Digging for ferts

[Madcowz 0]

Hi all,

 

I know there is a long time until I go ferreting (haven't even got any ferrets yet), but I am looking for some tips and tricks from those with many years of experience (polite way of not calling you old) on digging.

 

Firstly, I understand the principle and have a finder but how do you guys go about digging?

 

How long do you sit around on your box waiting before firing up the finder/spade? I know some people like to keep track of their workers, others just wait. But for how long? 30 minutes, hour?

Do you use a probe?

Does anyone still use a liner?

How often have your little workers been trapped either by a rabbit/root/stone etc rather than laid up sleeping after a lovely meal or trying to get a rabbit out of a stop?

How far down would you dig with the spade before using a probe/stick?

Have you had any difficult or tricky digs caused by obstacles like trees/walls/fences?

When there is a rabbit/s in a stop, how many have you found?

Are they hard to get out and does it not hurt when they kick and scratch, do they go mental when you pull them out? We have a pet rabbit (don't ask, it's the kids) which can practically lacerate your arm if you aren't careful, and he is a supposdly friendly pet! Might pop the little bugger in with the ferts later

 

Are there any other tricks and tips or wisdom you can impart? It is along time since I last went ferreting, over 16 years ago and it was just the once with the local keeper and some of the other beaters. I remember some of it but not all. So looking for advice and stories please.

 

thank you,

 

/Mad

[Greenrodders 0]

It's more of an art than a science, or in other words there's no definite right answers to your questions.

 

The main thing when considering the possibility of digging is that I never send a ferret down without a locator collar (and for the record, I own a Mark III and think my mates old Mark I is much better)

 

With a collar on you can tell when your ferret is laid-up because the signal will remain in the same place for a long time.

 

The hardest thing about using a locatior is not getting it out too soon and spooking the rabbits with the noise. Trial, error and experience will all help. At least with a locator, if you make a bad judgement call you're not likely to lose your ferret, just more likely to dig.

 

As for difficult digs, I once cut my arm badly reaching down a hole where a rusty old fence had been buried. Another bad-dig was the time I didn't get the collar on properly and the ferret came up without it, so I had to dig down for the collar. They aren't as easy to find without a ferret attached.

 

Rabbits do go mental unless they have been exhausted fighting the ferret. Be brave and grasp the back legs firmly. Remember: you are a tough hunter. A firm grip works better on rabbits than it does on nettles.

 

Final tip, you'll have to learn most of it the hard way. Get mates with experience to come along if you can, and remember if it was all simple and ran like clockwork it wouldn't be so much fun.

[Guest Bigbob]

Just dont be to quick to get the spade out , then when you do get the first sod off the surface check to see if the ferrets moved as the noise can do this . then dig to the ferret quick as you can

[arthur 0]

I dont have my own ferrets yet but the guy I dig with does and he never uses a collar. a dead rabbit at the edge of the hole always brings them running.

[micky 3,325]

I dont have my own ferrets yet but the guy I dig with does and he never uses a collar. a dead rabbit at the edge of the hole always brings them running.

thats what people who have been ferreting for a few years would probably call a

 

MAGIC RABBIT

[Hob&Jill 258]

Why would a dead Rabbit at the entrance of hole be more appealing than a dead Rabbit in the warren?

[combatk9 0]

Why would a dead Rabbit at the entrance of hole be more appealing than a dead Rabbit in the warren?

why y askin questions like that pal have a look at my little two can't wait to try them this winter the bloke i got mine offff worked that strain for 20 yers and the bloke b efofe hime 20 years before that thaTS 40 years I'll trust my ferrets instincts see'in they have forty years experience on what i have ....same strain get one a good un and try it ,,,,my little 10 year old daughter can't wait for winter rabbit stew.......and that's mak'in me feel hungry fook i think i'm talkin for the sake of it,,,,cos' i can't wait to see me team enjoyin' there missions......yeee...haaaa..mad dogs and english men and ferrets...silly post this sorry

[blando 0]

and dont forget your probe/bar a really handy thing to have to find the tube

 

 

just watch you dont stab the ferret,

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

i never use a locator ! i learnt my trade without them and have tried them but i think it all comes down to feild craft

and feeding yer ferts properly, as a young lad i would sit by holes for hours waiting on a ferret that had laid up or even block the holes and go back the next day so decided a few years back when i got back into ferreting to try a locator,didnt find much use for it in the end !

now i use good old fashoned feild craft !

