An Enjoyable Walk Out,... With Some Goodfellas....

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

I had traveled North last weekend, with my pal Paul...

 

 

We have been ferreting together for the last two seasons and to be honest, he has been a good friend to me. So,...I thought it might be nice to repay his friendship, with a walk out amidst some high country, with two genuine Goodfellas, Tomo, and Vin...

Paul brought along Swifty, one of my home bred cur crosses, which I had gifted to him, a couple of seasons ago. Locally,..we have to hunt over scores of long hedgerows that divide the commercial pheasant and partridge shoots,...sometimes we get to work up on the Southern Downland chalk warrens, mostly hedges and stop nets....no complaints, it is, what it is.

That being said,..our dogs rarely get a decent run at their rabbits,...the prey, choosing instead, to hug the bramble and blackthorn, before making a sudden break for freedom,...hopefully, a stop net is waiting patiently to ensnare them,...My own wee bitch, Angel, has been specially bred, to get down and dirty and to lie quietly waiting deep within the darkness of the brash,..it is here that she does her best work.

 

Just after ten o'clock on a bright, sunny Saturday morning, we were picked up outside our B&B by Vin.

The big man, Tomo, turned up a few minutes later and transferred his rabbiting equipment into Vin's 4x4 and off we all headed, towards the rabbiting ground at Hawes....

 

 

What a fabulous place it was...

 

 

We climbed ever higher in the trucks,..often slipping and sliding down the grassy banks that were becoming increasingly greasy, as the morning sun burnt off the overnight frost. At times it was quite hairy and we were relieved to finally reach the summit. The lads have been doing sterling work on this ground and have taken a fair amount of rabbits off the place. It is always great fun having a wander and treating an area as though it is your own personal playground, but the facts are, most large tracts of land have conscientious estate managers, who will soon be on your case if you are not doing the job properly. Rabbits need to be controlled and sooner or later, with the cream having been done, and all the easy places having been hammered, you then have to fall in and start ferreting ground that you have avoided all season. It is just the way of things with good permission,..obviously, a lifetime ago, I simply went where I liked and kept well away from awkward or unproductive places,...I just wanted a quick in and out,..feck you, kinda thing

 

The new Keeper was waiting for us on the Tops,...he was the new boy on the Estate and obviously still feeling his way around,...After a quick chat (and a wee disagreement with myself regarding the legalities of certain vermin killing traps,..oops.. ) we all boxed up a ferret each, shouldered a spade, clicked in a lurcher and went off in different directions...

 

There was one ruling from my hosts,..and it was strictly adhered to,....No Nets.....

Vin headed upwards into the clouds,...Paul also headed upwards,..and Tomo took the keeper under his wing and gave him a lesson in efficient rabbit catching, one that I doubt he will ever forget....and me,..well,.I just had a gentle mouch, as befits an old semi-retired rabbiter.

I simply ambled along...following my cur's lead,.. waited for a 100% mark from her, popped in the ferret,..and then,...hoped against hope, that none of the others could see her, getting straight lined by every decent rabbit...

Facts are,..she was bred to do a specific job in my capacity as a Rural Pester and I have always been well aware, of her physical limitations,... She is not slow, no way,..but only has the one chance of a successful strike, and if she misses, it is game over,...whereas, her litter sister Swifty, is bigger built, more like their mother and can definitely have a bit of a run...That is why I felt it only proper that for once,.Paul should see her being given a fair go,.without the dangers of woodland brash, fallen trees and everything else that makes our job so very difficult and frustrating.

 

It was an exciting few hours,..spent with some right good lads,...

Paul saw what he wanted to see and now knows that his time was not wasted, in rearing and schooling the youngster and if only we had the land to develop her natural skills, he would definitely have a reasonable ferreting lurcher in his kennels...

Both Vin's and Tomo's dogs showed their class and I just stood back,.happy to watch men and dogs in perfect harmony....It gave me great pleasure.

All in all, a superb trip,...I thank both you guys for allowing me and my mate to share a memorable Day in the Dales with you,....I shall not forget your kindness...

 

All the best, Phil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the session on 96 rabbits....

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed in the Pub,...having the craic, watching the Rugby and downing a few pints...

Then,.as night fell and the darkness drew in,...Vin, could not let it lie at 96 rabbits....and in some ways he was right,...All of us felt that we really should have made the effort,....so,..out came the Dazzler and armed with Doris,.his fabulous hunting dog,...he quickly scanned a nearby paddock and spun over, another four conies...Back at the Pub, we ordered a Steak and Kidney pud,..a bit more grog and sat down to relax by a roaring log fire,..a fitting end to our Day in the Dales, with a respectable tally, of 100 rabbits ...

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2017 by Phil Lloyd

[trigger2 3,145]

great stuff phil. a rewarding day it was aswell by all accounts well done to to you all.

[Guest Navek]

Cracking read that Phil....when you getting a book out ?

[Francie 6,368]

Grat post phil thanks for sharing.

[breeze 1,308]

Good write up that Phil . .. .No accompanying piccy's ? seeing that the weather was abit kinder to you this time

 

Good on Tomo and Vin as well

[tote 856]

Good write up Phil, a refreshing change to hear someone talk highly of other men and their dogs.

 

Fair play to Tomo and Vin for sharing the experience with youse.

[downsview 448]

Very nice all that talk of Blackthorn's and brambles throw in a few big beech trees and slippery steep chalk banks takes me back to when I was a young lad the downland we haunted wasn't that far from the smoke.

[Maximus Ferret 2,063]

Enjoyed that v. much Phil. You can still write, that's for sure .

[Chicken_man 1,651]

Thanks Phil, great write up. I know Hawes well, it's the birth place of my forefathers, great land round there.

Sounds like a great day. Great pics also.

Atb

[taffey 1,315]

Great write up there Phil been up that way myself few yrs ago bolting to dogs no nets great fun and for someone that's not used to ground sets only rough hedges etc its a lovely setting to work your dogs and the views are amazing if it's clear lol atb taffey

[Bosun11 537]

Good read Phil, enjoyed that. Well done all.

[krawnden 1,036]

Love the bottom two pictures

[Guest vin]

Great day out chaps... My legs are still hurting from that treck back down the hill.

 

Big lad was getting a panic on when he thought he'd lost his wallet.. we were lamping the main road for his wallet and it was under his seat all that time..we even emptied all the bunnies back out of his car in case it was in there...hehehee.

 

Long day for me.. 6am start and 3am finish. . . But worth every minute.

 

Your a long time dead and someday all we'll have is memories to look back on. Saturday will be one I'll remember.

[s.e.s.k.u 1,893]

Brilliant stuff enjoyed that thanks

[tb25 4,627]

I do enjoy your posts Phil..spot on lads