general advice wanted

[godman 0]

I'm fifteen (i didn't mention this on my other posts as i was a little nervous but i though what the heck)

 

I am very lucky as don't have a problem with permission as my grandad has a good bit of land that i know has rabbits and other critters.

 

Theres just a few things

 

I found this earth and i wasn't sure if it was a fox or badger hole.

 

What is the best age to get a terrier to start working underground?

 

Any other info would also be very helpful.

Edited August 1, 2007 by godman

[Guest john the baptist]

Hiya Godman, if you're unsure as to what sort of earth it is, my advise is don't enter your terrier. Not only could you end up in lumber but you may ruin a promising young terrier. Try and go out with a more experienced terrier lad in your area who can show you the ropes. You shouldn't have a problem findind somebody to go out with seeing as you already have a bit of permission. Try asking on here or smoochers i'm sure someone will help you out. Good luck and good hunting young man.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Godman; I take it ye've not yet knowingly smelled a fox, mate? Ye will do one day and, if someone's around to explain what the reek is, it's a smell ye'll never forget and will instantly recognise for the rest of ye life. It's hard to explain smells in writing or course, but I always describe it as something like burned rubber. I mean, ye don't come across a lot of burning rubber in the countryside. Smell something that stinks anything like it and the chances are ye've hit the smell of a fox. Ye can liturally walk along a track and walk bang into an invisible wall of that stench.

 

Badgers holes, in a perfect world, tend to have a flat bottom and an arched top. Foxes being just round, like a rabbit bury. Also, badgers tend to drag a ton or earth out in front and ye may even find old bedding in it. But that's all a little bit Janet and John in real life. Rabbits and foxes too may leave soil slides outside their holes. As John the B says; An experianced man will point out what's what for ye. Dog will show ye a lot too. Take notice of ye Dog.

 

But mheanwhile, try to expand and develope ye field craft. Look for tracks. Foxes are like little upright diamonds. Badgers are like circles someone's sat on and partly flattened. They also most often show big claw marks at the front too.

 

Walk the ground adjacent to any holes. If ye see where something's raked cow pats and or generally ripped the turf up? That'll be badgers. Be very wary of approaching any holes near such sign.

 

Thing is, take ye time. If ye discern a flattened path beneath a fence or out of some brambles, get down and absorb it. Scrutinise the thorns or barbs and see if your young eyes can detect any single hairs caught there. Look at the hair and try to work out who it's off.

 

Find any shit? Look hard at that too. Don't be shy of taking a sniff. Again, that way ye'll gain the advantage of knowing what quarry and non quarry creatures might smell like.

 

See anything ye know must be done by an animal but can't think what? Try to figure it out. Look at sizes and locations. Try to think what the anomal must have been thinking and doing. Why was it there, doing that? Where did it come from and where was it going? Why?

 

Might seem a hell of a load to take on. But ye have time. Take it. That's how you too will become an experianced man and will be able to walk the ground seeing and understanding what's what.

 

Best of luck. Enjoy yeself

[keg 1]

good advice d.s :clapping: :clapping: if in doubt keep it out

[TimJ 0]

Ditch Shitter, you gave him milk with the cookies too.

Nice post

[godman 0]

Just like to say thanks to ditch shitter and john the baptist for their advice

Edited August 1, 2007 by godman

[shotup 9]

before you go off into the back of beyond looking to locate some underground quarry try just digging a hole4ft by 4ft deep and see if you are strong enough to dig your terrier out of a shallow earth because most young lads are incapable of digging even a shallow hole and you must do your dog and quarry justice in the quickest time if you are looking for earth work.many a time ive had young lads that have knocked on my door saying they have a dog to ground all day and when ive seen how little they have dug as they soon burn out and realise that it takes a lot of hard work in some ground just to get a few feet. if your going try and take some one a bit older that can dig a little. good luck.

[Guest bullterrier]

before you go off into the back of beyond looking to locate some underground quarry try just digging a hole4ft by 4ft deep and see if you are strong enough to dig your terrier out of a shallow earth because most young lads are incapable of digging even a shallow hole and you must do your dog and quarry justice in the quickest time if you are looking for earth work.many a time ive had young lads that have knocked on my door saying they have a dog to ground all day and when ive seen how little they have dug as they soon burn out and realise that it takes a lot of hard work in some ground just to get a few feet. if your going try and take some one a bit older that can dig a little. good luck.

 

GOOD ADVICE THERE MATE ..JOHN

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Shotup! What a post!!! :clapping:

 

I don't ~ and never have ~ dig Anything, without a Foreman telling me to That's why I never even stopped to consider that aspect. Personally, I vote that that should be Stuck at the top of this board, as Advice to Young Terriermen! F*cking brilliant!

[FastDogz 155]

Ditch and John

 

When/If i ever start hunting ima hire DS as mi personal teacher...some wide words

[godman 0]

again i'd like to say thanks to everyone who has posted

Edited August 2, 2007 by godman