Novice Question

[WorkingBullandTerrier 132]

Hello all. I currently hunt with bull and terriers, and my husband has a whippet/lurcher.

 

We are aquiring a ferret this month, and I was just curious, for those of you who use ferrets in hunting.....can 'any' ferret take up hunting, or does it take one off of a line of working ferrets to do so?

 

My next question would be, what's a good way to start them out?

 

Thank you in advance.

[T42 44]

Don't take this the wrong way, but have you done any research into owning a ferret?

 

In reality you're pissing in the wind with one ferret. You'll knacker him/her out in 2 hours. It will be running round the warren in circles trying to get rabbits bolting and just using up energy bustin it's back for nothing. You need two atleast! no more hasssle to keep or maintain and definitely worth their weight in gold.

 

you say acquring a ferret... what do you mean by this? you're getting given an old one or you're going to buy a young one?

 

Ensure you are going to give the ferret the best possible life it can live. How would you feel locked in by yourself in a cage taken out once a month and worked hard. You'd ultimately pay the price. Don't be one of them guys. Give it two friends, another ferret and yourself, a good hutch, plenty of handling & taking out with steady use.

 

You can use "any" ferret as it is their natural instinct that will take over once in the warren. but as it is with every living thing the younger you introduce them, the easier they soak it up and the more experience they gain. Not saying old ones aren't good, but it's easier to mould a young en.

 

Starting them out you need to get them in a mock warren. Re-create what you would find in the wild. Then get them into a small warren with older experienced ferrets...

 

Take it step by step. Nice and easy. Don't get arsey if they don't bolt rabbits a soon as they go under. It takes time for them to learn the game.

 

Find someone in Mississippi who has ferrets and ask them for some advice. Experience what a person who has them does first hand.

 

Ultimately, Look after them and they will serve you well...

 

ATB

 

T42

[jimster68 123]

always helps if you can get a ferret from a working line, as not all ferrets make the grade,i then get the ferrets when their youngsters and handle them a lot,i lay plastic pipe on the floor in the garden and get them used to running through it ,picking them up gently when they get to the other side ,i put the plastic pipe onto grass and find the youngsters want to play in the grass and it gets them used to it,i also feed the youngsters rabbit so they get the smell for it.by the time the youngsters are about 6to9 mnths old they go on their first ferreting trip . i just start with small warrens to begin with ,as long as they go to ground and show willing your half way to what you want to achieve just dont expect to much at this stage ,they soon cotton on to what they have to do and take more interest .

ive found by schooling the ferrets before taking them out gives a ferret a better chance of being sucessfull in the field.

if you just keep a ferret in its cage and dont get it used to being put on the floor/grass ect .when it comes to being worked its more lightly to play and mess about until its got this stage outof its system .

hope this helps ,it works for me ....................jim

[WorkingBullandTerrier 132]

Thank you both for the advice, I greatly appreciate it.

 

I am purchasing him from my local pet supplier. He is first and foremost going to be a house pet. He will be allowed to be out and roam and play when we can closely supervise him, and when we are away and overnight he will be in his cage, in the family room. I also planned on taking him outside to play as well supervised. He is young, I believe around 16wks old. He is already neutered. Hunting with him would be something to do for fun, if he took to it. I like giving animals the chance to do things they'd do naturally. I have owned a ferret before, when I was a bit younger. He was happy and healthy throughout his life. If I knew of anyone local that hunted with them, I'd get together with them to learn as much as I could but I know of no one out here that does that. Thank you guys again for the advice. I appreciate it.

[The one 8,477]

A kit from a working line will help but still no guarantees but where you are your going to be struggling

[Tug 168]

A ferret from working lines can also make a good pet. A ferret from a pet shop might not have been imprinted with fur and feather as a food source and might be slower to take to hunting.

[The one 8,477]

In the U.S. of A i think they have to take what they get as ferrets are illegal is some places and most have the scent glands removed in other's

[Tug 168]

In the U.S. of A i think they have to take what they get as ferrets are illegal is some places and most have the scent glands removed in other's

 

Hunting with ferrets is illegal in USA anyway.

[The one 8,477]

'Tug' timestamp='1351158530' post='2868184']

'The one' timestamp='1351157004' post='2868160']

In the U.S. of A i think they have to take what they get as ferrets are illegal is some places and most have the scent glands removed in other's

 

 

Hunting with ferrets is illegal in USA anyway.

In all the countries ?. with out checking i thought some places got to ferret

[Brimmer 220]

No Way USA! Not going over there for ferreting then!

[sam4530s 37]

you can carry a hand canon but ye cant hunt with ferrets ? bet its legal to hunt bears tho ?