Day Three

[Brimmer 220]

Me and the old feller were back out today after yesterdays outing, clearing up a few areas not covered yet.

Bit of a difference today though.

On the days out over the last few weeks, we have noticed a lot of the bigger warrens were not carrying any numbers, and most of the rabbits have been sat out, we thought it was maybee down to mixi, but also thought the odd feral ferret may be affecting this.

I have only come across 2 of these in the last 20 yrs on the land we go, one a huge hissing spitting albino hob pulled from a drop box, built like Mike Tyson which I took home and tried with no success to tame after three months of it biting anything that moved, and trying to kill my own ferrets. Also a poley jill, also well built which was caught in the process of killing a rabbit in a rock pile, which I also took home and tried to tame, by the morning it was stone cold dead.

Last year my ferrets were trying to tackle one in a warren, but couldnt shift it, it was left alone. Unfortunateley looks like either that animal, or a few of its siblings have been on the breed this year as we have seen one live above ground on our first outing, and another was in a large warren we did last week, squaring up to my ferrets. One again, they do not come out, and stand their ground.

Also heard from one of the other rabbit teams that the gamekeeper has had big trouble with them this year, catching 18 of the critters.

On the off chance me and the old feller set 6 of our mink traps before we left yesterday, hoping we might catch one of these critters.

This morning 3 of the 6 traps in a 400 yrd area had 1 hob and two jill albino ferals in them. All big, strong, hissing, spitting, untamed killing machines. I was shocked. One would have been a surprise, but three of them in a small area explained to us why the rabbit numbers are low in the larger warrens, all summer these animals will have hammered every breeding warren alongside any other wildlife unchecked.

I did the right thing, shame.

Either they are are dumped ferrets that have bred and caused this epidemic, or animals lost by the 'No Locater Crew'.

Now we have a problem, a wave of animals that dont go home at night, farmer friendly as they get rid of the rabbits 24/7 all season, have no natural predator and hunt underground, and will be breeding again next year.

Cannot see the simpletons who caused this at the start picking up the pieces, and how do you get permission to trap the surrounding land out these animals, no farmer would want rid of them. Rant over.

 

Had a good day, took the three runners again, they were better today, took the two hobs from yesterday, and my third jill from last year, all did well again, lots of shallow digs, with no nets set again, just the dogs sorting things out on the bolters.

Got my finger 'jilled' when getting a bit to close at arms length down a tube, my fault really.

 

 

Also got a couple of variations on the rabbits.

what we call a dutchy

 

 

And a bluey

 

 

Ended the day on 64 rabbits. (62 in the piccie, got 2 more whilst the pensioner gutted them not in the piccie).

 

 

Come Xmas we will be struggling for numbers to be honest, untill then we'll try to thin them out the best we know, theres a couple of other teams hitting them, plus the mixi and the ferals, and the poachers doing there best. If only you had it all to yourself!

[micky 3,325]

Me and the old feller were back out today after yesterdays outing, clearing up a few areas not covered yet.

Bit of a difference today though.

On the days out over the last few weeks, we have noticed a lot of the bigger warrens were not carrying any numbers, and most of the rabbits have been sat out, we thought it was maybee down to mixi, but also thought the odd feral ferret may be affecting this.

I have only come across 2 of these in the last 20 yrs on the land we go, one a huge hissing spitting albino hob pulled from a drop box, built like Mike Tyson which I took home and tried with no success to tame after three months of it biting anything that moved, and trying to kill my own ferrets. Also a poley jill, also well built which was caught in the process of killing a rabbit in a rock pile, which I also took home and tried to tame, by the morning it was stone cold dead.

Last year my ferrets were trying to tackle one in a warren, but couldnt shift it, it was left alone. Unfortunateley looks like either that animal, or a few of its siblings have been on the breed this year as we have seen one live above ground on our first outing, and another was in a large warren we did last week, squaring up to my ferrets. One again, they do not come out, and stand their ground.

Also heard from one of the other rabbit teams that the gamekeeper has had big trouble with them this year, catching 18 of the critters.

On the off chance me and the old feller set 6 of our mink traps before we left yesterday, hoping we might catch one of these critters.

This morning 3 of the 6 traps in a 400 yrd area had 1 hob and two jill albino ferals in them. All big, strong, hissing, spitting, untamed killing machines. I was shocked. One would have been a surprise, but three of them in a small area explained to us why the rabbit numbers are low in the larger warrens, all summer these animals will have hammered every breeding warren alongside any other wildlife unchecked.

