walls, plastic everywhere, cover with soil, feed in the pit, and then cover airtight and tightly.
Starting this month also keep an eye on the “human predators orte the poachers. Pheasants fly into the trees just before bedtime with much crowing. And, on a moonlit night it is easy to shoot them out here. And the fat hares are also easy to spot at the “lights.” Being vigilant day and night is the message.
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