Excellent day with the rifle, dogs, ferrets and kids.

[AirgunGuy 362]

Went to a new permission yesterday with the above and the kids. We started the day with a wee bit of ferreting, doing 3 holer along a fence line out in a field so it was the perfect opportunity for the young whippet to get a wee run. 1 hole was on 1 side and 2 on the other side of the fence. Threw the stinker down and moments later the rumbling started followed by the 1st bolt. Typically the whippet was on the other side of the fence and didn't see it so we missed that 1. The stinker appeared at its back so down she went again and again moments later no. 2 bolted with the whippet and GSP in hot pursuit. The whippet nailed after a 30-40 yard dash and a couple of turns and retreived it back to my feet. Excellent work by the young dog. The GSP wasn't far behind and would've nailed the rabbit if it wasn't for the quicker whippet.

 

We then went for a wee mooch through a couple of fields but there was nothing out so it was down to the riverbank for a spot of ferreting. We worked our way along the riverbank doing some 3-4 holers but there was nothing at home. It wasn't until we got further along the riverbank and started ferreting the bigger warrens that we started getting some bolters. We had 8 nets down but there was some that we couldn't net because the holes were in amongst tree roots. Not long after stinker no. 1 went down the rumbling started and rabbit no.2 was in a net with the whippet pinning it.The rumbling continued and the young ferret was working well popping her head out and then back down. We could hear the ferret chasing the rabbits around the warren. We had a couple bolt out of holes without nets which ran along the riverbank and down the next warren. The whippet gave chase but the riverbank is very steep and strewn with rocks so it was tough work for the wee whippet.The best catch by far was a rabbit that flew out of a hole taking the net up into the air. It kicked the net off, hit the ground and then flew out into the river. The young whippet was on it but he paused for a fraction of a second as it had gone out into the river. A bit of encouragement from me and he was in the river, knabbed the rabbit and retreived it back to dry land....amazing stuff from the young, inexperienced dog. We had 6 bolters from this warren, getting 4 of them. The downside was that 1 of the young jills didn't come back out and i suspected she had killed in. I put my other jill down with the collar on to see if she could locate her but she kept coming back out as she cleared the warren. Excellent work from this young jill as she had done this several times. We waited for 1 1/2 hrs approx and as time was getting on it and it was now dark we could wait no longer. I knew she'd stop ended a rabbit and couldn't get past it. It was a tough decision but we couldn't wait all night. We decided to go for a bit to eat and come back with the lamp to have another look for her before doing a bit of lamping with the whippet and rifle.

 

After a tasty haggis supper it was back out with the rifle, whippet and lamp. I can't remember every kill with the rifle but we shot approx 20 rabbits. My son shot 5 and my daughter 2. I had the rest. It was easy pickings. There are a few memorable kills. I had the green LED lamp on 1 while my son took aim. It wouldn't sit and was hopping it's way along the cover towards its warren. I could see the hole and thought we'd miss it but immediately outside its warren it made a fatal mistake and paused. My son took aim and dropped with a clean head shot in less than a second. It really was impressive shooting by the wee man. As the young whippet had been retreiving well i decided to slip him on shot rabbits and what a job he did. Any shot rabbit that was still kicking he went out and retreived straight back. Very please with the young, inexperienced whippet. He's taken to it all very well and looks as though he's gonna be a good allrounder.

 

We decided to finish the day off with a spot of lamping out in the field with the whippet. There were a few out and it was only minutes and he was in hot pursuit of the 1st. He missed it unfortunately after a decent run. I slipped him on 6 in total and he managed 1 which was retreived to hand. He did mouth another but somersaulted over it and dropped it. I'm a little disappointed that his ratio wasn't better but he is a young inexperienced dog and he had been working all day long. I also know that i need to get a better lamp as he had no problem nailing them in daylight. All in all though, delighted with his performance over the course of the day.

 

Apologies for the quality of the pics but it was pitch black.

 

To the mods. I put this in the airgun section as we got most of the rabbits with the rifle.

 

Just to add. I asked a friend who walks the riverbank to have a look out for the ferret. I got a phone call yesterday to say that he decided to have a walk along to see if he could see her. He was just approaching the warren and she popped her head out so she's now in safe hands and we've got wee Senga back.

 

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed

 

 

Edited November 4, 2012 by AirgunGuy

[Buster321c 1,010]

Great post buddy . I love to see the kids getting involved . My lads used to come with me , then he discovered girls !! Now he`s got that out of his system , he`s slowly coming back to shooting .

[risingfriend 1,042]

great read and superb days work mate. some cracking pics also love the pics of your young uns they looked chuffed.ATB Aaron

[kill zone 27]

This it what you call hunting with success.WELL DONE hope to see more and nice write up atb

[AirgunGuy 362]

Cheers guys. It's been a bit up and down with the kids with regards to the hunting.

 

My wee fella loved it at 1st, then lost interest as he didn't like all the walking but after Fri he loves it again. It really made a huge difference to him taking him to a perm that has lots of rabbits on it instead of taking him out locally where there's not many and you have to cover a lot of ground to get a rabbit or 2.

 

My daughter is a bit of an enigma when it comes to hunting. She wants to be a vet and loves all animals. She's only 12 and i've just got her a wee job working with horses at the weekend. She often questions why i shoot/hunt innocent rabbits and at times she's even made me question it myself but she loved it and the smile on her face when she shot her rabbits was priceless. She's constantly asking me when i'm going back out.

[nangell 50]

thats a good bag ,nice to see your kids like getting involved, my lad come with me but he never shuts up

[AirgunGuy 362]

thats a good bag ,nice to see your kids like getting involved, my lad come with me but he never shuts up

 

Haha...my 2 can be like that. They just get a bit over excited and can get a bit too close to the holes when ferreting as they want to see the action. I've continually got to tell them to stay back and shut up

[ftm 3,357]

great write up mate and nice little dog you have there -billy

[bunny tickler 876]

nice job rob that whippet looks a cracker ,great to get the young ones involved too cheers pete

[AirgunGuy 362]

Cheers Pete. He's still got a bit to go but at this stage he's doing as asked so i'm pleased with him.

 

Hope you're keeping well mate ;-)

[LauBen 9]

Great job mate, glade to see such a diverse range of hunting.

[porkycrook 466]

Blinking heck buddy can't see family, ferrets or dogs going hungry if kills like this continue. As already said by numerous nice to see the young 'uns involved.

 

Best Regards

 

Roger

[Whizzie 38]

Fabulous! Great days work & great to see the kids getting in there too. Well done on such a great bag!

[j j m 6,539]

enjoyed reading this mate glad you all had a good time

[diggermad 154]

well done mate great pics as well DM