First day of the season

[mike1458 14]

Hey guys. Thank god its September. Been having itchy feet for the last few weeks. Decided that last week, I would start my ferreting off for the year. So on Sunday, me and my friend, Dave headed over to some local permission. Only problem with this permission is it is a wooded area on a very steep muddy bank. But to be honest, when we got there it was looking quite tame to what I remember it being last season. Any way, with the young lurcher, called magic and my friends staffy called Holly. (Dont worry, she is not a chavvy dog. She is in fact a very steady dog).

 

Any way after the dogs marking the first set, we laid the nets and let it settle for 5-10mins. We then dropped the ferret and within seconds the first rabbit bolted, with ferret still attached. It some how rolled out of the net, lost the ferret off its back and managed to get out of magics mouth too. This was one very lucky rabbit. The ferret went back down and after a few minutes another rabbit bolted. This one did not escape and stayed in the net. After a quick dispatch we carried on. After waiting few more minutes, the ferret showed to me that the warren was clear. So we picked up and moved onto the next set.

 

After another positive mark from the dogs, we netted up and waited to let it settle. We then dropped 2 ferrets due to the larger size of the warren. After about a 10 minute wait we had out first bolt. Slipt the net again, which I must add, was laid by Dave and not me. The rabbit did not run, yet decided to sit there on the hedge line about 2foot from the hole. Magic went over to have a look, jumped over the rabbit and stuck her head down the hole. With this jump the rabbit then ran and was off into the thick scrub. And way that was the end of the that warren.

 

Moving on to the last warren of the day, which was of a larger size again, we netted up, walked back to the car to have our lunch. Half hour later, walked back to the warren and put both ferrets down. Straight away we had a bolt. Unfortunatly it was a baby. After the baby running into my hands, I walked a fair distance from the warren and let the little one guy. I will have him another time. Went back to the warren and to cut a long story short another 2 rabbits in the nets which were laid by me.

 

Both Magic and Holly did well. Seeing as this was both their first time ferreting properly. Magic is 18 months and only just caught the end of last season. She is showing good signs. Just hope all the training and work pays off and she does well.

 

ATB Mike

[lamping rabbit 11]

im of out sunday i carnt wait woop woop,

 

well done pal.

[The one 8,503]

Nice one mate been out a few times but you have to pick you ferreting just now due to the bloody cover