Hunting Rabbits With Ferrets

[MAAA 1]

I have been reading through the archive's tring to learn more about the art of ferreting and i know it is a little aggraveting for some of you who know how to hunt with ferrets to be bothered with alot of dumb questions. But i have never heard of useing ferrets to hunt with before now. Since it is sort of common knowledge for most of you here most of what i find in the archives or previouse threads is information on maintance & care of the ferrets.

 

I know if i keep researching i will eventually figure out how you use ferrets to hunt with. But rather than reading through alot of past threads to find this out. Would someone please give me a brief discription of how you use ferrets to hunt with and what all animals can you hunt with ferrets ? I am assumeing you use them to hunt mainly rabbits ? Does the ferret push the rabbits out of the burrows or do they catch them and bring the out ? I did not know that a male ferret was called a " hob " and the female a " jill " ?

 

Thanks

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Yes the ferret is used to "bolt" the rabbit from its warren either into a carefully placed net over the entrance to the warren and any other exit holes or to a waiting lurcher who will catch the rabbit when it comes out.

 

A lurcher or other dog is often used to indicate if the "set" or "warren" is in use. A good marking dog will let the owner know if anything is at home. If my bitch walks past a set and pays no attention then I can trust her that its empty and not waste time netting up.

 

The ferret is not used to kill the rabbit, although sometimes will. This is where locator collar and spade comes in. To dig out your little friend.

 

Personally I prefer working small Jill's because they are often too small to hold and kill a rabbit. Not always but mostly. The rabbit then bolts which is a success.

 

My big hob is very strong and 90% of the time I have to dig him out because he has made a kill.

 

Hope this brief summary helps.

[Jamie m 668]

When you click on the ferrets and ferreting section have a look through ferreting reports , also you tube ,or ask for someone to take you out next season providing you don't live on Alaska or something . : )

[Jamie m 668]

Just had a look Arkansas , well if your ever over this way : ) .

[sam007 34]

I don't know if I am correct but I heard that it is illegal

to hunt rabbits with ferrets in the USA.

Sam

[chelsea 125]

Yes the ferret is used to "bolt" the rabbit from its warren either into a carefully placed net over the entrance to the warren and any other exit holes or to a waiting lurcher who will catch the rabbit when it comes out.

 

A lurcher or other dog is often used to indicate if the "set" or "warren" is in use. A good marking dog will let the owner know if anything is at home. If my bitch walks past a set and pays no attention then I can trust her that its empty and not waste time netting up.

 

The ferret is not used to kill the rabbit, although sometimes will. This is where locator collar and spade comes in. To dig out your little friend.

 

Personally I prefer working small Jill's because they are often too small to hold and kill a rabbit. Not always but mostly. The rabbit then bolts which is a success.

 

My big hob is very strong and 90% of the time I have to dig him out because he has made a kill.

 

Hope this brief summary helps.

Hi mate I will be going ferreting myself for the first time would welcome any advice on subject ...

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

 

Yes the ferret is used to "bolt" the rabbit from its warren either into a carefully placed net over the entrance to the warren and any other exit holes or to a waiting lurcher who will catch the rabbit when it comes out.

 

A lurcher or other dog is often used to indicate if the "set" or "warren" is in use. A good marking dog will let the owner know if anything is at home. If my bitch walks past a set and pays no attention then I can trust her that its empty and not waste time netting up.

 

The ferret is not used to kill the rabbit, although sometimes will. This is where locator collar and spade comes in. To dig out your little friend.

 

Personally I prefer working small Jill's because they are often too small to hold and kill a rabbit. Not always but mostly. The rabbit then bolts which is a success.

 

My big hob is very strong and 90% of the time I have to dig him out because he has made a kill.

 

Hope this brief summary helps.

Hi mate I will be going ferreting myself for the first time would welcome any advice on subject ...

 

 

Honestly I would say get out with someone whos doing it.

To just rock up in a field with a ferret and some nets sand no basic knowledge is a little bit silly in my opinion. Im sure you could pick it up and teach yourself but you would benefit alot from tagging along with an experienced ferreter.

[nothernlite 18,089]

its no rocket science ferret nets and burrows get out and try yourself pretty basic mate just keep quiet round the hole net up and leave a we while then pop the ferret in and you will hear the rumbling if theres anything home

[rob190364 2,594]

there are some very good vids on youtube if you didn't have anyone to show you the ropes, some of them go right back to basics and show you exactly what to do.

 

The biggest thing you'd need to know how to do before hand is dispatching the rabbit though, it's not hard to do but there is a bit of a nack to it.

[chelsea 125]

there are some very good vids on youtube if you didn't have anyone to show you the ropes, some of them go right back to basics and show you exactly what to do.

 

The biggest thing you'd need to know how to do before hand is dispatching the rabbit though, it's not hard to do but there is a bit of a nack to it.

Ok lads thanks..

[chelsea 125]

Ok lads thanks just talking to a mate he will be taking along with him...

[stinkers 102]

Ok lads thanks just talking to a mate he will be taking along with him...

If your down Cork city way anytime you can come on my permo's and give it a bash if you like. Always handy with some of my permos to have two heads

[chelsea 125]

 

Ok lads thanks just talking to a mate he will be taking along with him...

If your down Cork city way anytime you can come on my permo's and give it a bash if you like. Always handy with some of my permos to have two heads

 

thanks mate will take you up on that sometime..

[MAAA 1]

Thank you all very much for your help. I don't know if it is or isn't legal to hunt rabbits with a ferret here in the U. S. but i am going to check with my local game warden the next time i see him and if it is I think i am going to give it a try. That sounds very interesting. I have never heard of hunting rabbits with ferrets before and i would bet there would be very few if any others here in the U. S. who have heard or have hunted rabbits with ferrets either.

 

Most rabbit hunters here in the U. S. use dogs perferribly begals to jump the rabbits and then shoot them when they get a shot at them with shot guns or some people us 22 rifles to hunt with. Some hunters will make wooden box traps to trap rabbits with or use snares. But the use of snares i think are used more in parts of the U. S. where rabbits are more abundant like Alaska or other Western states.

 

I am 52 years old now but when i was a boy we use to hunt rabbits with begals but the deer population has grown so much that it is pretty hard to use dogs for rabbit hunting because it is just a matter of time before the dogs will jump a deer and they will take off chasing it. Some hunters claims to have dogs that won't chase a deer but i have yet to see one. We use to also hunt deer with dogs and it is still legal here to do that & also to hunt coyotes with dogs.

 

But i am very interested in learning more about hunting rabbits with ferrets. Since i am getting older now chaseing after a pack of hounds to hunt rabbits is a little more that i really want to do. I like the taste of wild rabbit and am planning on tring to trap some this winter but i have not decided as to what type of trap i am going to use. I have the design for a wooden box trap which is the sea saw design that i think i am going to try. But also after reading about using the ferrets if it is legal here i am going to try that also.

 

I do have another question if it is not too much trouble. Will all ferrts hunt rabbits ? I know someone here mentioned they perferr to use small jills to hunt with because they most of the time will not kill the rabbit which makes sense but other than that what would one look for in finding a good hunting ferret ?

[Jamie m 668]

Do your rabbits live below ground ??? Ie European rabbit ,???