I did the right thing, shame.

Either they are are dumped ferrets that have bred and caused this epidemic, or animals lost by the 'No Locater Crew'.

Now we have a problem, a wave of animals that dont go home at night, farmer friendly as they get rid of the rabbits 24/7 all season, have no natural predator and hunt underground, and will be breeding again next year.

Cannot see the simpletons who caused this at the start picking up the pieces, and how do you get permission to trap the surrounding land out these animals, no farmer would want rid of them. Rant over.

 

Had a good day, took the three runners again, they were better today, took the two hobs from yesterday, and my third jill from last year, all did well again, lots of shallow digs, with no nets set again, just the dogs sorting things out on the bolters.

Got my finger 'jilled' when getting a bit to close at arms length down a tube, my fault really.

 

 

Also got a couple of variations on the rabbits.

what we call a dutchy

 

 

And a bluey

 

 

Ended the day on 64 rabbits. (62 in the piccie, got 2 more whilst the pensioner gutted them not in the piccie).

 

 

Come Xmas we will be struggling for numbers to be honest, untill then we'll try to thin them out the best we know, theres a couple of other teams hitting them, plus the mixi and the ferals, and the poachers doing there best. If only you had it all to yourself!

Nice read mate i,am working a ferret that i caught last year in a fenn trap,hes a real soft old boy ,but he knows what his teeth are for,afew years back we had a bad dig at Grantham ,we hung my lad down ,and he pulled out the ferret ,as boxed him up i saw he had no collar on ,we hung our sam back down and he copt hold of the rabbit,when he pulled the rabbit out it had the real ferret fixed to its head,the first one was a stranger in the camp,we had him a fair few years and was one of a few ferrets that i would really trust with my hand under ground.

[andy s410c 61]

Ooohhh that's a nasty nick B ,jills eh??Sounds like you'll spend more time trapping lost ferrets this season ...another tidy result,keep at 'em fella

[Brimmer 220]

Ooohhh that's a nasty nick B ,jills eh??Sounds like you'll spend more time trapping lost ferrets this season ...another tidy result,keep at 'em fella

Jills are nasty full stop. Ouch!

They are not lost ferrets mate, they have never seen a human at close quarters, they are pure and simple feral, been bred from lost ones probably.

They have ticks all over them, spit hiss and hick when near them, spray the skunky strink, and try to bite anything near them. (plus they are built like a ferret on steroids through working for a living.)

Will try my best with them.

[John-B 4]

They are not lost ferrets mate, they have never seen a human at close quarters, they are pure and simple feral, been bred from lost ones probably.

They have ticks all over them, spit hiss and hick when near them, spray the skunky strink, and try to bite anything near them. (plus they are built like a ferret on steroids through working for a living.)

Will try my best with them.

 

Shoot the buggers as soon as you see them in the hole.

[stealthy1 3,964]

Another good result Brimmer! did you take any pix of the ferrals?

[Brimmer 220]

They are not lost ferrets mate, they have never seen a human at close quarters, they are pure and simple feral, been bred from lost ones probably.

They have ticks all over them, spit hiss and hick when near them, spray the skunky strink, and try to bite anything near them. (plus they are built like a ferret on steroids through working for a living.)

Will try my best with them.

 

Shoot the buggers as soon as you see them in the hole.

There's a lot of sense in that line John, hows Col?

[Clipper 207]

Me and the old feller were back out today after yesterdays outing, clearing up a few areas not covered yet.

Bit of a difference today though.

On the days out over the last few weeks, we have noticed a lot of the bigger warrens were not carrying any numbers, and most of the rabbits have been sat out, we thought it was maybee down to mixi, but also thought the odd feral ferret may be affecting this.

I have only come across 2 of these in the last 20 yrs on the land we go, one a huge hissing spitting albino hob pulled from a drop box, built like Mike Tyson which I took home and tried with no success to tame after three months of it biting anything that moved, and trying to kill my own ferrets. Also a poley jill, also well built which was caught in the process of killing a rabbit in a rock pile, which I also took home and tried to tame, by the morning it was stone cold dead.

Last year my ferrets were trying to tackle one in a warren, but couldnt shift it, it was left alone. Unfortunateley looks like either that animal, or a few of its siblings have been on the breed this year as we have seen one live above ground on our first outing, and another was in a large warren we did last week, squaring up to my ferrets. One again, they do not come out, and stand their ground.

