Things that go Bump in the Night

[Downunder_Sthn_Ferreter 16]

Hey all,

Been a while since i last posted, It's perfect timing here now for Ferreting in earnest,

with clear crisp mornings & well sized plump bunnys with thickening coats

 

Last weekend i found myself up at Maldon Victoria,

with the Ferrets & dogs.

Great afternoon nailing bunnys.

Edge of a dried up creek bed, fun when your one up and have 2 mtr side with Bunnys adopting

Villa type view for their entrances

 

After the action, Coco has a closer look at the hole where things had come from quickly.

In the foreground is Max, a fat hob, who is going very well

 

The girls hold one, Coco gives it a Love lick

 

 

But then there was the trip home...

 

Passing through Maldon once off the bush tracks, i noticed

quite a few roos about in the back blocks of the quieter parts of the residential houses.

 

Even said to myself not 3 mins before the clash ...

"Shaun you couldn't have picked a better night for finding roo's

on the road, sun had just set, air was still...growing glow in the east

from the Moon starting its rise"

 

& so i have just left the township of Castlemaine &

observed the "High incidence roo area next 2km"...

Looked at odometer, said ok...2 km's...lol

 

Well bugger me i am rounding a wide bend, and there they are 4 of them.

 

3 of them quickly take off for the edge of road, all good...

 

I've since slowed down to 70 km's or so....

You guessed it, that last one decides as it hits the rd edge, to do

a romanian gymnastic manouvere & come straight back into my

line of travel...

 

The rest how you say was captured on film....the next day in the morning.

 

 

 

 

This last pic was the closest i could get the Landcruiser

to resemble a 'sad emote'

 

Unfortunatley the roo didn't survive & will keep the resident

gosshawks, crows & foxes happy for a few days.

 

Off to the assessors i go a few days later to have them have a gaggle at it.

Was supposed to go in today for repairing, however i received a call from

the insurance comp Thursday stating they are still awaiting parts,

So for the next few days I'm driving a Landcruiser with a sad face, lol

 

P.S That tiny bit of fluff above the 'F' on number plate...is kangaroo fur

 

Cheers,

 

Shaun

[Jamie m 668]

sounds great i will have to pop down for a spot of ausie fereting next time i am over , whats it like for fleas and tick over there with it being alot warmer and all , is your dog full grey or cross cheers j

[stealthy1 3,964]

If its any comfort DSF, the deer do it to our motors at night over here

[whin 463]

got a good buddy or two over there mate , he just left scotland in october past he was over there already but has went back over ,texes me weekly , and castlmain i remeber an old song from there he .the wild colonail boy i think he came from castlemain ,,years since i heard the song mate do you no it , glad you getting a few rabbs in uk its realy breeding season just the odd nite out to appease some landowners

[whin 463]

do you get many pests apart from rabbits in the burries,surrender now jack duggan you no your 3 to 1 wild colonail boy,that song i think was popular in castlemaine area of australia ,there a lot of guys i know who left scotland etc to go to aus , loks a good land for free spirits ,and self made men

[Downunder_Sthn_Ferreter 16]

sounds great i will have to pop down for a spot of ausie fereting next time i am over , whats it like for fleas and tick over there with it being alot warmer and all , is your dog full grey or cross cheers j

 

Gday Jamie,

Had a few issues with fleas over the years here.

Have seen them thick years back on bunnies we would ferret.

Have also had times of fleas on dogs, we have had flea plague(s)over the years also.

But in the last 10 plus years its been very good with no problems at all from fleas or ticks, for me anyway.

Used to have a lot more soil in garden/ yard area back then, this has since been paved or concreted in most parts.

This has definately dropped their activity.

The larger dog is a pure bred Whippet, actually she was bred around 70km's away from where the pics were taken, almost her home patch you could say.

She's no killer, but she does play a very handy role in pinning bunnys, fantastic when one up, as i often am.

 

Hey Whin,

 

Lol @ The Wild Colonial Boy"

Pest wise i have yet to have any problems whatsoever from snakes, rats, wild cats etc...has been good for me over the years.

 

Looking at aquiring another jill or two shortly.

Those sandy warren regions of the Maldon/ Newstead area really work those work short little legs out.

