Some foreign friends over ferreting

[blackstaff 488]

I'm bored indoors rained off so thought I'd try my hand at this writing a decent thread thing, here goes

 

I had a couple of friends come over from Holland for a weekend on the rabbits as it's illegal to hunt with dogs over there. I picked the guy's up at the airport ( after being delayed for 2 hours ) and took them out lamping straight away. I took them to some paddocks I haven't been to since last season thinking it would give us at least a chance of a few runs. We arrived and I gave the lads a slip lead each and let them choose a dog each. I didn't mind lamping for them, albeit feeling a little lost without my arm being pulled all night To cut along story short we ended up with 5 rabbits within a couple of hours and a few good runs to boot so we were all happy. When I came to clean the rabbits out we only had 4 in the bag ?? After a good look I couldn't find it so then did the only thing as an Englishman could do. Took the p!ss out of him all the way home and the rest of the weekend

 

Next morning I was either going to take them beating or ferreting all dependant on weather. Well the weather Gods were kind to us so after a full cooked breakfast made by the wife I packed the car with the Ferts, nets and bits and off we went. Our target was the stables we lamped the previous night as I knew there would be rabbits there and couldn't blank being that the boy's have travelled over to see rabbits !! The plan although I packed the nets was to just try and bolt for the dogs ( My favourite kind of ferreting ) We pulled up and got everything out the car then heard a cock pheasant not to far from where we were. Without even saying anything my boy was off through the hedge in front of us, sling shot in 1 hand and ball bearing in the other with 1 of the dogs in hot pursuit. Unfortunately he didn't manage to get close enough but it was good to see he is already in full hunting mode after only 5 mins of being on our 1st trip out this season We walked down the track and within 20 meters got a decent mark from my bitch. It would be rude not to so I dropped a fert in which shifted the rabbit 10 yards down the lane to another bury, I picked the fert up and dropped her in where the rabbit had forwarded to and it bolted out, across the field to a safe retreat to the dismay of us and the dogs who just weren't quite on the ball with this particular coney. Another rabbit bolted, which also decided to run across the field but wasn't so lucky as my bitch wasn't letting this 1 get away. 1 on the board and everyone was happy with the action so far.

We proceeded to the side of a sand school where we entered 2 ferts, let my bitch work the bury and kept my dog on a slip for any runners she missed. After a few more runs we accounted for another 2 rabbits and another 2 that we will chase again another day. 3 so far . .

 

We then went behind the sand school and I asked the guy's to block all the runs and holes under the fencing. The Dutch guy's looked as is I was mad but Explaining to them that the rabbits knew where they were going they understood and blocked everything up. We entered 2 ferts, 1 of the guy's had a dog on a slip, the other dog to work the bury and the boy with his slingshot in hand let the games begin.

 

I decided to swap the dogs over every time the loose dog got a rabbit as my dog needs a bit of practise working on his own. He did really well and seemed to remember how things worked without too much time which was a bonus. The guy's also saw why we had to block the hole's in the fence behind us with a rabbit running straight into a log where his exit hole used to be. 1 of the guy's got the rabbit off the dog and tried to break its neck with the head facing the floor and it's rear end facing up. Not normally a problem for people who know what comes out the back of a rabbit but he decided to squeeze the rabbit's guts whilst pulling it's neck and wee'd the rabbit over himself One of the funniest things I've ever seen ferreting. And it's caught on this video

1 shallow dig of 8inches which was also good for the guys to see the reason we use locator collars. We read the rights to another 4 rabbits so now 7 so far . .

 

I then took the box of ferrets and dogs into a small wood and got a mark from the dog so thought it was time to get my big hob out and give him a spin as it was only a small bury. A few minutes later the rabbit bolted and my dog grabbed the rabbit as it bolted. Another in the bag. This rabbit was drenched, and when my hob decided to come out he was also soaked ? I looked around and found a hole with about 2+inches of water in it so God knows how deep the water was inside the bury ?? 8 so far . . We carried on having a walk and I noticed a couple coming over from behind the sand school. I presumed it was the owners so started to walk over to say Hi. It wasn't it was the new neighbours who asked if they could tag along to see how it all worked. So with our 2 newbies we carried on our walk. We got a mark from my bitch so dropped a fert in and stood back. The coney bolted and my bitch was in hot pursuit. They ran a short way through the wood, over a small ditch and under the barbed wire which was on the other side, through a huge pile of cut branches and across the field. My bitch was gaining but the other side of the field and safety was getting ever closer. My bitch got closer and closer then about 20 yards from the hedge my bitch struck, tumbled and got up with the little blighter firmly between her teeth It was an amazing run and everyone there just looked on and said how good that run was. That's what it's all about IMO 9 so far . . We did a bit of bushing around the field to give the dogs a stretch but didn't manage to connect with any rabbits although had a few runs so went back to the ferreting. A little fence line bury was next and the same as all the others no nets were used, but this time both dogs were kept on slips

 

 

We bolted 2 more rabbits but only managed to get 1 which brought our total for the day to double figures The 2 newbies also asked if I could ferret some hedge rows for them as they have ' Loads ' of rabbits everywhere

All in all a really enjoyable and action packed day with some good company and a few rabbits to boot. Not the biggest haul by any stretch but a cracking day all the same.

Here's a link for the rest of the pics, not too many this time, sorry http://s1106.photobu...mview=slideshow

[ginga john 268]

Great post and great pics, the lad looks like he's hooked !!

Just a question, do you run your dogs with those collars on ?

[stealthy1 3,964]

Now that is a warren with a damp problem

[Carraghs Gem 1,675]

Really enjoyed that

[jimster68 123]

nice write up mate ,good to hear your foreign friends enjoyed a few days sport ,,,,,,,,,,atb jim

[Richie10 345]

Your friends look like they didn't enjoy your ribbing...

[BEARINATOR 2,869]

Excellent write up and pics mate

[patterdalejoel 669]

whats in them dogs breeding? looked a good day

[blackstaff 488]

Cheers all, thought I'd give it a go and see what people think of my writing skill's or lack of

 

Ginga - Yeah mate, even when lamping. Personal preference I suppose

 

Patter - 1/2 Bull x non ped whipp ( 3/4 whip x 1/4 grey )

[rascal_2005 79]

Sounds like a good day that and doing a bit for over seas connetions

 

Now to get the pup out ehh

[blackstaff 488]

Soon as we get enough of the right land to bring her on Oh yeah and when you GET YOUR OWN WHEELS !!!!!!!

[BEARINATOR 2,869]

Sounds like a good day that and doing a bit for over seas connetions

 

Now to get the pup out ehh

 

I thought he meant you when he said foreign friends

[Tyla 3,179]

Thats it, no need for me to do all the write ups any more! Nicely written mate!

[TOMO 26,197]

Nice wright up and pics mate,

[leegreen 2,173]

Do both of them dogs have Whippet in? and do you lamp them both?