artic 595 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 I was woken by the rain thumping at the bedroom windows. I woke up still dazed, rubbing my eyes. I looked at the time 03:45, three more hours and I'll be up. Ferreting is on the agenda. 07:00 the alarm clanged. I raise from the bed and peer out of the window. At least the heavy rain has stopped. Clothes on, I walk down the stairs and see that my cats were busy hunting out in the rain and leave me a rat by the back door. Chickens released from their coops ready to start their busy short days feeding and hopefully laying a few eggs. Jo arrives, a quick cup of tea. We load the 4x4 with 3 jills, nets, locators, spade, and two lurchers. Off we head to our destination where we will be spending the next few hours hoping for some action. As we arrive the first thing that I see is the amount of cover. This was going to be tricky for the dogs to get any decent runs. I know there is alot of rabbits here, as I lamped it a few nights ago with the dogs. So we drive along picking and choosing our warrens. The first warren is netted and the dogs at the ready. Jo is really good at getting right in there to those awkward holes. Ferret enters and within minutes the first rabbit bolts and escapes the net, the dog is sent on, but does not manage to get to it in time. The next warren and two bolt from here, both dogs taking a rabbit each and missing, one dog bowls himself over and looses the rabbit. Another set and two more bolt and hit the nets and quickly dispatched. Some of the warrens are littered with old cables and metal misplaced by the MOD, this makes it even harder for netting and for the dogs. The next set, produced two more, but only one caught by one the dogs. The clouds were gathereing so we quickly move on, no digging so far!! The final set looked well used, we netted this and the heavens opened up. No rabbits were at home here. It always amazes me when these warrens look like someone's home, but nothing comes out. The joy of ferreting Like I have mentioned there was much cover so we were limited to where we could get to. All in all a nice few hours, no digging was needed. Everyone worked hard to get a few in the bag. The dogs were rubbed down de-thorn and took their place in front of the fire. Jo waving something about in his hand... This is just some of the obsticles the dogs had to put up with. Getting stuck in.. Another warren Scarface the ferret Nice flat cap! Drying off. 3 Quote Link to post
mattydski 560 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Great read, and sum nice photos Quote Link to post
pikeypaul 11 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 hi, mate we had a hard day today same sort of cover as in your photos, we managed 16 so it was worth it.Just nice to be out. Quote Link to post
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 D.B.Plodder nice write up again fella.I expect to see a write up in the deer management section next Quote Link to post
artic 595 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 D.B.Plodder nice write up again fella.I expect to see a write up in the deer management section next Plodder! Cheers, soon Johnny sonn... Quote Link to post
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Good pseudonym when you start your literary career Quote Link to post
The one 8,511 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Nice read and picts mate you weren't joking about the junk or cover . Quote Link to post
mexlad 189 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 another good read mate, had a similar situation today on new permission but it was still enjoyable.need a few frosts, but it gets you out of the house lol. atb mexlad Quote Link to post
joe_l 1 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Nice photos artic, the guy doing all the bending over in the photos has buns of steel, oh hang on a second, that's me! 'Hard going' about sums it up, but we didn't come home empty handed, the dogs and ferrets are still in one piece, plus there was no digging, a good day by my standards. Attached is a photo from my phone of a dog that's very determined to make sure the rabbit doesn't escape the net. Quote Link to post
artic 595 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Nice photos artic, the guy doing all the bending over in the photos has buns of steel, oh hang on a second, that's me! 'Hard going' about sums it up, but we didn't come home empty handed, the dogs and ferrets are still in one piece, plus there was no digging, a good day by my standards. Attached is a photo from my phone of a dog that's very determined to make sure the rabbit doesn't escape the net. nothing escapes him! Quote Link to post
artic 595 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Good pseudonym when you start your literary career Bet you and Meg are having a right laugh! Quote Link to post
artic 595 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 another good read mate, had a similar situation today on new permission but it was still enjoyable.need a few frosts, but it gets you out of the house lol. atb mexlad Thank you The one, these rabbits are burrowing under buildings in between metal and all sorts. Mexlad cheers, yes that's what we need, and being out is what counts and not the numbers! Quote Link to post
bouncer 51 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 get a dog that marks, and you won't be netting empty burrows up. Quote Link to post
artic 595 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 get a dog that marks, and you won't be netting empty burrows up. I value your opinion, and to be fair to my dogs they are quite obviously not ferreting dogs,and they mark well most of the time, like most ferreting dogs, however they will try their ut most to get a few in the bag whilst feretting. Quote Link to post
Dan Edwards 1,134 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 The dryin off picture is very cool. Nice write up even for a long winded b*****d such as yourself. Quote Link to post
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