Have you ever lost ferrets when ferreting?

[highlander 0]

I lost my best ever ferret five years ago she even had a locator on but we just could not find her i left the box set cade traps to no avail. It was big sand holes we were ferreting and i think one of the tunnels may have collapsed on her but we will never know. We went back every day for a week but never got a thing. In this game these things happen its all part of the sport. I know people that have even lost terriers to ground.

[hairybull 3]

I've never used a locator and never lost a ferret- when you find a warren have a look how big is it, how often is it being used and by what animal, if its not being used a lot big chance there are holes secretly hiding further out under grass (even when it is used alot) If you can't see a big percentage of holes from one spot or the area behind them take somebody with you next time to stand on the other side- if its huge start early on in the day and if the ferrets arent' out in 30-40 minutes BE PATIENT! they will more than likely be there and come out shortly. Like Stevesel said just be aware of your surroundings and take time to know what areas will give you the most problems and try to work a way around this.

[clayflint 31]

this was meant to be my first season ferreting but after buying a mk1 collar and locator on ebay and discovering they didnt work i pu tany ideas of ferreting out of my mind for fear of losing the ferts, but after speaking to a bloke in my local i finaly decided to bight the bullet and get out there, well ive been 3 times in the last week and not lost a ferret yet. As it was thefirst time out i decided to try small warrens with 2/3 holes, but reading posts on here they may have justbeen play holes, finally tried a larger warren, ferrets were gone over 45 mins and im notashamed to admitit iwas bricking it thinking theyd laid up but patience paid off a rabbit bolted and the ferts showed soon after. So far no collar no lost ferret but i wont be doing anymore this year as i had a baby yesterday the ferret got it right at an exit so i was able toget them both out(checked the young rabbit for damage and released it for next year). This year im getting a hob, ill continue working my jills wthout collars and if i have a lay up ill collar the hob and hopefully hell move the jill on andi can dig to him. sorry for going on just my first post. adam

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Adam; 'Go on' all ye like, mate. That's what we're here for

 

Why set ye mind to digging to that Hob? In my experiance, as long as he's had some breakfast, a Hob will not just push out the rabbit that might be resisting a Jill. He'll also sweep the rest of the bury and shift much else down there.

 

I always worked my Hob alongside the Jills. Anything they couldn't shift? He would! And Lay Up? No. Knew him come up and go round another way to shift a particularly sticky bun. But a fed ferret, I found, will seldom stick around when there's more fun to be had.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Why do some ferreters see digging as being the inevitable option? I used Deben Mk I FF's from they day they were first released, and a 'radio ferret' before that but I have to say it was always a last resort. Prime rabbits freely bolting into purse nets is part nature part engineering. Your ferrets, when properly fed and fit for work will follow their musteline habits of exploring any dark hole to find whatever is in there, rabbits will try to escape as best they can to avoid the inevitable - that's nature. If you stomp around on top of the bury, smoking and talking then Brer rabbit wil be reluctant to bolt out to where he knows is obvious and 'worse' danger outside.

 

Approach the bury from downwind, set your nets quickly and quietly and slip your ferret in and stand back and you will reduce the need to even switch on the FF by 90%. Be patient while your little furry friend explores the labyrinth of tunnels and don't start cursing and digging away with your graft if there's no action after 5 minutes. The old time warreners used a line ferret because they had to, and digging was a last resort. Use your FF in the same way and you will see the difference immediately.

 

I have used hobs and jills loose for the same job and the only real difference I find is that a big strong hob might hold onto a rabbit underground easier than a stoat sized jill.

 

Just my opinion,

 

OTC

[Alhoy 0]

Awhile back when I used to ferret....lost My hob....6 weeks later on a christmas morning recieved a phone call from the farmer,...my hob had turned up at the farm...this farm was about 600yds from the rabbit sets I was working.....the famer said the ferret just walked in the back door...went into the down stairs toilet and made it self at home. ...the ferret was in real good condition ...despite the distance it had travelled & the rather inclement weather......needless to say I was chuffed to have the big fella back.....

[Kay 3,709]

Awhile back when I used to ferret....lost My hob....6 weeks later on a christmas morning recieved a phone call from the farmer,...my hob had turned up at the farm...this farm was about 600yds from the rabbit sets I was working.....the famer said the ferret just walked in the back door...went into the down stairs toilet and made it self at home. ...the ferret was in real good condition ...despite the distance it had travelled & the rather inclement weather......needless to say I was chuffed to have the big fella back.....

 

That was very lucky, i have heard of people getting ferrets back after weeks of looking