Hunting with out a finder

[web22 27]

Who here has never ferreted without a locator? Just out of interest?

that's a good question,i have ferreted without one...

[terrierone 32]

i ferret without one with success never had to dig yet either

[Ideation 8,216]

Who here has never ferreted without a locator? Just out of interest?

that's a good question,i have ferreted without one...

 

Might start it as a topic. Lots of folk hand out warnings and advice about stuff they have never done. Be interesting to know who has started ferreting in the world of the mk1/3, and who was ferreting before, and has picked up the locator as time has gone on etc. Never used one before and never lost a ferret, now i always use one (well mostly).

[catchwrestler 31]

Who here has never ferreted without a locator? Just out of interest?

 

I have but i picked the warrens with care , small warrens probably 6-7 holes max .

Also most of my ground the warrens are shallow and i could easily hear what was going on .

Wouldn't be without a locator now though , although having started without one means i am tad more patient than most when it comes to a halt in action .

I still don't whip the locator out for at least half a hour and i will only start digging if i'm sure the ferret is stuck

[Ideation 8,216]

Who here has never ferreted without a locator? Just out of interest?

 

I have but i picked the warrens with care , small warrens probably 6-7 holes max .

Also most of my ground the warrens are shallow and i could easily hear what was going on .

Wouldn't be without a locator now though , although having started without one means i am tad more patient than most when it comes to a halt in action .

I still don't whip the locator out for at least half a hour and i will only start digging if i'm sure the ferret is stuck

 

I've only had i think 3 digs all season. One to a collar, two to dead rabbits. I just use the locator most of the time to either see which direction the ferrets are if its a big set and i'm on my own, so i know which way to point the dog and to see if the ferret is still in the set if i've had to wander off to watch the chase if the dog has run a rabbit around a corner

[Guest vin]

had many mornings without locators in my youth.

all my mates have...but they all use them nowadays..some have even managed to move onto the mk3 now after years with the old ones.

 

if ya cant get one and your gagging to have a go..follow the good advice on here,take a spade and a flask and some butties,just in case.

[supersam 64]

before locators i used bells(always 2)tied around the ferrets neck.

just used to listen for the bell or the sound of the ferret on the rabbit.thats if it didnt bolt that is.

the bells do clog with earth so used to clean them every time i picked the ferret up when it came outa ground.

if i thought the rabbit was close to a burrow after checking with runnin my arm up the burrow and feeling nothing i used to then if i could get one was use a thorny briar and slowly push that up the burrow for extra distance to feel for the rabbit.

if all else failed it was a sit and wait.i use locators now and its much easier to find rabbits the ferret has killed and makes it much quicker and less boring than sitting and waiting.

[Jamie m 668]

A beter question for those without , how many think they've left dead rabbits in a set or injured ones , and how many have had to go back the next day looking for ferrets ,?????

[Ideation 8,216]

A beter question for those without , how many think they've left dead rabbits in a set or injured ones , and how many have had to go back the next day looking for ferrets ,?????

 

 

I take it you only started ferreting in the last few years then mate. I always use locators, but dont think it should be an exclusive club. A few nets, ferret etc is a good low cost intro to field sports and some kids are not going to end up finding 160 quid for a locator and collar. All the time that we didnt have them we might have left the odd kill but id say the vast majority of rabbits ended up bolted, as for leaving injured rabbits about. . . . .. . no chance. Never went back next day either.

 

You could equally ask the question - how many folk who dont / didnt use locators have no problems?

[The one 8,470]

I ferreted for years before locators where invented or we had the cash for them ,still went out every saturday and sunday with my dad and uncle and a team of ferrets caught loads of rabbits but if there was a problem you just had to sit it out , a few ferrets spent a night in a burrow them where the good old days .A lot easier and time saving now with a locator but you can still ferret with out them

[Jamie m 668]

A beter question for those without , how many think they've left dead rabbits in a set or injured ones , and how many have had to go back the next day looking for ferrets ,?????

Dont disagree with you used to go out every weekend as a lad without locator and had many a long wait but stoped fereting at 16 when I first got served in the pub, only got back into it last season ferreted last season without but got my mk3 last summer and wouldn't go without most places are pest control so there not going to be to pleased if Im lying on the grass smoking role ups and swiging tea , plus have learned a he'll of a lit since having it , but also how many of these kids who can't aford one have a ps3 computer iPhone bmx iPod and stupidly priced trainers , if you saved £25 a week in the summer in 4 months you'd have 400 pounds mire than enough for ferreting gear ,

 

 

I take it you only started ferreting in the last few years then mate. I always use locators, but dont think it should be an exclusive club. A few nets, ferret etc is a good low cost intro to field sports and some kids are not going to end up finding 160 quid for a locator and collar. All the time that we didnt have them we might have left the odd kill but id say the vast majority of rabbits ended up bolted, as for leaving injured rabbits about. . . . .. . no chance. Never went back next day either.

 

You could equally ask the question - how many folk who dont / didnt use locators have no problems?

[kevin from bristol 95]

i dont use locators just a call if they stay in to long ,i had a locator last year for a bit but waste of time really for me if you put time into your ferrets you shouldnt need one ,i do however see that they are good things for time saving etc lots of my mates use them when were out ,they get funny when i start calling mine up and they start digging haha just train them when there young to come to call and they soon get to grips with it i know its a bit old school but ferreting shouldnt be rushed

Edited February 21, 2011 by kevin from bristol

[2bob 9]

Who here has never ferreted without a locator? Just out of interest?

i started ferreting 23/24 years ago without a locator. had a few long wait's outside hole's until i bought my first mk1 locator box for £20:00 an a collar £22:00 best investment i ever made. would'nt put a ferret to ground without a locator an collar now

[TOMO 26,069]

ferret locators have been around since the mid 70's 35 years or there abouts. i started with out a locator in 1980,,, and ocasionaly now will have a mooch with a ferret in the pocket ,,, and somtimes getting kits going without a collar on, along side seasond workers.

 

but you will be leaving bunnys if you dont have one,,, just friday gone i had 3 digs , wich i think is nothing for a full day out, those 3 digs were 18 inch deep and acounted for 4 rabbits. each dig took only took 5 mins,, or i could have waited an hour or so for the ferret,,, you do the maths

 

 

[Ideation 8,216]

ferret locators have been around since the mid 70's 35 years or there abouts. i started with out a locator in 1980,,, and ocasionaly now will have a mooch with a ferret in the pocket ,,, and somtimes getting kits going without a collar on, along side seasond workers.

 

but you will be leaving bunnys if you dont have one,,, just friday gone i had 3 digs , wich i think is nothing for a full day out, those 3 digs were 18 inch deep and acounted for 4 rabbits. each dig took only took 5 mins,, or i could have waited an hour or so for the ferret,,, you do the maths

 

I do remember my old man having a locator but i dont think he ever used it. It's funny, some folk seem to be digging all the time, i get maybe a handful or so a season and i'm out nearly everyday for at least an hour or two and full days twice a week, or more. The rabbits are bolted. We know we dont leave kills, even if the ferret was super quick and didnt stop for long, we could still tell by the dog, same with any rabbits still holed up down there. The ferrets kill, and move on and we can mark it and dig down, but like i said rarely happens and i've never dug to a live rabbit.