Brilliant days mooching.

[Ideation 8,216]

Well, this weekend, it was time for our first trip of the season 'oop north;, to visit our good friend Deepearth and have a mooch about with the dogs and ferrets and a catch up. The plan this time was to head up Saturday, have a good walk with the pack, and a couple of ferrets, and then maybe do some lamping that night and then head back the next morning.

 

Set off early doors, picking up Johnnyboy and dogs and we were on our way by 5am. The drive up there was pretty easy and we made good time, to be greated by Deepearth, his mate Patterdalejoel (and his wee dog Eve) and some very welcome bacon sandwiches and a cup of tea. Once breakfast was done and dusted, we loaded up the car, and set off.

 

First stop was some land to just let the dogs have a wee stretch and see what it held, this season. Upon arrival we let the dogs out, and within mins had a nosey neighbur telling us that rabbiting with dogs was illegal. . . yawn. We had a quick scout about and decided that this piece of ground would be better tackled at a later date in the season, after a few frosts. So back in the car we went, and a quick drive later, were at our main destination for the day.

 

We geared up, and let the pack loose, following on behind as they bounded up the slopes, onto the hillsides. We had with us, Joels - Eve, Johnnys - Gem, Luna and Bron and my Finn. Off the dogs went, already picking up scents and scouting about. We had a mark in a wall, but couldnt retrieve the bunnys without collapsing the wall, so left it. Soon enough as we walked through the first field, off to one side, Luna suddenly bounded up the hillside, rising a bunny and nailing it before it made the brow. Quite soon after that, i pulled one out of a wall with Finn, and we mooched on.

 

We watched the dogs work, following lines, sometimes in pairs, sometimes on their own at various points on the hill, and very occaisionally, coming together to hunt one gully or patch of cover. Soon enough we had run a couple to ground, and bolted them. Johnny and i ran one to ground with Finn, and Bron, and netted up. Down went the ferrets, and soon enough the first was in the net, and its mate followed shortly behind. Unfortunatly the second bunny skipped the net, but i'm glad it did, because Bron was on it like a cat, tight on it's tail, as it tried to flee, her second strike connected, and she rolled, coming up with the rabbit in her mouth. Brons first bunny, and done with style.

 

We caried on like this, working the dogs, sometimes four of us together and sometimes splitting into pairs or off on our own, just wandering about the hillsides, and gullys.

 

Soon enough, Bron had her second catch of the day, nailing a rabbit sat tight in the reeds. She really shrapened up and her hunting stepped up a gear, really impressing all.

 

The other dogs also continued putting up rabbits, lifting some, loseing some through walls, and putting some to ground. What went to ground, we ferreted out, mainly getting single rabbits from sets, sometimes two (although joe and johnny did bolt five from one toward the end of the day).

 

We pulled a few more from walls, dug some that wouldnt bolt, and the dogs kept working on. It was really good to see them sharpen up, as they got into the groove, and considering their early season lack of fitness, they held it together well, though they tired as the day wore on. Little Eve, really impressed me, like a fecking spider monkey, she was up, on and in the walls, seeking out bunnys, and hunting like a demon.

 

As the day started to draw to a close, we left Johnny and Joel to drag what coneys we had on us to the nearest road, while DE and I (and some of the dogs) went to collect a couple more stashes and the car. On the way to the car, we managed to aquire the days final two rabbits as darkness was falling.

 

We collected the other two and did a quick tally, we had caught a forty rabbits, and they were forty very enjoyable rabbits. It was a brilliant mooch with the dogs and a ferret on our backs, rather than hardcore ferreting, and we had some top banter and watched some decent dog work.

 

We headed back to Deepearth's and fed the dogs, and then destroyed a Shephards pie, which was excellent. During dinner, we learnt that lamping was not going to be possible on the intended permission for the night, and as we were pretty knackered and the dogs were fairly happy to just lie in a heap, we did what any sensible man would do. . . . . and went to the pub instead

 

That night, i slept in the garage, on a matress, with four dogs around me and four ferrets, one of which decided to run about the place and then found a roll of foam to ride about the place. And i slept like a baby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next day, we were due to head home, but decided to just let the dogs have a quick stretch first, before we got off, so they could empty out and settle down. We went back onto the same farm, and let them have a run about. Within ten mins, Luna had nailed a rabbit too slow to make the wall, and shortly after, Bron pushed another out of some cover and picked it up, with a tumble. We strolled on, and soon enough Bron had yet another, hunted through some cover at the bottom of a gully, and snapped up as it dithered.

 

We put one to ground and as we'd brought a ferret, we popped it out. When DE and Johnny were doing this, i went to see what Finn was doing at the top of a rise, and as i got there, he was in the process of running and snatching another rabbit.

 

We started to head back to the car, and ran one more in, so dropped the ferret down. Unfortunatly this warren connected to an underground drainage channel, so we had a bit of a f****r finding the ferret that was twenty yards away or more and the digging was a bit wet, but we got her and the bunnys. So with half a dozen in the bag in rapid time and the dogs stretched, we headed for the motor.

