Out today

[Ron Weasley 83]

Got out on that lake I mentioned today, working my ferrets for my mate and his mate to shoot the bolters. I clearly set the rules, and the chaps were safe as houses with their guns

 

Got to work around the lake- netting would've been impossible, as all the holes were under dense gorse and bramble bushes. We got off to a promising start when my hob bolted a rabbit withing a minute. However it just hopped to the next burrow and disappeared.

 

We ended up working a burrow at a time, just shunting the rabbits from one to the next. Ended up with 2 from there. Absolutely no doubt that we'd've ended up with a lot more from the lake if it was possible to net all the holes, but it just wasnt an option, sadly.

 

We then moved into the corner of a field, and managed to set some nets. After about a 20 minute wait, had a sweep round with the detector, and got a mark 3 feet down, a metre from the edge of the main road! Easy digging, luckily, and we pulled out two rabbits.

 

Next we moved over to a hedgerow that is riddled with burrows, and bolted a few more over about a 45 minute period. The guys shot two, others weren't safe. Couldn't get a mark on my jill, but she appeared with claws full of fur so she'd definitely had an encounter!

 

We moved over to another field in the village, worked a horse field, bolted two in as many minutes- one manages to get out of the net. Next one was netted well, but both were myxy.

 

After that it was a few little burrows under some big trees, and some more in a wood. It was pretty much one bolt from every burrow, and all were shot well. Except one which went back underground, but I later pulled one from the hole that it went down after my hob had killed underground again.

 

We managed 14 all day, including the one myxy, which we buried, so we ended up with 13.

 

Didn't get any action shots, sadly, but photo of the bag and ferrets below. (not too great as it was dark, my torch was dying, and my camera isn't too good!)

 

Edited November 16, 2006 by Ron Weasley

[Born Hunter 17,832]

well done mate

 

im going out this saturday with a mate who i go beating with ferreting to net and gun for the keeper.

 

fingers crossed

[Ron Weasley 83]

Thanks mate. It's definitely exciting stuff shooting the bolters! Obviously safety has to always come first, but it is good fun if you're careful- even if it's not quite as effective as netting!

 

Let us know how you get on!

[COMPO 54]

was ferreting with the longnet yesterday, my lad is asking to go shooting and ferreting this weekend....so may do both or may combine and shoot a few bolters...glad it worked out for you and the guns were trustworthy, round the lake if they are bolting bush to bush, could you not use a longnet/stop net?

[beagles 0]

[Yokel Matt 918]

[Guest craftycarper]

nice one mate , i wouldn't have buried the mixy one though , nowt wrong with feeding it to the ferts once back home. Once it's been dead for a while all the fleas would have fled it's coat anyway

[Born Hunter 17,832]

Thanks mate. It's definitely exciting stuff shooting the bolters! Obviously safety has to always come first, but it is good fun if you're careful- even if it's not quite as effective as netting!

 

Let us know how you get on!

 

got a text this afternoon off of the lad who i am going with:

 

"cant go ferretin mate, ive broke my toe" :11: :11:

 

so ill have to let you know how we get on when his toe has healed

[Ron Weasley 83]

was ferreting with the longnet yesterday, my lad is asking to go shooting and ferreting this weekend....so may do both or may combine and shoot a few bolters...glad it worked out for you and the guns were trustworthy, round the lake if they are bolting bush to bush, could you not use a longnet/stop net?

 

Yes COMPO, a longnet would have been completely ideal for that situation. Sadly, I haven't got one! There's one on the shopping list though, as it were!

 

Cheers everyone.