 

edited to add .... i havnt sat outside a burrow waiting on a laid up ferret for years now

[Greenrodders 0]

Ricky,

 

I've been pretty lucky when it comes to avoiding digging, not doing it often and having a hob who prefers to cut and run rather than face the noise of the spade, but if you've had such luck, any tips would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Rod

[martin 332]

I have never dug to a ferret in 30 yrs.And,the fact remains,that if you dig a bury thyen itis a certainty that you will be digging it again,as you make more dead ends each time you dig.By the way,I have never lost a ferret either.If I have to leave a ferret in the bury I always leave a box with a hole in one end(with some straw and some milk and food in it)pushed in to one of the holes,and,so far they have always been asleep in the box in the morning.Maybe I'm just lucky,but,the amount of accidents I have,I don't think so.Good luck MC.

[MikeTheDog 153]

and dont forget your probe/bar a really handy thing to have to find the tube

 

 

just watch you dont stab the ferret,

Never used a probe/pung, unnecassary extra gear to carry imo, only ever come across two people that use one. And never got a ferret with the spade either.. ....They move like greased lightning

[Yokel Matt 918]

I firmly disagree with the idea on entering ferrets without collars. Ok maybe on a easy, shallow bury with only a few holes if you want to keep the 'old skills sharp' but other than that its madness IMO. Shaking a dead rabbit in a hole to get them to come 'running' back also seems extreamly unlikely and unreliable... the only time i could ever imagine this working is if the ferret was only a short distance into the bury or dangling it in a hole if it had moved a short way from a dig to.

 

OK so don't be in a hurry to get the spade out and give them time to work but use a locator... it'll save you time and give you peace of mind as to where your ferrets are.

 

Edited to say that at the risk of becoming unpopular i also find a probe a really useful bit of kit... they don't have to be very big and can save time locating the tunnel when close to break-through.

Edited June 29, 2007 by LocalYokel

[Bona 0]

Shaking a dead rabbit in the hole bumping it on the sides and squeeling has always worked , i've never have to leave a fert in the hole. They come back out when they hear the noise because they think its another rabbit

[Madcowz 0]

Some good info here, so thanks for that. As usual everyone has their own way of ferreting which works best for them. If I can take all this info and learn from it my first few outings should be less stressful.

 

I have never dug to a ferret in 30 yrs.And,the fact remains,that if you dig a bury thyen itis a certainty that you will be digging it again,as you make more dead ends each time you dig.By the way,I have never lost a ferret either.If I have to leave a ferret in the bury I always leave a box with a hole in one end(with some straw and some milk and food in it)pushed in to one of the holes,and,so far they have always been asleep in the box in the morning.Maybe I'm just lucky,but,the amount of accidents I have,I don't think so.Good luck MC.

 

 

Martin, are you saying that you wouldn't dig but just leave a box overnight for the ferret? Is this why you have never dug in 30 years? How often does this happen to you?

 

 

i never use a locator ! i learnt my trade without them and have tried them but i think it all comes down to feild craft

and feeding yer ferts properly, as a young lad i would sit by holes for hours waiting on a ferret that had laid up or even block the holes and go back the next day so decided a few years back when i got back into ferreting to try a locator,didnt find much use for it in the end !

now i use good old fashoned feild craft !

 

edited to add .... i havnt sat outside a burrow waiting on a laid up ferret for years now

 

Ricky, what is this field craft that you use that stops the ferts from laying up or getting stuck? I'm interested to learn please.