The Highs And Lows

[Sirblessed 2,511]

Hey guys spent the last couple of days ferreting, with mostly highs and a heartfelt low. I havent lost a ferret in over 15 years so Ive been pretty lucky, but yesterday that streak came to an end. After a pretty successful day and a half we entered 4 ferrets into a blackberry bush along a fence that was about 150m long and I would estimate over 100 holes, three returned and after a 4 hour wait and trying numerous tactics to try and retrieve her, Bella was a no show. I am very fond of all our ferrets but she was one of my favourites she was also one of my daughters ferrets. In Australia we cant dig most warrens, because the sunburnt ground is like a rock, we also have very venomous snakes that will kill a ferret in minutes. So our methods are a little different, than some places where the earth is wetter. What I would of given yesterday for a dig able ground and a ferret finder, so next time you are complaining about the weather, just remember it has its advantages. Anyway it wasnt all bad a great day was had by all especially Dess young grandson 2 ½ year old Jasper a budding future ferreter. I will post a link to a video of some of the happier moments once uploaded to youtube.

[Sirblessed 2,511]

some pictures YouTube link will follow later http://imgur.com/a/f9ds2

[taz2010 1,297]

why enter a ferret without a collar wouldnt matter where i am collars are always on no matter

[terryd 8,660]

to look at them pictures you would think that would be a piece of cake but with the ground like concrete just goes to show. Sorry to hear about the ferret. Look forward to the video

[Sirblessed 2,511]

why enter a ferret without a collar wouldnt matter where i am collars are always on no matter. I own and use collars in areas of dig able ground, you would need a 20 kilo crowbar or a jack hammer to dig that area mate.

 

[Tiercel 6,986]

I have never owned or used a locator and in 50 years plus ferreting I have lost one, down a limestone fissure. Locator or not you would have needed dynamite to get it out.

 

That said, a few have gone missing for a couple of days, but always had them back.

 

TC

[Sirblessed 2,511]

Video -

[Sirblessed 2,511]

to look at them pictures you would think that would be a piece of cake but with the ground like concrete just goes to show. Sorry to hear about the ferret. Look forward to the video

Yeah mate looks can be deceiving. The rabbits dig after a wet patch then the sun bakes it again, when I go back ill get the shovel out of the car, and show you how to pogo with a plumbers shovel , Ill post it here.Cheers

[Sirblessed 2,511]

I have never owned or used a locator and in 50 years plus ferreting I have lost one, down a limestone fissure. Locator or not you would have needed dynamite to get it out.

 

That said, a few have gone missing for a couple of days, but always had them back.

 

TC

Here's hoping. I spoke to the neighbours. both Des and the property owner said they will ring me if she shows up. My guess is a snake, hope I'm wrong the last one I lost a 6ft Brown snake charged out of the burrow the ferret didn't.

[Sirblessed 2,511]

I'd still use a collar just so I knew where and what ferret was doing, it's no great loss if you've only lost one ferret in all that time, so not like you'll be losing loads a collars, even if it's undiggable I use bolting ferrets with a collar on, just so I know where they are. If a ferret hits a deep crack or an old mine or summat them yeah you've lost a collar, but that could happen anywhere and tbh I'd be more pissed off about ferret than collar lol

Fair point, I suppose over time and with experience you become complacent, all I can say is I just bought new battery's for the collars. Cheers

[bjay 21]

Bugger , How come you always lose the good ones , All you can do is usual stuff like leave a nest box out there ,

Snakes are always a worry hey

I also have a locator and collar it sits in the shed never use it ,

hope ya find it

 

B

[TOMO 26,875]

Can you not set a few live trap cages about the place,,baited with some rabbit insides,,cover the traps to keep them out the sun,,you could even put a drinking bottle on so she could get a drink...

[Plucky1 1,119]

I was ferreting a place for years that was full of rabbits and after we'd got on top of the numbers we made a concerted effort in the farmers garden where his wife had a small orchard and veg patch,well we had a few lay ups were we had to dig down with me putting my arm up stop ends with 2 or 3 in when the farmer came back and was looking at us a bit weird, he came over to see us asking whether we were not afraid of the snakes ?? I thought he was taking the piss until his wife came out and assured us that they always see Adders in the garden there,so,I don't put my hand up quite so readily these days, I have another farm where I am careful as I get more rats than rabbits out of them warrens, WM