None stop ratting.

[Guest MOLLY]

Recieved a phone call last night, would we like to go ratting, let me see, would we?

We were up at 4am for the long but worthwhile drive to meet with the very kind for asking us...Peter the beater, Danny, and Ethan (the greatest rat collector in the world)

From there we went to a huge shooting estate and met with Will and his young bro Aaron (2nd best rat collector in the world) The gamekeeper had requested people to sort the rats.

Between us we had 2 plummers, one patterdale, one border, one whippet, one lakie x Fell and one pat x border.

And what a day

I have never, and im not exagerating NEVER seen as many rats in my life, they were everywhere, the rat equivalent to Woodgas rabbits.

They were bolting everywhere, digging seven's from one stop end, watching them running all over the tracks eating the food the gamey had put down for the birds.

Danny did a better job than the terriers, his skill at coursing then spading the little bleeders was a sight to see, and Will!!!.... He was crouching down with the whippet waiting for bolters. One bolted about 6ft in front of him and headed for the cover, still squatting down, he managed to extend his right leg and kick the rat back in the direction it came from, straight into the jaws of Judy....it was amazing to see.

The dogs worked like little trojans, all of the rats were marked, by them and dug by them and the lads, or caught bolting, no smokers or JCB's to make life easier, ive got two sore and knackered terriers here tonight.

Anyway, enough ramblings, here are some pics from today....

 

The dry stone walls were a seething mass of rats, we used the ferrets to bolt them...

 

 

 

 

 

The motley crew in action

 

 

The whippet was a godsend for some of the bolters...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog vrs rat...

 

Sausage shot just for Spraggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end of the day, over 129 rats

 

 

And two very happy rat collectors ...

 

 

If anyone ever tells you you should tuck your trouser legs into your socks...believe them, ive had an experience i will never forget today, lets say my bath tonight was the best one ever, its funny how dirty you feel when a rat almost got into your knicker leg!

 

A huge thank you to Peter for thinking of us, it has to be the very best days ratting ive ever had, none stop action, with very good company and dogs

Even got dinner in a heated beaters staff room, i could get used to luxuries like this.

 

Marie & Millet.

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

Wow! Molly that has to be one of the best posts I have ever seen on this site. Excellent!

I wish I was there to have seen it. That must have been like heaven!

 

[swandog1 50]

great pics well done that was loads of rats

[Guest little_lloyd]

Bet that was fun fun

[scottishlass 57]

looks like you had a good time wish there was as many rats as that when i go out with my dogs

[sanglier 2]

Great post molly, pictures are spot on.

[skycat 6,173]

can I come next time? Brillliant photos: keep at it. Lovely to see the Whippet doing the biz too. I always rate small lurchers and Whips as among the best ratters.

[Hywel 53]

Cannot fault it! Would I need a passport to "visit" the North of England....

[IanB 0]

Nice one molly and the lads..... a cracking day by all accounts, little beaters sharp shooting up, watch out world...

[proper job 1]

Great post, and a great day out from the looks of it.

[daz1976 8]

looks like an excellent day and great pics

[Guest Magwitch]

Never been ratting but that looks like a fantastic day out Molly

[mussells 0]

simply fantastic!! wow what a great day you had. Fair play thats some awsome rat catching.

[alimac 882]

well done all,

[topshot 0]

well done mate some exerlent pics and a great post keep up the good work