Also heard from one of the other rabbit teams that the gamekeeper has had big trouble with them this year, catching 18 of the critters.

On the off chance me and the old feller set 6 of our mink traps before we left yesterday, hoping we might catch one of these critters.

This morning 3 of the 6 traps in a 400 yrd area had 1 hob and two jill albino ferals in them. All big, strong, hissing, spitting, untamed killing machines. I was shocked. One would have been a surprise, but three of them in a small area explained to us why the rabbit numbers are low in the larger warrens, all summer these animals will have hammered every breeding warren alongside any other wildlife unchecked.

I did the right thing, shame.

Either they are are dumped ferrets that have bred and caused this epidemic, or animals lost by the 'No Locater Crew'.

Now we have a problem, a wave of animals that dont go home at night, farmer friendly as they get rid of the rabbits 24/7 all season, have no natural predator and hunt underground, and will be breeding again next year.

Cannot see the simpletons who caused this at the start picking up the pieces, and how do you get permission to trap the surrounding land out these animals, no farmer would want rid of them. Rant over.

 

Had a good day, took the three runners again, they were better today, took the two hobs from yesterday, and my third jill from last year, all did well again, lots of shallow digs, with no nets set again, just the dogs sorting things out on the bolters.

Got my finger 'jilled' when getting a bit to close at arms length down a tube, my fault really.

 

 

Also got a couple of variations on the rabbits.

what we call a dutchy

 

 

And a bluey

 

 

Ended the day on 64 rabbits. (62 in the piccie, got 2 more whilst the pensioner gutted them not in the piccie).

 

 

Come Xmas we will be struggling for numbers to be honest, untill then we'll try to thin them out the best we know, theres a couple of other teams hitting them, plus the mixi and the ferals, and the poachers doing there best. If only you had it all to yourself!

Nice read mate i,am working a ferret that i caught last year in a fenn trap,hes a real soft old boy ,but he knows what his teeth are for,afew years back we had a bad dig at Grantham ,we hung my lad down ,and he pulled out the ferret ,as boxed him up i saw he had no collar on ,we hung our sam back down and he copt hold of the rabbit,when he pulled the rabbit out it had the real ferret fixed to its head,the first one was a stranger in the camp,we had him a fair few years and was one of a few ferrets that i would really trust with my hand under ground.

u need to handle your ferrets more ,,,, good number

[theferreter 311]

brilliant story mate nice bag of rabbits 2 we always catch them rabbits here in ireland them dutchy type caught a load of them

[Brimmer 220]

Another good result Brimmer! did you take any pix of the ferrals?

Didnt mate, it was just coming light, plus the task in hand has you a bit busy, and bothers me to be honest, you respect what you see in front of you, but for the greater good you have to sort it. Respect or whatever, it didnt feel right.

[mattydski 560]

The 'no Locator' crew still think their right Brim, thats the problem...Apparently its them that are keeping the true tradition of the sport alive

Personally, as you know...I prefer to ensure the safe return of my ferrets

 

However, back on track..........Another good day mate..

[stealthy1 3,964]

Look out, I think I hear the heavy footsteps of the traditionalists heading this way

[para1 11]

Well done again mate,127 rabbits in 2 days some going and not a net in sight,got to be some sort of record.

Who's job is it to gut and skin that lot and what do you do with them.

That thumb looks sore P1

[para1 11]

The 'no Locator' crew still think their right Brim, thats the problem...Apparently its them that are keeping the true tradition of the sport alive

Personally, as you know...I prefer to ensure the safe return of my ferrets

 

However, back on track..........Another good day mate..

 

I like to think that i am a bit of traditionalist mate but if you read properly he said wild bred ferrets.

By the way this traditionalist hasn't lost a ferret in over 50 years I hope that you will be able to look back and say the same,Just a taught,one day your collar isn't going to work then what.P1

[Brimmer 220]

Well done again mate,127 rabbits in 2 days some going and not a net in sight,got to be some sort of record.

Who's job is it to gut and skin that lot and what do you do with them.

That thumb looks sore P1

Its the index finger mate and yes its sore! Bleedin bad tempered jills! Its decent going para, but its a one man workforce at present, the old kid just holds the dogs. (then he struggles the old bugger!) We both gut them, then the butcher skins them.

Setting nets is a waste of time with only a few in the warrens, the dogs nail them. When i get on the slopes with the terrier later on then i'll be trying out the nets i've tied this summer!