Ferreter or Electronically Aided Rabbit Digger?

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Just thought I'd try this one out on ye. Because, honestly and seriously, it looks to me like the age old art of " Ferreting " is in grave danger of being lost to us. It's being superceded by a New pass time; That of Rabbit Digging. " Rabbit Digging " being the matter where by one enters a Collared ferret and then uses it's signal to point out when there may be a rabbit in the ground. Then one digs down to retrieve both rabbit and ferret.

 

Where as the former sport has always been largely dependent on Animal Husbandry and Field Craft, we now see a whole new ball game where in no one speaks of " A good little worker who'll go anywhere, find anything. " The entire subject now seems more centred on which electronic gadgetry can enable one to more conveniantly shove the spade ~ seemingly the sooner the better after that little tail has vanished out of sight.

 

Are we not losing one more of our GrandFathers Skills?

 

 

I'd have asked for Age Group, if I'd thought of it. I can't help wondering how many older people might have forsaken the former for the latter. Never mind. Man of fifty might have forty years of ferreting under his belt. Could equelly have bought a Box last week. Doesn't really matter.

[weekye 0]

i don't use collars & locaters as i can't afford one, besides i hate digging i'd mutch rather do it

the old fashioned way, i don't mind waiting on the ferret to come out, it can be a pain when they

lie up but thats life, {huh}

[Coneytrappr 30]

I don't have a locator box so it's all done by ear.

[Mitch 0]

I have a locater and they are great. But i prefer the bolt as this is the most exiting part of ferreting IMO, especially when you have a dog to course the rabbit or a Longnet for the rabbit to hit. But I dont mind a dig if the ground is right I just dont see the point of leaving a dead rabbit or rabbits to ground i feel its a waste.

[juckler123 707]

Top post DS ive used locators in the past but now dont bother prefering to travel light and try not to dig as much as possible as you say there is a lot more to ferreting the old way i dont do big warrens only take out half a dozen nets monkey in a bag in my pocket a dog and a good knife.Ive always learnt the dogs to mark without pushing their noses underground some folks dont get this saying the dog not mark without putting its head inside the hole but they do. Always approach the warrens from downwind put the dog in stay and net up.if i do get a layup which isnt often ill wait for the ferret it might take 20 mins before the rabbit bolts and as long as the ferret hasnt learnt to kill its not unusual to have em bolt after that amount of time. if not ill call it out and then let the dog run over the warren if the dog gives a good mark at a certain hole i then cut a piece of bramble and have a probe about, if i can locate the bunny [fur on bramble] its just a matter of rolling the bramble and getting it tangled in its fur and pulling it out, had many a shushie like this ferreting or just out with the dog. I am a poacher first and foremost so walking the land with a box and a shovel putting a ferret in stamping me feet and digging a threefoot hole is a no no for me ive been going to the same places for nearly forty years and no one would know plus imo digging sets leads to making more more stop ends wich in turn leads to more lay ups

[Guest Frank]

Personally, i now use a locator and collar everytime i enter a ferret, but prior to this, 10 years ago, i did not have a locator and had them enterd naked so to speak.

 

Now, you did not give much choice DS, as im one of the enter the ferret and wait as long as possible, as i try and avoid digging like the paluge , i will give it 1/2 hour, before swithing on the locator and then only think about digging, if the fert is down their for an hour or more.

 

I find the locator very handy, to know in certain situations, where the ferret is, puts my mind at rest, that does not mean i go digging willy nilly, making the place look like the moon.

 

I also dont want to loose my good working ferts , so find the locator an asset and would not go afeild these days without one.

 

I started ferreting at the end of august and will ferret now for another week or 2 and have only dug 4 times in all that time and if i did not dig on those occassins, the ferret would of had to eat her way out over several days, possibly die, as she was bloked behind a couple of bunnys at a dead end.

 

Modern ferreting has come a long way, but respect for land and the old ways will allways be with me.

 

Frank.