I am amazed at the length of what looks like a 6 or 8 hole bury,

To have a ferret pop its head up 100 yds away in a small 4 hole bury that obviously

had Steve Mc Queen & Bronson co design it (Great Escape), all those years back when the bunnies were really thick up that way in the 1950's.

 

I'll get some more pics of this very special place, its nice as its not too steep, which is always a nice bonus.

The downside i guess is trying to place a net up against an outward facing 4 foot wide granite boulder...

 

May have to include some velcro adhesive dots for the spiderman sets...

The numbers are way down from my two trips in a fortnight in comparison to 15 years ago.

Recent baiting programs look to have been pretty hard hitting on the bunnys up there.

Its also worth noting that i have bolted far more male bunnies than females.

Often in ones & two for the most part.

Lot different from years back when it would be an easy 8 or so on a 10/12 hole bury, there the mornings to remember.

That sandy soil just makes my heart flutter as it resonates those thumps underground so loud, compared to dirt.

The dogs have near heart attacks, and often false rush for the first few sets before settling in, lol.

 

Still i cant wait to get back out there again soon.

 

 

PS, Stealth,

 

Still havent heard from insurance mob as yet....anyway can't complain, as they have looked after me before.

 

Cheers,

 

Shaun

[whin 463]

good shaun you no the song ,surrender jack duggan ahah, the rabbits are breedingg like hell over in the uk gos some good rabbit land just need to let them replentish had some good days , for the holes thta you need to drape the nets over use peices of smooth wire or bits of twigs , thtas what e use on river bankings etc aka wild colonail boy,

[judge2010 196]

forget the fleas and ticks what about the snakes?

[trisha 1]

do you get many pests apart from rabbits in the burries,surrender now jack duggan you no your 3 to 1 wild colonail boy,that song i think was popular in castlemaine area of australia ,there a lot of guys i know who left scotland etc to go to aus , loks a good land for free spirits ,and self made men

whin lol thats a cracking old song, always reminds me of sitting at home on a sunday morning waiting for the cook dinner to be done with the old man watching THE QUIET MAN great film.

heres one version,

There was a wild colonial boy,

Jack Duggan was his name,

Of poor but honest parents

he was born in Castlemaine.

He was his father's only hope,

his mother's pride and joy,

And dearly did his parents love

the wild colonial boy. Chorus

 

Then, come all me hearties,

we'll range the mountain side;

Together we will plunder,

together we will ride.

We'll scour along the valleys

and gallop o'er the plains,

We scorn to live in slavery

bowed down with iron chains.

 

In 'sixty-one this daring youth

commenced his wild career;

With a heart that knew now danger,

no foeman did he fear;

He stuck up the Beechworth mailcoach

and robbed Judge MacEvoy

Who trembled and gave up his gold

to the wild colonial boy.

 

He bade the judge good morning,

and told him to beware,

That he'd never rob a hearty chap

who acted on the square;

And never to rob a mother of

her son and only joy,

Or else you may turn outlaw like

the wild colonial boy.

 

One day as he was riding

the mountain side along,

A-listening to the little birds

their pleasant laughing song.

Three mounted troopers came in view,

Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy,

They thought that they would capture him,

the wild colonial boy.

 

"Surrender now, Jack Duggan,

you see there's three to one,

Surrender now, Jack Duggan,

you daring highwayman!"

Jack drew a pistol from his belt

and spun it like a toy, "

I'll fight but I won't surrender," said

the wild colonial boy.

 

He fired at trooper Kelly

and brought him to the ground,

And in return from Davis

received a mortal wound.

All shattered through the jaws

he lay still firing at Fitzroy,

And that's the way they captured him,

the wild colonial boy.

 

HERES ANOTHER ONE

The Wild Colonial Boy.....The Ballad of Jack Duggan

There was a wild colonial boy

Jack DUGGAN was his name

He was born and reared in Ireland

In the town of Castlemaine;

He was his father's only son,

His mother's pride and joy

And dearly did his parents love

The Wild Colonial Boy.

 

At the early age of sixteen years

He left his native home

And to Australia's sunny shores

He was inclined to roam.

He robbed the rich to help the poor,

He shot James McEvoy,

A terror to Australia was

The Wild Colonial Boy.

 

One morning on the prairie

As Jack he rode along

Listening to the mocking bird

Singing his cheerful song

Out jumped three troopers Brave and bold,

Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy,

They all set out to capture him

The Wild Colonial Boy.

haha