Does It Make A Difference

[Tiercel 6,986]

I am borderline manic OCD about setting nets. They have to be set correctly. About six years ago I went ferreting on my own as I usually do, (even then I start arguing with myself). Dog marks a three hole warren, I place the nets and rabbit tumbles out of net.No worry says I to my self ,it does happen now and again even with the best set nets. Next warren the dog marks was a little larger around ten holes and as the dog was sticking to one place, I had a good idea that there was only one occupant at home and where it was in the warren, I netted up paying particular care after losing the last rabbit, in goes the ferret and I notice a bolt hole I had missed so I grabbed a net and was just about to set it when I heard the rumble, so I just threw the net over the hole. Yep you've guessed it the rabbit bolted from that bolt hole and pushed under the hastily thrown net.

 

On I go undaunted, but a bit concerned that I had missed two rabbits on the trot, when the dog marked a small 5 hole warren out in the open. Right thinks I, here is where it changes, nothing to snag the nets what ever is in here is mine. Took very special care to set the nets, checked them after I had set them and checked them once again before I put the ferret in, all perfect to my eyes. As soon as the ferret entered the warren a rabbit bolts, as I went to grab it another bolts from a different hole. I looked at the first rabbit and it was meshed perfect in the net, that will wait I thought, and turned my attention to the second rabbit that was getting out of the net. I made a dive at the second rabbit only to grab the skin on it's back and have it pull away from me. so I turned around just in time to see the first rabbit making a clean get away from the first net.

 

At this time there was steam coming out of my ears, but I could only blame myself. I decided there and then it was time to call it a day, so off home I headed when the dog marked another warren, I had ferreted this warren earlier in the year twice, and it had produced for me. The warren was on a bank and there are about 10 holes and one bolt hole. It is always the bolt hole they use to exit the warren, the warren is on the side of a small bank and the bolt hole is at the top of the bank about six feet from the edge of the drop off the hole goes down vertically at least 3ft. So I netted up paying particular attention to the bolt hole. In goes the ferret within a couple of minutes, bump bump goes the rabbit and I position myself ready at the bolt hole. a couple of seconds later and I hear the rabbit bolting from the hole I thought it would come out of and I am poised to strike as soon as it is in the net. The rabbit hit the net but instead of pursing the net just flies up in the air as a sheet and the rabbit ducks under the net before it has time to drop and makes good it's escape.

 

So no matter how anal you are about setting your nets, you will never catch them all.

 

TC

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

@ Tiercel...

 

To be honest,..I am the same as you when it comes to setting a bag full of purse nets...

These days, I only ferret with lads that know the craic and can be trusted to throw a safe net..

They have been rabbiting for a long old time and it would be embarasing to walk behind such experienced operatives, checking their work...

 

But, I have hunted with a few careless, gormless feckers who set nets like they do everything else in their lives,...fecking lazily

 

Nowadays I rarely set hundreds of purse nets.

We just don't have the large numbers of rabbits to warrant the task...

 

All the best, Phil.

Edited January 1, 2015 by Phil Lloyd

[fluff 409]

if you have decent dogs that catch net slippers then nets can be set quicker ,the minute the net moves the dogs standing back waiting , for the bolt or i am ,thats why a good lurcher and ,ferrets, are hard to beat ,one thats clued up to the hunting game there dogs and proper rabbiting dogs,or hunting dogs ,

a man that works without a good running dog that marks catches ,fetches ,catches the odd one that slips the net or if the land suits and there not lots of rabbits catches bolters , stop net purse net lurcher ferret pretty lethal team , but takes a bit of time and trainig to a good standard , alot of guys cant train a dog so theyll never get the combinaition right

[terryd 8,401]

I don't think you can train a good ferreting dog as such. You can obviously do the obedience part wait etc but the rest they pick up with experience if they are inclined. My terrier learnt to keep dead still if there was a rabbit sat in the hole entrance. He wouldn't even turn his head you could see him peeping out the corner of his eye. He learnt that by ploughing into the first couple he ever saw and sending them back down

and he picked up silence was golden would never bark or yap unless I couldn't find where he was marking and shouted where are you boy he gave a muffled woof which got louder if I shouted again. As if to say ffs you idiot Im over here want me to blast a trumpet or what.

