Rabbits Not Bolting

[terryd 8,409]

I think it is just pot luck also if a rabbit has survived a stop end encounter before it will try it again. No real way of working it out. We have all seen rabbits edge to the mouth of a hole and sit there checking that pursenet out or peeping at you deciding if to go or not. On the other hand I have bolted rabbits 3 times that have slipped nets and dogs have missed yet they have still bolted again and this has happened plenty of times over the years 

[The one 8,474]

Only real bother i get is on a big coastal farm , it gets poached a lot the number of nets i find on holes . But i think these guys honestly dont use enough ferrets to go deep and bolt them and once the rabbits learn to sit tight and the ferret leaves them they will do it again and again . I start with a good number of ferrets and after 20/30 minutes add a few more , and then the spade comes out but once youve located the ferret and took the top spit out check it again with the locator as the rabbits nerve goes and it moves and if it can get away from the ferret might bolt 

[Arry 21,724]

To be honest we don't get many that won't bolt to a good ferret. The worst thing imo is that the rabbits become aware of a dog ie barking, whining or digging at a hole when marking.

How good the ferret is comes into play and the size of the ferret imo. Me and my mate have a mixture of size ferrets and it the small one cant bolt it I enter a large gill I have and most come out then. I gutted I tried to breed off her four time she is now over 8 years old and its never happened.

Cheers Arry

[Moocher71 4,049]

8 hours ago, Arry said:

To be honest we don't get many that won't bolt to a good ferret. The worst thing imo is that the rabbits become aware of a dog ie barking, whining or digging at a hole when marking.

How good the ferret is comes into play and the size of the ferret imo. Me and my mate have a mixture of size ferrets and it the small one cant bolt it I enter a large gill I have and most come out then. I gutted I tried to breed off her four time she is now over 8 years old and its never happened.

Cheers Arry

Like you that would give me head ache

A ferreting dog shouldn't be whining at a hole and defo not barking ,I understand a young dog can get inpatient waiting for a bolt but whining a no no and I find it best to start a young dog ferreting by working it on a slip 

[terryd 8,409]

They soon learn stealth is key

 

 

 

This little bugger didn't mind but then he wasn't bought up with it

[Arry 21,724]

11 hours ago, Moocher71 said:

Like you that would give me head ache

A ferreting dog shouldn't be whining at a hole and defo not barking ,I understand a young dog can get inpatient waiting for a bolt but whining a no no and I find it best to start a young dog ferreting by working it on a slip 

Always find it's a farm dog that follows you are the worst. End of last year we had tilled up entered the ferrets to quite a large hedge burrow half a mile from the farm. Farm dog starts barking at the farm but slowly slowly comes closer till ten yards away as I'm ring the farm, too late laid up and had to dig.

Cheers Arry

[Flacko 1,744]

Terryd  yer little dog got his sorry eyes on

[terryd 8,409]

13 minutes ago, Flacko said:

Terryd  yer little dog got his sorry eyes on

I all ways used to say why the long face  

 

[Aussie Whip 4,097]

12 hours ago, Arry said:

Always find it's a farm dog that follows you are the worst. End of last year we had tilled up entered the ferrets to quite a large hedge burrow half a mile from the farm. Farm dog starts barking at the farm but slowly slowly comes closer till ten yards away as I'm ring the farm, too late laid up and had to dig.

Cheers Arry

They are, I think the rabbits get to know the sound and smell of the sheepdogs. They don't get a chance for that with lurchers, lol.