Last time this year

[lorelei0922 2]

Last time this year...

 

Went out ferreting with some friends this morning and had a Great time!

 

The weather was co operative as well, which is always a bonus lol. Got to the site about 9:30 ish and everyone piled out, there was my Husband Russell and i with our three ferrets ( two albino jills and a polecat hob) and a friend of His with two older lads and a daughter around 13ish. and Two dogs, a yappy lil terrier and a springer who were brought along to harry the bunnies as well in turns with the ferrets.

 

So the young lads head up one side of the hedge with the guns and my husband his friend and daughter and i up the road side with the ferrets.

 

Very quickly found some likely looking holes and netted the easier obvious ones, planning on leaving the more difficult bolts for the guns.

The dogs went up first and had a good dash around marking bits and pieces as there is obviously bunnies here! No bolts though, so they were called down and as we weren't CERTAIN they wouldn't go for the ferrets they were kept on leads while the ferrets worked.

 

First in was Thyme (albino jill) and within a minute of disapearing into a likely looking fresh dug hole a rabbit bolted into the field to the ricochet of shotgun and ahem... MISSES..... within another 5 min she had surfaced and gone back down peeking out now and then as she made her way along the hedge and bolting two more, one into the net and another from a missed hole and another missed shot ( lol these guys need a little practice i think!)

 

We made our way down the hedge alternatively adding Saffie (anothe albino jill) into the mix for about an hour. Several more bolts and Thyme started making her own kills. We could hear the squeek in the hedge and after a little investigating my husband stuck his hand in and pulled out two successive good size bunnies both with very quick dispatching throat wounds where the ferret had grabbed hold and done exactly as instinct has been bred into her for! Sage ( Polecat hob) had his chance as well and bolted two bunnies one which escaped and another caught by hand as it dashed from a hole and was quickly dispatched.

 

The friend had brouht a small polecat hob to try as well so we gave him a shot but not with our three out as they had never met and this one was a bit viscious, they were even afraid really to handle it and it was only brought out of the box to hunt. Something which really impressed my husband friend was how well trained and handleable ours are. Even razzed up from the kill and with blood on her muzzle i lifted Thyme up for a snuggle and a lick on the cheek. They were amazed. Just goes to show that properly cared for ferrets can Work GREAT! and still be the pampered show ferret as many know our three to be. Like all of you we handle and train ours every day and trust them and they us.

 

All in all we brought home 7 and a half rabbits... ( 1/2 rabbit was left behind as it was shot at close range and well ... was quite a mess!) and bolted about a dozen this morning.

 

It was a great day and the ferrets seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves as much as i enjoyed seeing them out doing what nature intended.

 

We brought them home and tucked all three into the shed with the best bits, liver, kidneys and hearts as a treat for a job well done. The bunnies will be put in the freezer to keep them in good raw food for the next little while.

 

Here are a few pictures of the Loot!

7.5 rabbits for the morning

 

 

 

enjoying the Spoils of the hunt

 

 

[andy s410c 59]

Well done to all pampered show ferts that work best of both worlds there

[wabbithunter_15 0]

great read that , well done on a last trip , i think your husband should practice with the gun over the summer

Edited February 24, 2008 by wabbithunter_15

[lorelei0922 2]

Well done to all pampered show ferts that work best of both worlds there

 

 

Thanks! I think so too, we show em all summer get tons of ribbons lol and work them all winter and get tons of scratches, nettles and bunnies for the freezer... Definitely keeps us busy!!

[Kay 3,709]

Well done all, looks like a great morning was had by all

[lorelei0922 2]

great read that , well done on a last trip , i think your husband should practice with the gun over the summer

 

 

LOL better clarify before my hubby has my head...

 

it wasnt' HIM with the guns.. He was setting nets and watching ferrets with me ... it was the friend and lads that had the guns....

 

heheh... and yeah i think THEY need a bit of practice LOL

[Lilyferret 0]

Nice catch, Lorelei