[ferreterno1 0]

Just thought I'd try this one out on ye. Because, honestly and seriously, it looks to me like the age old art of " Ferreting " is in grave danger of being lost to us. It's being superceded by a New pass time; That of Rabbit Digging. " Rabbit Digging " being the matter where by one enters a Collared ferret and then uses it's signal to point out when there may be a rabbit in the ground. Then one digs down to retrieve both rabbit and ferret.

 

Where as the former sport has always been largely dependent on Animal Husbandry and Field Craft, we now see a whole new ball game where in no one speaks of " A good little worker who'll go anywhere, find anything. " The entire subject now seems more centred on which electronic gadgetry can enable one to more conveniantly shove the spade ~ seemingly the sooner the better after that little tail has vanished out of sight.

 

Are we not losing one more of our GrandFathers Skills?

 

 

I'd have asked for Age Group, if I'd thought of it. I can't help wondering how many older people might have forsaken the former for the latter. Never mind. Man of fifty might have forty years of ferreting under his belt. Could equelly have bought a Box last week. Doesn't really matter.

 

 

i collar them up but the box isnt turned on unless i have to.

what do you do ditch?

[mole catcher 1]

I dont see how using a locator has taken away any of the field craft needed to go ferreting, only differance is your not stood around ages waiting for a ferret to return if it has killed or balked up a rabbit under ground. You as the ferreter has a very small part to play in ferreting anyhow, when you look at it from a base level all we do is place a few nets over the holes, enter ferret and stand back. The field craft is still there weither you use a locator or not. Ive seen many of the so called old time ferreters who wouldnt know the first thing about fieldcraft, talking,smoking ect....

 

I think all the locator has done is given us a view into what is going on below ground, its up to us as the ferreter to decide if we want to break out the spade at each opitunity. I for one know that without my locator i would have been unable to remove a fair amout of rabbits less on some jobs. Many times ive dug to a ferret that has either killed or balked a rabbit and on digging to remove the said rabbit, HEY PRESTO like paul danieals ive pulled out a further 2 or 3 rabbits that were balked behind the first. As all of my ferreting is paid work and the customer wants to be rid of as many rabbits as possible i for one value my locator as a tool of my trade,, (thats when some low life that stole my bag with locator and collers plus 50 odd nets returns it )

 

IMHO i think a locator has helped to bring ferreting onward for a lot of people without loosing any fieldcraft

 

DITCH.... good thought provoking thread

[beagles 0]

ive always used collars i didnt once and ended up losing one ferret and ive been shown how to do it the way i am now and i think ferreting is still good ditch

[micky 3,325]

anyone who goes ferriting without a locater is a FOOL

[mad al 146]

I voted the "naked" option. I don't have ferrets anymore but this was the only way I knew and remember this as getting to know my Dad and our ferrets . They were considered family and there was no way we were going home without one and never did thanks to his field crafts..................Al

[Hob&Jill 258]

anyone who goes ferriting without a locater is a FOOL

No there not, your a fool for making such a f*****g statement, there are people who cannot afford one and some like ditch, that prefer the old way. Does it meen that they shouldnt provide meat for the table?

 

Oh, and by the way and one who cant spell 'Ferreting' is a fool

Edited February 18, 2007 by Hob&Jill

[micky 3,325]

anyone who goes ferriting without a locater is a FOOL

No there not, your a fool for making such a f*****g statement, there are people who cannot afford one and some like ditch, that prefer the old way. Does it meen that they shouldnt provide meat for the table?

 

Oh, and by the way and one who cant spell 'Ferreting' is a fool

YOU WONT PROVIDE MUCH MEAT FOR THE TABLE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WITHOUT ONE MATE

[micky 3,325]

Oh and by the way, anyone that cannot spell MEAN ditto!!!!! (Do you know what ditto MEANS)

[Hob&Jill 258]

I know that, thats why most have stopped, and by the way I use a locator, It sjust I think everyone is entitled an opinion on what they do withut being branded a Fool.

 

Fair enough lol!