My start to a ferreting life

[Thomaswright 0]

Hiya guys,

 

this is not a question, i just thought i'd tell you about my start to ferreting!

 

well i got 2 hob ferrets in the summer, god knows why, cause i was scared of them when i got them but i got them anyway! i got given a hutch was wasnt big enough for 2 so i build another bottom section in the summer holidays when i was off school, i was immesnly proud cause im a big puff when it comes to stuff like that! cause we all know thats Dad's job!

 

So i got my 2 named them Buddy and Twix! and jut started to get confident with them and handled them a lot and never got bit! still havn't been bit! so kept them and kept handling them and eventually we became attached and they were getting fat so i just thought i'd keep them as pets as everyone said hobs are shite and kill underground and i didnt have money for locator!

 

well, the guy i bought the ferrets off, offered me to come with him 4 weeks ago, on a sunday, i was abit apprehensive but i manned it anyway! we started at 11:00 for some reason and got 2 well, i say we, but i put a net out and thats about it! oh yeah and i jumped on a rabbit and gave it to someone quick time as i didnt know what to do with the thing! before i went i wondered why people do it for sport, but i could see why after that cause it really fun and adreline hits you hard!

 

well after this day i just had to start working mine! so i began to train them to come to me when i tap and all that stuff! and i got a good deal on a locator for £60 quid, but i was colarless for a while and i have no job, so i was buggared, however Pap jumped in and saved they day and bought me a new collar for a christmas pressie! so that weekend i did my first hole....

 

well it wasnt an easier starter hole, but dad was addiment to do it! so i netted up and got some killer stings and splinters! but 7 bolted from the first warren! i nearly wet myself! i was expecting nothing and just to dig for this ferret! but we netted 5 out of the seven! and then i attempted to gut them with dads guidance, and failed miserably, so nowa days when anyone ask do you know who to gut them? i just say no show me! works a treat

 

i put the ferret (twix) down the next warren and had to wait a while for just one rabbit and then he was just farting arround down the hole for like 40 mins, so i gave the other ferret ago, he was amazing cleared the warren, didnt kill came up when i called him and was only down for about 4 mins!

 

so nextweekend i used the second ferret again and he was amazing, faultless! we got 6 for the whole day mega pleased! sold them for £2.50 each unskinned! mega money! so no they are paying for there own food!

 

then today i went on my own for an hour only did 2 warrens, ferret worked flawlessly, bolted one but missed him in a bolt hole! but i dont care i felt like a proper ferreter with doing it on my own not really trying!

 

Sorry if i have bored you! but i felt like i wnted to talk about it and share my experience!

 

Feww questions now...

 

is it bad that i dont work my other ferret now that this one is unbeatable cause i dont want to take the collar off him when he works that well!?

 

any idea's on how to stop there water freezing over? i have to refill there water cause it freezes over every 2 hours or so! any tips?

 

also i use hemp and nylon nets, however the hemp one are so much easier and dont get tangled! and ideas of which is best?

 

Thanks for reading and for your help! plus anyone know anyone with any hemp nets for sale? !!!

 

sorry for the awfull spelling and stuff, cba to go through it!

[matt241075 12]

hi mate

well at least your catching some,as regards to the nets id stay away from hemp!!!!!!

And before we all start about debate on hemp nets being first class,, there are i agree but there ROTT and dont last there are much better products available today.

so my advice would be to buy spun nylon or 6z plus nylon,stay away from 4z nylon nets also....

good luck

matt

[Thomaswright 0]

Cheers Matt i've been told they rot, but pissing around with tiny twigs in nylon is so irrating! glad you enjoyed the read!

[matt241075 12]

Cheers Matt i've been told they rot, but pissing around with tiny twigs in nylon is so irrating! glad you enjoyed the read!

