Digging or ferreting?

[Ideation 8,216]

So it seems some people dig A LOT of holes when they go out. Realistically how much digging do you do over a season? We've had ONE so far. . . . and maybe 2 more times when we have had a kill but it wasn't somewhere that could be dug to. We are not super quiet, my partner smokes and the rabbits have often been chased by dogs, and the holes are marked by the dogs having a good sniff. Yes the rabbits are sometimes VERY hard to bolt, but bolt they do eventually, even if it is eyeless. So what gives with all the digging? Not knocking it just wondered how come everyone else seems to be doing it several times everytime . . . . .

[terrierjohn 49]

i've not had to dig my ferrets at all this season

but one of my matees who does some of the same ground has had to dig his more than a few times already this season

[KittleRox 2,147]

So it seems some people dig A LOT of holes when they go out. Realistically how much digging do you do over a season? We've had ONE so far. . . . and maybe 2 more times when we have had a kill but it wasn't somewhere that could be dug to. We are not super quiet, my partner smokes and the rabbits have often been chased by dogs, and the holes are marked by the dogs having a good sniff. Yes the rabbits are sometimes VERY hard to bolt, but bolt they do eventually, even if it is eyeless. So what gives with all the digging? Not knocking it just wondered how come everyone else seems to be doing it several times everytime . . . . .

don,t use locators,never used a spade,been ferreting for over 20 yrs,have had to wait a few hours sometimes though,maybe I,ve just been lucky,

[stevethefish 80]

A lot depends on the area, open areas are notorious for rabbits not bolting they like to find some cover when legging it.

[kevin from bristol 95]

i think some people dig to soon ,i myself had only two in the whole of last season i prefer to wait it out ,some rabbits will pooch in and can take a while to turn best to let them get on with it , ive been out in the past with people that dig if there not up in half hour i allways say you never know how big the bury is ,but then i dont use locators just bell and calls allways worked for me

[robbo 832]

i have to dig a fair bit with the ferrets ive got at the moment as they are biggish dog ferrets who kill fairly quickly. if i waited too long they just kill it and move onto the next one, leaving a dead rabbit that i cant locate once the ferret has moved. so id rather locate early and get the rabbit.

[bush wacker 77]

the only one ive had was today it was about 3ft up the hole and about 30cm deep i could see thr rabbit and fert but my arm was not long enuff to grab it.but iv have had to wait over 60mins for the ferts to show but not that often.

Edited December 16, 2010 by bush ewacker

[air gun ant 1,666]

Just the same as roxy myself, been at it since I was 9 and never taken a shovel in my armoury, not shy of digging tho as I used to hand dig round the main power cables for nuclear power stations just never really needed to? I just have a fag or a brew and let the ferts get on with it

Atb

Ant ;-)

[mully 6]

not had to dig to my ferrets once this season but went out with my mates and had to dig 5 times in one day jus killers realli

[KittleRox 2,147]

I,m quite surprised at the replies,it seems there are a few of us who don,t bother with locators and spades,I must admit though I have wished I had a locator a few times when I,ve been standing in the cold freezing ma nuts off, but I decided against it,as I say I,ve been ferreting for over 20 yrs and not lost a ferret (touch wood).

 

another interesting point I think worth mentioning, I reckon if you use locators your dog doesn,t become so highly tuned to whats happening below ground,the locator takes over if you get my drift,

[fensaluki 35]

Each to their own realy mate hey? Personly I never put a ferret to ground without a collar so I can always tell exactly were they are in the warren.I personly prefer to do several small warrens in a day and keep on the move than stay at one or two large ones so with good ferrets we tend to give them 15mins after the last bolt and if we havn't seen them we'll get a mark on them.After which a fag and a cup of coffee and if they still havn't moved we whip them out.In my part of the world they are rarely more than three feet deep so doesn't take long and then your off to the next burrow.

Couple of weeks ago we had a 4 and two 2's in stop ends and two singles by the spade which put an extra ten in the bag for the day.So to me that more than makes up for a bit of digging.

 

But as I say it's each to their own and as long as you are happy doing things the way you do them thats all it's about

 

ATB

[DottyDoo 500]

ferret enuff places an ye will soon find bunnys that wont bolt

 

some places its cool to leave the odd 1

 

 

others tho an yer name would be mud if them warrens werent emptied properly

[KittleRox 2,147]

Just my way of working,I,m not criticising other peoples methods,I,m not a pro pest controller,just a hobby,

 

and dotty as for ma name being mud I couldn,t give a flying fxck,

[DottyDoo 500]

Just my way of working,I,m not criticising other peoples methods,I,m not a pro pest controller,just a hobby,

 

and dotty as for ma name being mud I couldn,t give a flying fxck,

 

 

 

i wasnae slating anybody all i was sayin some places its cool, some its not

 

i ferret a farm on me doorstep, on there hedges an river banking i can afford to be a wee bit laxie dazy so tae speak.....

 

however now an again i get a phone call that the veg/herb garden gate was left open an bunnys are in there, if i was to go ferret them out, leave an closethe gate behind me, an leave a bunny in there, im sure the farmer would start questionin my skills

 

also if you get payed for jobs, they need to be clear if ye say they are clear

[KittleRox 2,147]

Just my way of working,I,m not criticising other peoples methods,I,m not a pro pest controller,just a hobby,

 

and dotty as for ma name being mud I couldn,t give a flying fxck,

 

 

 

i wasnae slating anybody all i was sayin some places its cool, some its not

 

i ferret a farm on me doorstep, on there hedges an river banking i can afford to be a wee bit laxie dazy so tae speak.....

 

however now an again i get a phone call that the veg/herb garden gate was left open an bunnys are in there, if i was to go ferret them out, leave an closethe gate behind me, an leave a bunny in there, im sure the farmer would start questionin my skills

 

also if you get payed for jobs, they need to be clear if ye say they are clear

aye mate,I,ve just fell oot wi the wife,