Another day out

[John-B 4]

Decided on another day out today with Andy up on the permissions as no messers are allowed, I took my 2 ferrets, a black eyed white Jill called SKY and a 7 year old polecat Jill called sandy, Andy took 2 of his jells and a big hob, we decided last night that no "Dragging ferrets" would be required and if there was any kills underground they would be dug to ( a decision that Andy would regret later )

 

Left my house just after 7am and up to the permissions for about 0820 to be greeted with wind and rain, This is new permission and there's a lot of it so don't really know where to start and a good mooch is usually required to find the sets, had a walk about and looked at quite a few sets that at the moment we don't think are possible to work or are too dangerous to work, walked down the field and found a likely looking pair of sets (which we soon found out were all one set) so Andy run the quickset round and I netted up some likely holes on the outside, first of all 2 jells went down and nothing happened, ferrets were down a while and we thought they were getting the run-around so all 5 ferrets were entered and things started to happen, a couple escaped through what we thought was another set then bang one in the purse net, another couple escaped through the other side of the fence then one hit the long net, ferrets were still getting the run around and the rabbits were coming out of the holes casually, having a look about then strolling down another hole Grrrrr, after a short while another hit the longnet then it all went quiet with all ferrets but my black eyed white now safely in their boxes, we waited and then the locator box come out, got a mark at around 6 foot, yes she was there and was moving backwards and forwards so there was still someone at home, now this ferret has a nasty habit of not leaving a set until it's empty and if it's her against a rabbit she usually wins, probably about 10 minutes later her job was done and the final rabbit bolted into the quickset and the ferret showed herself, so we got 4 out of that set and lost no less than 5 through what we thought was another set

 

Packed up and moved onto another likely looking set in another field which we would of put a considerable amount of money on containing a few rabbits, quickset run round and purse nets on the outside, ferrets went down and nothing happened, nobody home, probably due to the stoat we saw running up the hill away from the set 10 minutes earlier.

 

Moved on to another field where the rabbits have caused a lot of damage, the ground was quite wet but we give it a go anyway. 1 rabbit bolted and almost smashed the longnet but its days were numbered and it was added to my rucksack with the others now totalling 5.

 

Andy had a gut feeling on a set about 30 yards away so while I retrieved the gear from the previous set he netted up his gut instinct. After a brew and a sandwich ferrets were entered, my black eyed white and one of Andy's jills, 1 minute later bang, one flew into a purse net then it all went quiet again. Andy's ferret was out and still no sign of mine, locator come out and got a mark on 3 foot. left her a while and she wasn't moving, I heard a lot of squealing coming from the hole and it went quiet so with no messing Andy was quick on the spade and I could see deep down that he wished we brought the dragging ferrets with us, Luckily the ground on this permission is almost sand so took probably just over 1 minute to get down and break through to the stop end where my ferret was doing a grand job of giving a rabbit a facelift. Both ferret and rabbit were removed and we packed up to go have a look somewhere else.

 

Took a walk up the top of one of the fields where there is a bit of woodland to get some shelter from the driving wind and rain, a quick mooch through the woods but no signs of any sets so we decided to walk along next to the van to do a number of sets in the field next to the van but the wind and rain had really set in so we called it a day early and finished off with 7 rabbits.

 

Overall really pleased and the quality of the rabbits on this piece of land this year as they are all really big strong healthy rabbits with a lot of meat on them.

 

Still a lot to discover on this estate and a good couple of hundred acres to mooch around and find where the rabbits are living during the day as when we go up on a night there is just fields of red eyes everywhere, and pleased and put my spade to good use with a nice dig through the lush sandy earth.

 

Some of the pictures will hopefully show the level of damage caused by the rabbits after the estate owner spent a lot of money on rabbit netting so understandable he wants rid of them, also look out for the photos of what is now known as "THE BIG SET" we haven't been over to it yet but quite soon we should have a plan in place

 

Here's a selection of my photo's and Andy took some aswell so we should see those later

 

 

 

And finally bring on the summer so i can get out for a few more of these aswell

 

Edited November 23, 2009 by John-B

[trapper123 7]

there doing a lot of damage there mate,that looks a big set good luck keep us posted

[The one 8,481]

Looks good ground covered in burrows?

[ace32 4]

plenty to go at up there,you could of done with the 12 bore today, ,will have to thin them down with the rimmy,cant wait for the weekend now,with you two out giving it some,and me stuck at bliddy work,at least you tried,will know the sets better next time,good write,just need andy,s bit now with a few pics,cheers,ian

[John-B 4]

plenty to go at up there,you could of done with the 12 bore today, ,will have to thin them down with the rimmy,cant wait for the weekend now,with you two out giving it some,and me stuck at bliddy work,at least you tried,will know the sets better next time,good write,just need andy,s bit now with a few pics,cheers,ian

 

 

Think we could get a load with the shotgun mate but to be honest my days of bolting bunnies to guns have long gone, much prefer to do what we can in the winter with ferrets and nets then have a good go with the air rifle in the summer and early autumn.

 

Did you have a good day at work?

[andy s410c 61]

It was slightly inclement today John .Tough slog but nice to be out tho...i will be putting in a claim for back injury due to EXTREME digging this season(twice) .I think Brimmer will need smelling salts to come round after seeing me blading again

 

 

 

[John-B 4]

It was slightly inclement today John .Tough slog but nice to be out tho...i will be putting in a claim for back injury due to EXTREME digging this season(twice) .I think Brimmer will need smelling salts to come round after seeing me blading again

 

 

You're in for a EXTREME shock next time fella, we're going reet up to the top of that woodland to see what's about, no MESSING and I'm not carrying the rabbits again, will just take the DRAGGING FERRETS and they can get them back to the van themselves

 

You are a good digger though, i'm going to take my bucket and spade the next time to build sandcastles

[Brimmer 220]

It was slightly inclement today John .Tough slog but nice to be out tho...i will be putting in a claim for back injury due to EXTREME digging this season(twice) .I think Brimmer will need smelling salts to come round after seeing me blading again

 

 

You're in for a EXTREME shock next time fella, we're going reet up to the top of that woodland to see what's about, no MESSING and I'm not carrying the rabbits again, will just take the DRAGGING FERRETS and they can get them back to the van themselves

 

You are a good digger though, i'm going to take my bucket and spade the next time to build sandcastles

Oh my word! Not having that, two digs in one season! You need a decent spade, the holes dig themselves then!

[theferreter 311]

well done lads some brilliant ground setts place is covered in them

[col g 0]

i'm going to take my bucket and spade the next time to build sandcastles

 

i nearly choked on my fecking cuppa there.

well done lads,a few in the bag .the rabbits have a chance to be going about in rowing boats with all the rain weve had.i still say you need to take my dog with you to mop up some of those runners,hes getting a bit bored with chasing the wildlife on the telly now

[johnny boy68 11,726]

That place looks like a tea bag...good luck next time

[John-B 4]

That place looks like a tea bag...good luck next time

 

Bit of a understatement mate, most places it's dangerous to even walk over the sets as they are like quicksand

[stealthy1 3,964]

Good work lads, did someone have a digging lesson from Brimmer at some time

[MR TEA POT 1,287]

Looks like you lads are going to be busy for a while .

Keep it up lads,good pics as well

[Marksman 934]

Good going lads....

 

Looks similar land to what me and wor kid have got over Tynedale way

 

We've got a horse field to clear this weekend as according to the landowner the horses are starting to lame and in his words "the field moves" so we cant wait to get up there. Hopefully posting a good report when we get back!

 

Darryl