 

On the way we passed a group of hikers, two couples and five female kids. I heard one exclaim, "look at the rabbits" and thought 'oh bollocks', but instead of being offended or angry they were fascinated, asked lots of questions and soon we had the ferrets out, the kids handling them and having photos, and gave the parentst the whole pep talk about why rabbiting is great and needed, about lurchers, ferrets, and how to cook rabbit etc. Johnny even put on a wee dog agility show, jumping the lurchers over the walls By the end the girls wanted ferrets and running dogs

 

Unfortunatly it was then time to head home, so we said goodbye to DE and made the long and rainy drive home to Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A truly enjoyable day and a bits, mooching, with top company, good dogs, beautiful scenery and some great sport Considering it's very early in our season, the dogs did well, and were pretty sharp. They all did well, but Luna was excellent, after finding this land difficult to get to grips with last time, she got into the zone and pulled off some impressive catches, and Bron, made her first four catches over the two days and looked like a pro who had been doing it years, i have to say, i think she is going to be a decent dog. Finn and Gem . . . . well, they did what Finn and Gem always do, ones nuts and the other is steady as a rock, but they catch bunnys

[darbo 4,776]

cracking write up. the dogs done well. nice to read of johnnys dog making some catches and young joels pup looks to be shaping up nicely. excellent pics also.atb.

[theferreter 311]

great write up and pics well done lads

[BEARINATOR 2,868]

Excellent write up and pics mate

[Ideation 8,216]

Cheers all

[DeepEarth 104]

Never said you had to sleep in the garage! Another great weekend lads, hope to see you again soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe.

[northern lad 2,292]

Your write ups/pics never fail to impress me Jai at the moment I cant get out much due to caring for my wife,feel like I was there with yous its all there mate,good lads .good craic/dogs,some bunnies and to cap it all you do some much needed P.R with some hikers(thought it was moses came down the mountain ) Id be happy to buy the CW if there was more of this in it,you should consider writing for a living pal,keep it coming atvb Dave well done to all concerned,and to Deepearth for keeping Jesus in his garage

[Ideation 8,216]

I'm really glad that you enjoyed reading it mate, it makes writing it out worthwhile

 

P.S The garage was great, i'm staying there again next time, Johnny can have the double bedroom with ensuite

[Guest thebigdog]

good result lads, stunning place too.

[Guest vin]

great day out mate...loved the pics.

 

And johnny must be so happy with Bron..What a great start for her.

 

Always enjoy your write ups mate..its one of the better things about being on this site.

 

Thanks to DE and PDJ for being such top lads and inviting other people on their permission..there really are some great lads on this site.

[patterdalejoel 669]

cheers vin, that really is some great permission of mine

 

i was really impressed with my pup, just being with the other experienced dogs and learning was something she doesnt get to do a lot, and i think it helped her massively. was great to wathc the other dogs do their thing in style, even if with finn it was from a distance

 

great to meet you and johnny, and pick yours and johnnies brains about ferreting and lurchers. didnt enjoy all the cover, nearly went home it was that bad, some of that grass was knee high

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Great write up and pics as usual Jai, reading it I felt like I was there...........wait there I was !!

 

Was a great day and half of mooching, thanks to DeepEarth for the invite and so grateful for the digs and food, was great to met young Joel and real refreshing to see that he has the same desire and love of hunting/lurcher/ferret work has DeepEarth, was great to have him pick my brains about the dogs and ask all the right questions, the futures bright with young lads like these in the game. Little Eve is a cracking little dog and was great to watch her go from being a little weary around the bigger dogs at first but then grow in confidence as the day went on, at the end of the day she'd really found her feet and you could see on young Joel's face that she had made him proud, just keep doing what you're doing young fella and she'll give you years of pleasure, a real character.

 

I can't really add any more to what Jai has already so eloquently put, Bron was a little star truth be told, marking, hunting up and catching and she also nailed a runner with an added tumble on the catch, was a pleasure to watch, she did get a little excitable at times but not overly worried has she's only 10 months.Gem was just Gem, steady and reliable as always, she is a little stiff but she's 9 now and its still early so the dogs ain't quite there yet. Finn was his usual self, working his socks off all day, a real hard working whippet that really grafts, the little tyke dosen't stop and all though he does Jai's head in sometimes he is a real star.

 

Now Luna really impressed me all day, she came up last season and really struggled so I wasn't expecting her to do any great shakes this time but gladly she was a different dog, making some impressive catches and really excelled at her hunting up, she really put a shift in.

 

Thanks again for a great time in great company and look forward to coming up again.

[richie198 28]

cracking write up lads a pleasure to read what a

day for yous

[Rake aboot 4,935]

What a brilliant thread,, well done blokes,, makes me sick that I`m still stuck at sea !!! cannae wait to get out..

Great pics,,

 

But I have to say !!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, A FLAT CAP !!!!!!!!!! ffs,,, you really are going all gentry are yeh not !!!! jesus the ferreting hippy wi a shirt and flat cap!! hahahahahahaha Ah`m starting tae think we`re swapping lifes or somit,, ah`m used tae the tweeds and shirts, and now ah`m aw beardy tramp!!! hahahahaha

[Ideation 8,216]

Was trying to get into character mate. . . . flat caps and whippets kind of go together 'oop north'

 

There's nowt wrong with being a beardy tramp!

 

But you're not one to be mocking any ones hats