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Lamping - when and how

Experienced lampers operate on nights which are windy, dark and maybe even raining. This is because their quarry is best caught in these conditions. Rabbits keep to the cover of hedgerows on bright, moonlit nights but spread further out into the fields in darker conditions, and the wind helps to take away the lampers' scent and sound. Wet conditions are good for badgers, which will be seeking out earthworms in the fields.

Some lampers hunt with guns alone and do not use dogs. The guns used are high-powered rifles; mounted on the gun there will be a telescopic sight and a powerful spotlight. A red filter may be fixed over the light, with the advantage that the quarry cannot see the light. Alternatively, the lamper may dispense with the bright light and use a night sight - an electronic infra-red viewer or an image intensifier. The advantage of the night sight is that the lamper will not be seen either by the quarry or by any other people who may be around.

Most lampers however, whether shooting or using dogs, typically use extremely powerful spotlights to pick out their quarry. This type of light may have a range of up to 300 metres, and is powered by a rechargeable 12 volt battery, carried in a case with a shoulder strap.

Lampers with dogs typically work in pairs or small groups, parking their cars in different locations and meeting up in the fields where they will be hunting. One or two dogs may be used, either together, or singly (one resting while the other is worked). When the quarry is picked out in the spotlight, the dogs run the animal down. Foxes will run unless they are cornered, but are usually outrun by the dogs. A badger stands no chance of outrunning a dog however, and will typically turn and face its attacker, standing dazzled in the beam. If the badger is to be taken alive, the dogs are called off and the animal is grabbed with a snare on a stick, caught in a drawstring net, or taken in some other way.

Picture © Steve Clark, and used with his permission.

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Lamping - the dogs

Although lamping is a relatively recent development, 'long dogs' - the dogs used by lampers - have been around for hundreds of years. Modern day long dogs or lurchers are bred from greyhound stock, hybridised with other breeds. This is because greyhounds lack the intelligence, stamina and scenting ability that is required for hunting. Different breeds of dog have different qualities, and so greyhounds may be crossed with a variety of other dogs to obtain particular attributes:

• deerhound - for stamina and for good sight and scenting qualities combined
• alsatian - for strength
• wolfhound - for taking large quarry
• border collie - for versatility; this cross will take rabbits, hares and foxes
• larger terriers - for a fearless dog which can take deer or badger

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References

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Additional picture credits

The Eurasian badger photo used at the head of this Article is © Steve Jackson. Credits for the photos used in the right-hand margin of this page for site navigation can be found on the Credits page.

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