ferret killing in

[jf1970 328]

i have 2 hob brothers that are in their 2nd season now, the problem is the smaller of the 2 seems to be killing in alot more this season, i have had him out 6 times and had to dig to him 4 times, i know that digging for your ferrets is to be expected sometimes and i don't mind it, but it's getting that i have to dig to him every time i'm out now, does anyone else have this problem? if so did you just get on with it or get rid,cheers......john

[doddsy1970 9]

i wouldnt get rid of him ...... If he works well id live with it.

[theferreter 311]

thats the joys of using hobs for ferreting the spade will come out far more

[foyrious 13]

i think you might need to change your ferreting tactics if you have to dig every time.. obviously we all somtimes get one in a stopend, but i never dig, i just wait until the feret gives up and comes back.. mak sure the ferrets fed, just not too full, set your nets after youve approached QUIETLY.. dont talk, then walk away for ten mins, and if you can, net up another warren.. then, go back and enter the ferret and if youve been quiet enough and dont smellmof aftershave or deoderant etc, you should increase the chances of most bunnys bolting. If the ferret is down a while, and you want to move on.. try either banging a bunny at the hole to attract it, or if youve not caught yet,rattle a stick inside the hole, then when fitch arives, have some meat to attract him out.. hope this helps a bit, but NO, DO NOT GET RID OF A GOOD FERRET, JUST ENCOURAGE YOUR METHODS... A FERRET THAT IS ALWAYS DUG TO, WILL LEARN TO STAY.. DEPENDS WHAT YOU WANT.

[johnrthrfrd 223]

hobs kill more than jills and at this time of year a lot of young still about.

atb john.

[The one 8,483]

Whats the problem ferrets in rabbits don't bolt out comes the spade you still get your rabbit ,the burrows are empty your happy the farmers happy . Sometimes rabbits just wont bolt no matter how quiet you are weather they have seen a ferret before ?, its the weather ? .you have just got to accept the spade is now another must have ferreting accessory along with the locator

[theferreter 311]

Whats the problem ferrets in rabbits don't bolt out comes the spade you still get your rabbit ,the burrows are empty your happy the farmers happy . Sometimes rabbits just wont bolt no matter how quiet you are weather they have seen a ferret before ?, its the weather ? .you have just got to accept the spade is now another must have ferreting accessory along with the locator

100% fella

[foyrious 13]

Whats the problem ferrets in rabbits don't bolt out comes the spade you still get your rabbit ,the burrows are empty your happy the farmers happy . Sometimes rabbits just wont bolt no matter how quiet you are weather they have seen a ferret before ?, its the weather ? .you have just got to accept the spade is now another must have ferreting accessory along with the locator

I can aggree with alot of that, but what will you do after a year of digging to your ferrets and you the hit some heavy roots? is a stihlsaw a musthave? i was taught by some old boys, and if you are filling a pot, i'd sooner have a ferret return and leave a dead bunny, than dig through roots.. it takes more energy doing that than the bunny would give you. When bunnys are abundent, get the ferrets back, move on and bolt some more to the nets.. locators havent even been around long. Everyone does it different, but i dont enjoy digging as a hobby... if anyone does, then please come and dig my garden for me, and i'll pay you 4 bunnys (a days worth if you dig to em all)

[nighteyes 275]

Everyone does it different, but i dont enjoy digging as a hobby... if anyone does, then please come and dig my garden for me, and i'll pay you 4 bunnys (a days worth if you dig to em all) diggings part of ferreting if your not willing to dig to the ferrets then dont enter them imo we would all love them to bolt every time

[theferreter 311]

it would be far to easy if they were all clean bolts diggings all part of it i dont mind digging cause i no im getting the reward at the end of it

[the ratcatcher 1]

Whats the problem ferrets in rabbits don't bolt out comes the spade you still get your rabbit ,the burrows are empty your happy the farmers happy . Sometimes rabbits just wont bolt no matter how quiet you are weather they have seen a ferret before ?, its the weather ? .you have just got to accept the spade is now another must have ferreting accessory along with the locator

 

 

the spade as always been a ferreting accessory and i always have at least 1 in my car when i go out but i havent had to dig to a ferret now for over 25 years and i also think the weather as a lot to do with it i was out week before last i didnt use my ferrets i used someone else's and i thought i was gonna have to dig but i just sat it out waiting till the ferret came out with the rabbit lol

[robbo 832]

locators havent been around long ive been using em for twenty odd years. iwould never leave a dead rabbit just because it was abit awkward to dig out you cant expect to bolt every rabbit mate it just isnt going to happen.

[albert64 1,882]

Whats the problem ferrets in rabbits don't bolt out comes the spade you still get your rabbit ,the burrows are empty your happy the farmers happy . Sometimes rabbits just wont bolt no matter how quiet you are weather they have seen a ferret before ?, its the weather ? .you have just got to accept the spade is now another must have ferreting accessory along with the locator

 

 

the spade as always been a ferreting accessory and i always have at least 1 in my car when i go out but i havent had to dig to a ferret now for over 25 years and i also think the weather as a lot to do with it i was out week before last i didnt use my ferrets i used someone else's and i thought i was gonna have to dig but i just sat it out waiting till the ferret came out with the rabbit lol

 

you want to get them spades on the antiques roadshow they'll be worth a few quid especially as they havent been used

i really cant believe in 25yrs of ferreting you've never had to dig or does someone else dig for you

you want to start digging mate 3 or 4 in a stop end is a bonus

[comanche 3,038]

Just about everything everybody has said makes sense . No point in me adding to it except to say;

You have a sharp ferret and one that stays with the kill . Maybe you might not find yourself using him as much as your "softer" ferret but he will definatly come in handy from time to time .

Thirty or more years ago he would have been a gem for line-work and with a locator on him might fit a similar role today .

All the best .

[stealthy1 3,964]

Try sticking the non killing ferret in first, then send in the killer hob to finish off, less for him to kill once a few have bolted, I dont mind ferrets that kill under, it shows they are giving it their all