 

spun nylon and 6z plus handle same as hemp without rotting,i had hemp years ago and learned the hard way even if you hang them up to dry they still dont last mate

good luck

matt

[DogMagic 461]

is it bad that i dont work my other ferret now that this one is unbeatable cause i dont want to take the collar off him when he works that well!? Its not bad mate but it would be good to give the other one a chance to prove himself. Also having one above ground is handy if the one below ground seems to be on a kill. Put another down and very often they will come out together 5 minutes later.

 

any idea's on how to stop there water freezing over? i have to refill there water cause it freezes over every 2 hours or so! any tips? If youve got a shed put the cage inside it. Also have lots of water bottles so you can take one frozen one of and replace it with an unfrozen one. Give them the water not hot but warm, it will take that little bit longer to freeze.

 

also i use hemp and nylon nets, however the hemp one are so much easier and dont get tangled! and ideas of which is best? I like hemp nets but my main nets are 10z nylon.

 

Thanks for reading and for your help! plus anyone know anyone with any hemp nets for sale? !!! Look on ebay.

 

 

sorry for the awfull spelling and stuff, cba to go through it! Its a lot better than a lot of members on here! Lol!

[fensaluki 35]

Good on yer fella..Good read.

Keep trying your other ferret mate I'm sure he'll come good just a bit behind the other thats all it often happens.

Hemp nets are great nets to work with but as matt241075 quiet rightly says they are not built to last and 6oz+ spun nylon nets are just as good.in my honest opinion they are even better.

Good to see that your in it for the right reasons....Well done

 

ATB

[Aaron_butcher 17]

well done mate

Hemp will last forever if you look after it, if it gets wet just dry it and they'll be fine.

I put a few socks over my water bottles and that stops them freezzeing.

I'd take your other ferret and let it do the smaller earths, or put it into earths you have watched rabbits go into, he will soon pick it up. Or get another collar and work them together so they learn off each other.

Glad you enojoyed it

Also with regards to nets, spun poly nets are good, they dont rot and dont tangle anywhere near as much as nylon. plus you can get all sorts of bright colours so as not to lose them.

Aaron.

[bandit man 9]

give longnetter a shout mate he will sort you out with some 10z nylon ones for a pound each plus postage and they are spot on,and dont give up on the other ferret they are still young,all my ferrets performed better in their second season, even though i still have my favourite workers who will be first out of the box and start getting your hands in them guts :sick: yer cant rely on yer old man all the time

[darrell jnr 16]

hi young un,you sound well happy an i dont blame ya pal,good on ya for sticking to it..and i,d give the other ferret his chance too mate...hemp nets are good but remember to hang them up when not in use else they could rot after getting wet eh...other than that crack on as experiance comes with practise kidda.... all the best mate and remember anything your not sure of then ask as am sure we,ll all be willing to help if we can..yis..darrell.

[Sorley x 32]

Great post fella, wish there were more posts of this quality.

 

Get yourself some spun poly or spun nylon nets, 4ft with good quality pegs on them. Avoid 4x or 6z nylon, you'll only end up leaving them behind when you get some better nets.

 

A couple of thick socks over the water bottle will help, get a spare bottle and keep it indoors so you swap em and let one defrost whilst the other is out with the hobs

 

Dont worry about only working one hob, when you have saved enough for a second collar then let him work. Some places you will need two ferrets, else the bunnies just give a single ferret the run around.

[mullered 1]

i have had my hemp nets for over 20 years and it all depends if you look after then, i was given mine by my dad and all i do is hang erm up after ive been out or dry erm off if its been wet. atb

[The one 8,482]

Sounds like you had fun mate and you will gain experance every time your out enjoy yourself

[stones 23]

Cheers Matt i've been told they rot, but pissing around with tiny twigs in nylon is so irrating! glad you enjoyed the read!

 

spun nylon and 6z plus handle same as hemp without rotting,i had hemp years ago and learned the hard way even if you hang them up to dry they still dont last mate

good luck

matt

Quick tip for hemp nets mate,come the end of the season soak them over night in some old engine oil then hang them up somewhere to dry, do this the end of every season and they'll last forever ATB