Lucky 13

[chrismdd 787]

Only our second trip of the season due to the vast amount of undergrowth still around these parts and the fact that all our ferreting takes place in big old ancient hedgerows that can often seem an impenetrable jungle of thorns and stingers.

 

Well the weather last Sunday was fantastic if a little hot so based on the forecast midweek we thought we were in for a soaking, however, the gods were on our side and a perfect day was in prospect.

 

Unfortunately, Rik couldn’t make it today due to work commitments so the team consisted of myself, Liam and his pup Floe (bedlington x whippet), Luke with his daughter Emily and their bull cross Tess. Liam also brought his albino jill and I took my silver jill (old faithful but fast), my little old jill (slow but finds the ones that hide) and the hob (just for a day out – although he sleeps and snores most the time).

 

Well we started in the stubble field we did last week at the end of the hedgeline where we hadn’t yet completed. On the way down both dogs let off some energy whilst chasing rabbits through the thick cover, whilst I was in the hedge at one point netting up Tess came charging through with a bunny just inches in front of her that evaded capture by heading through the thick hawthorn cover.

 

After netting up the thick hedge and getting a bootful of water from the flooded ditch we let it rest for five minutes whilst getting the collars sorted. In went old faithful at the top end and out popped number one rabbit in under a minute (bodes well for the rest of the day). Further down the bury she hunted and when she stays down for more than a couple of minutes there will be rabbits. However, today they were rather reluctant to bolt and she was having difficulty shifting them so time for the spade into the hard wet compacted clay. Whilst digging Floe pinned a fleeing rabbit in the net that went straight into the flooded ditch. Ferret was back on the original mark and digging continued eventually she shifted this one so three in the bag. Moved on and tried a eight holer in a thinner hedge and old faithful shifted two in quick succession.

 

Now I thought we would try a new bit of land where several nights this week I’ve seen 20+ rabbits grazing in a small area. However, in the grim light of day this was jungle of a double hedge and thought best left alone until later in the season (maybe using the two longnets and making two gaps for the stopnets after some careful pre-pruning of the hedge). So we moved on to a bury on the edge of the field that had a dozen holes but didn’t look terribly fresh (still not easy to net what with the six foot stingers that hurt like hell when you climb out of hedge and the stems run down the back of your ears). Old faithful and the old jill went in and after a few minutes bunny number six was in the bag.

 

Moved round to a small three holer without success. So now onto a thick hedge section that had super fresh holes with plenty of good signs of activity. You can hardly see through this hedge that must be about ten foot wide in places, however once inside it is often possible to travel along it fairly easily netting holes. We got a bit carried away and netted hole after hole before realising we had practically exhausted our net supply (40+ nets, most deep within the hedge). Time to catch our breath, have coffee and something to eat whilst it settled.

 

Then both ferrets in, old jill at the top end and old faithful a third of the way down. No signs of either ferret after ten minutes so quietly checked where they were (more to know that they hadn’t gone walkabout to the next county). Old jill was in one place all the time in amongst five close holes that appeared not to be connected to the rest of the warren. Then she bolted one and stayed down, old faithful comes out further down so boxed her and went to concentrate on the old jill. She was obviously having fun down there but always returning to the same position. Another one bolts, then another and we also find a net pulled out into the ditch (an escapee). Re-netted that one and wait, rabbit number eight hits this net and as I dive into the hedge and grab it it releases a stream of warm urine straight into my face . Still the old jill back in the same spot so down goes old faithful to help her out, bunny number nine hits a net. Old faithful goes storming through the other bury twitching her tail in excitement (she’s in full hunter mode) so whilst Luke and Liam take in turns to track her I stay near old jill who’s still going back to the same place. Old faithful shifts one further down, we’re into double figures . Then old jill gets one out and back to the spot she goes again, lets dig. Two foot of potters clay and we break through to her, I reach in and pull out bunny number twelve. Reach in and hope for more but there are none and she shows no more interest. That was seven rabbits from a set of five close holes. As I reach into the dug hole my hand just feels the empty space of a huge void like cavern (was there a rabbit meeting taking place here today ). You can now just imagine how that little old jill in complete darkness was chasing bunnies round and round that cavern that were reluctant to bolt (she may be old, small and slow but she won’t give up). Then old faithful is used further down and although she tried all the holes she shifts just one more (number thirteen in the bag – same as last week!!). Funny how a small part of a bury can house all the rabbits and the rest contains just a couple. Then the drizzle started and so its time for home. Doing these big overgrown hedges always seems to provide similar daily bags, maybe due to time involved in pushing through the hedge, finding all the holes, netting around bramble stems and tracking the ferrets in the jungle. Definitely know you’ve earned it at the end of the day.

 

 

Now time to repair and tidy the nets till next time, see you in a couple of weeks Luke and Liam (and hopefully Rik) and if I get time I’ll try and prep that big hedge bury.

 

Luke tried to get some video footage which may be up soon, so in the meantime here are a couple of end of day shots.

 

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that last Sunday we had twelve and not thirteen. However, on Friday night I went out with the lamp to check where the rabbits were ready for the weekend and found a rabbit that we forgot to pick up last Sunday in the tree where we had stored them. I put it in the ditch for the fox. Saturday night I went out for another look and that rabbit was still there and sat on it was the cutest little field mouse which then sunk its teeth into the rabbits neck and started ripping out the flesh (I have never seen that before).

 

Liam, Floe, Emily, Luke and Tess:

 

 

Old faithful, me and Emily:

 

Chris

Edited October 21, 2012 by chrismdd

[Guest vin]

great read that mate..sounds like a great day. thanks for taking the time

[Jamie m 668]

Some write up there chris good stuff it's just a case of cracking on , atb j

[The one 8,511]

Nice going mate they all count

[BS40liam 203]

Cheers for the write up chris, was an enjoyable day once again, flo was knackered and slept all the way back and untill 5 this morning (when she usually wakes us up to go out for a pee lol) looking forward to the next outing. Atb bud, liam.

[pip1968 2,490]

really enjoyed that very good write up

[ArchieHood 3,692]

Excellent read Chris,it now looks like I will be working nights this week so will try and make this weekend.I will drop you a PM later on this week.

[bullmastiff 615]

Sorry for late reply, been a bit hectic at work!

Thanks again for the day out, minced the Rabbits, bones and all for the dogs so should keep them fed for a week! Result!!

Next lot I'll be keeping for myself for pies and burgers etc.

Finally managed to check through the new video clips from Sunday, there all rubbish!!! I need to practice the filming a bit more I guess... Sorry!

 

Catch you soon!

 

Luke.

[max abell 196]

looks like you had a nice day well done