Good dog, bad dog and100 miles for four rabbits

[stroller 341]

Myself and my son had planned to go up to Scotland this weekend for a weekends ferreting but the area around loch ken is pretty much flooded out so an alternative was sought.

 

A pal at work has a field over near appleby with "Loads of rabbits on it" So of we set this morning with maggie and jet and the three ferrets.

 

The weather gradually grew worse as we neared our destination and even though we had hope in our hearts when we got to the field half of it was under water and there was only two warrens a 20 + holer and a little 10 holer! Anyway we were out for the crack so we got on with the job. the dogs marked both sets strongly and we netted up the larger set first.

 

The weather then blew in on a gale force flurry of sleet and hail we took temporary shelter behind a duck house before i bottled it and ran for the van. Ten minutes later we were back out and ready for action three ferrets in and a long wait, nothing......... then big trev showed at a hole entrance with no collar on he is a twat for getting the collar off and luckily it was just behind him. Ten minutes later the first bolt which was more like an amble! netted safely. Josh and jet were on one side of the fence me and mags on tother. The next bolt 5 minutes later was a thrown net and a stunning dive by jet who managed to clip the tail off the rabbit which then back netted. Never let anyone tell you that saluki bred dogs arent suitable for ferreting he is a big dog with loads of early pace .

 

The 3rd bolt was onto open field towards a hedge line 50m distant jet was on it in a flash getting up to it and rolling with it into the hedge he bounced up and had to strike again to claim his rabbit a nice retrieve back but the big dog was carrying his foreleg. Nothing obvious probably a strain as he took the tumble. The lads dog is poetry in motion.

 

I then tried to lift maggie over the fence just in case we had another boltwhilst josh examined jet. The fence was a good good 5' high topped with barbed wire and i was trying to save myself a vet bill. Maggie as sensitive as ever yelped at the thought of me carrying her and then scooted off refusing to come in . She is a highly strung dog and at the moment she is going through a prima donna stage. she then realised what i wanted and jumped the f*****g fence anyway!!

 

As she got over she spotted an old woman walking along the road and decided to run at her barking through the hedge at her . Just what you want a dog barking when your ferreting!! i whistled her in and she settled down but the damage was done and i lifted the ferrets as they appeared.

 

We tried the 10 holer and had a bolt maggie was on it overshot it and it dissapeared down a hole. Big trev backed a bunny up and a short dig revealed the bunny very much alive and trev trying to mince josh's fingers as he tried to take his rabbit.

 

As the rabbit was killed and i was cleaning the carcasses the heavens opened and it bagan to sleet in earnest. The morning was ended at 10 am and the 50 mile trip home started.

 

Maggie was terrible today she has the odd day like this now and again i dont know why you would think by the way she yelps and cowers that i beat her every day but she is a 1st cross and has a lot of collie like behaviours which take a bit of getting used to. As she gets into the season she will improve and on a good day she is incredible a bit like me really

[bryson 562]

my whippets like that mate ive never lifted my hand to him but if he knows hes done something wrong he cowers down like im going to beat him its quite embarrasing when your out and about well done by the way shame about the weather

[johnrthrfrd 223]

Good read Keith how's jet is he ok .

[skycat 6,173]

The trouble is with some Collie crosses is that they are so damn sensitive they can pick up if your'e getting stressed out before you even know it yourself!

 

Re a poor bag: you did better than me........ walking for 2 hours in wind and rain, seeing only 5 rabbits and catching only 2!!!

[mackem 27,381]

"Loads of rabbits on it"

Famous last words,anyone not into hunting sees half a dozen and they assume plague proportions Good read

[stroller 341]

jet is ok John a bit stiff but nothing worse he is a big wuss and looks for any bit of attention if he can get it.

 

Took Maggie out again earlier on to ferret a neighbours brash pile, ferret killed in and i thought one was all that was in it so lifted the nets only to find maggie in amongst the branches like a terrier tail going like mad then out bolts a little half grown rabbit she couldnt get on it quick enough being buried in brash but i was impressed with her nose and how she faced the cover.

 

To be honest skycat im not in it for numbers i know a lot of lads dont think they have had a good day unless they are into double figures but four will keep the ferrets fed this week. i have taken a lot of rabbits in the past when specifically asked to clear them but if i get into double figures i tend to stop i have to think how much space is left in the freezer

 

As for mags your definately on the right track i have to calm myself down to work with her, all of my other dogs are much more mentally robust

[moonlighter 1,164]

Crap days all round. I went to a place that for the past two trips (one a year) have bagged 30 plus rabbits each time., only today I only got 3! Then I found a purse net so some burgers been poaching. Gutted.

[Bosun11 537]

Good write up Stroller.

Yep, some days make you wonder why you bother and then some days... You just gotta be in it to win it!

Me an Timmyk had a three hour local wander the other night with only two to show for it..

[johnrthrfrd 223]

jet is ok John a bit stiff but nothing worse he is a big wuss and looks for any bit of attention if he can get it.

 

Took Maggie out again earlier on to ferret a neighbours brash pile, ferret killed in and i thought one was all that was in it so lifted the nets only to find maggie in amongst the branches like a terrier tail going like mad then out bolts a little half grown rabbit she couldnt get on it quick enough being buried in brash but i was impressed with her nose and how she faced the cover.

 

To be honest skycat im not in it for numbers i know a lot of lads dont think they have had a good day unless they are into double figures but four will keep the ferrets fed this week. i have taken a lot of rabbits in the past when specifically asked to clear them but if i get into double figures i tend to stop i have to think how much space is left in the freezer

 

As for mags your definately on the right track i have to calm myself down to work with her, all of my other dogs are much more mentally robust

Glad to hear that Keith meg hit a pile of rocks last week chasing a one then split her pad she has been hobbling about all week

Feeling sorry for her self had her out today and she's limping up pops a rabbit and she's off like a shot after it never limped again till she got back to the car then the sorry face again.

Atb John.

[simonrocco 175]

good write up pal atb

[whin 463]

^{alot of colies are like that i prefer the beardie very none sensitive at times , good you got a few had some mucky old days trained all my saluk crosses to ferret as pups good for them}

[max abell 196]

Good write up mate this season is the worst we have had for years the mixy has hammered our permissions big warrens we normaly get 12 to 15 rabbits from every year we are getting 1 or 2 its not good hope others are having more luck than we are at the moment

[stroller 341]

max we doing well up here my permissions are full of rabbits we even have a lot of rabbits around the little place i live in even though my dogs regularly take them bushing on our walks. In fact i saw a few little ones running about yesterday in my neighbours garden

[Ferret mad Dave 65]

Good write up pal I had the same with one of mine slipping the coller off

Atb Dave

[Neal 1,873]

One of my kelpies is like that too Stroller. I have to hope she does everything I want her to do WITHOUT asking her as if I ask her to do anything she assumes that what she was doing was wrong and goes into meltdown.

 

Fortunately, her half-sister is far more level headed and a far better dog to take out bushing and ferreting. Her temperament is more like my old dog (he was twelve last month): always eager to please but just as good, if not better, if left to their own devices.

 

As for the numbers: think yourself lucky! Rabbits are so scarce on my little bit of permission that I'm going to need a guide book to identify the next one I see!