You couldn't teach things like that but for me them little bits were what made an average ferreting dog into a great ferreting dog

Edited January 1, 2015 by terryd

[Tiercel 6,986]

I never allow my dogs to touch rabbits in the net, if the rabbit slips the net then it's fair game. But until it does hands off. A lot of people like their dogs to grab rabbits that are already caught and hold them till they get there, nothing wrong with that, apart from the fact that it ties the dog up from other possible bolters. How many times does a rabbit hit a net to be followed by another from the same hole? I prefer the dog to be ready for that second bolter while still watching the rabbit in the net.

 

TC

[norseman 424]

had that happen to me 3 times the last time i went ferreting, two out of the same hole right behind each other. and theres one boy's net setting that i have to keep fixing he never tucks the net in the hole which i find to be crucial, if theres a direction of travel with the hole i always tuck in the net. unless its a vertical bolt hole.

 

anyway rant over

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

I never allow my dogs to touch rabbits in the net, if the rabbit slips the net then it's fair game. But until it does hands off. A lot of people like their dogs to grab rabbits that are already caught and hold them till they get there, nothing wrong with that, apart from the fact that it ties the dog up from other possible bolters. How many times does a rabbit hit a net to be followed by another from the same hole? I prefer the dog to be ready for that second bolter while still watching the rabbit in the net.

 

TC

 

That is great,..in an ideal world,...but I do believe there are variables to such a statement...

Personaly,..I don't want dogs holding netted rabbits that are already, in the bag,..there is no point....

 

But,..in bramble ditches and deep cover,..it is often difficult for a keen dog to see if a rabbit is well meshed or is going to get out...Often the operative is a fair way off,..maybe dealing with other captives and in such cases,.the dog has to do something...We work deep chalk and flint locally,..and no way do I need a rabbit to get back to ground....

 

Of course,.on an open warren or with a Long net,..there is no benefit in the dog getting involved,...however,.when using a brace of dogs, especially youngsters,.the competitive element often kicks in and its a case of all pile in,..knock the fecking net down,.etc,.etc..

 

It is great to have a knowing kind of ferreting partner,.(human or canine),...but facts are,... it takes time

Edited January 1, 2015 by Phil Lloyd

[fluff 409]

got a young dog at moment coming on good ,he marks ,catches bolters ,fetches, a good young pup ,and big enough to be an allround dog ,pleasure to see pups take to ,it natural ,his sister ,not got the same paitience but can spin things over quick and hardly a pant out her ,

 

i learnt a long time ago saluk blooded lurchers get them ferreting and close contact they make good allround dogs ,not just piont and slip great way to teach young dogs

[stealthy1 3,964]

If there's twigs in the leaves and twigs in the hole I'm netting up, then it's cleaned out, if it's just leaves, they stay.

[Neal 1,862]

Apart from the dogs I almost always ferreted alone; I think I've only been out in company maybe a handful of times. That suits me down to the ground. I can go out and come back when I want and my dogs are too polite to tell me how crap I am at setting nets or digging...and they won't come on here after and tell you lot about all the ones we missed because of my mistakes.

[random 659]

I clear holes by putting my hand in just past the stuff causing the obstruction (usually leaves and twigs) and drag it out and throw it just behind me,anything then that looks like a snag would be removed and the net down,so I wouldn't say they are cleaned thoroughly which keeps disturbances down and uses a bit less time,to answer the original q I would say probably doesn't matter too much but each to their own...

 

Not always the best technique when you stick your hand straight into some stingers!!

[Guest vin]

I like to net the runs coming out of the heavy cover and in-between the next warren or anticipated escape route... I was in a wood bottom today next to river bank etc etc...the warrens were under tree trunks and covered in alsorts of shite... Some chaps would have spent half an hour crashing about like a baby elephant clearing all the holes and branches away.

 

I just popped this double ended 5ft purse net across a run up the bank..I used a few twigs to hold it upright,but leaned them forward in the direction I expected the rabbit to approach.

 

1st rabbit out was the dogs...and second one behind it met with my purse net.