using a "line hob"

[lorelei0922 2]

I have a question regarding this old practice.. and the new ways its used..

 

assumably... a "line hob" was used with a line attached to find and shift a ferret that layed up...

 

now the same system is used sometimes with a locator instead of a line which yeah i get it is safer and probably more reliable..

 

my question is this..

 

these hobs you use... are they housed happily with your other ferrets and its just in their nature to shift the lazy layabout down below? or are they a hob that is kept seperate so unfamiliar and more agressive to the ferrets below ground?

 

i'd like to use my hob in this situation as an additional tool to shifting a ferret that's killed ( i have a jill that's especially good at it..even if she goes down with a full belly..ugg!) but as our hobs live quite happily with the jills i am not sure he wouldn't just tuck into the dinner next to her and i'd have TWO ferrets to find instead lol

 

thoughts please??

[Yokel Matt 918]

I line hob is generally heavier and more of a loner... not kept with the rest of the bunch. I'm all for keeping traditions alive but i think a locator is certainly the way forward.

Edited October 2, 2008 by Local

[The one 8,512]

I think the day's of the line hob are dead ,nearly everybody i know works there ferrets hob's or jill's with collars so there no need to keep any ferret in isolation as there social animals

[Yokel Matt 918]

Just read the thread properly... a line type ferret (without the line) can be handy to help shift ferrets laid up in awkward positions where digging is no practical... i.e under a tree stump, theoretically their more anti social nature will move the others along without the man himself laying up... doesn't always happen as planned mind.

Edited October 2, 2008 by Local

[stubby 175]

times have changed, I for one think the line ferret should be left in the past, what YOU AS A HUNTER, have to ask yourself, is do you respect your quarry

 

any ferret that kills/injures underground should in my eye's, be dug to, not only to retreave your ferret, but more so, to retreave the rabbit, and if need be humanely dispatch it, if your not too worried about leaving injured rabbits to die/suffer underground, then ignore this reply

[lorelei0922 2]

times have changed, I for one think the line ferret should be left in the past, what YOU AS A HUNTER, have to ask yourself, is do you respect your quarry

 

any ferret that kills/injures underground should in my eye's, be dug to, not only to retreave your ferret, but more so, to retreave the rabbit, and if need be humanely dispatch it, if your not too worried about leaving injured rabbits to die/suffer underground, then ignore this reply

 

my question wasn't so much about not having to dig to a ferret or rabbit perse' becaue i believe like you .. you need to have respect for your prey.. if we're going to hunt ... we best do it in the most efficient and humane way possible and NOT let the death of the animal be a waste .. so we DO dig to any that lay up... i use collars on mine so i can dig to which ever ferret if the need arises...

 

 

the question really was the nature of these hobs .... like i said my hob is friendly with my jills and if i were to put him down to get the other ferret moving i dont see it working for me lol.. he'd just cosy up with her and i'd be digging them BOTH out...

 

but i've seen posts here about people using a locator not on the hunting ferret but on the hob to find where the kill is if there is a lay up... and was wondering if it was a "loner hob" like stated above or if it was just the nature of a hob to push a jill off the rabbit... certainly doesn't work that way in our court at home lol

[scothunter 12,609]

Have an old poley hob who is used to shift sleepy jills He is housed by himself and is gentle as a kitten.He does not get use of the court but will quite happily play around me when im cleaning out the court and hutches.Put him near any other poley and watch his mood change.Put him down a warren and he will stay down till he has investigated it fully.Shifting any jills who happen to rest up.Blind as a bat and i see he starting to bald a bit.Be a sad day for me he passes away

[Guest bigredbusa]

nothing wrong with using a liner with a collar , like what has been said a good way to wake up a sleepy jill.

 

people will always have different views on it , it's a bit like the people who want to load up a ferret with lucky charms ie: loc8tor , mk3 collar , bell , hair brush and kitchen sink

[stubby 175]

it's a bit like the people who want to load up a ferret with lucky charms ie: loc8tor , mk3 collar , bell , hair brush and kitchen sink

 

dont ya just love BRB's slyness

[mole catcher 1]

Keeping the tradition of KNOWING HOW TO PROPERLY WORK a liner is in my opinion a key skill to being a ferreter. Regardless of all the modern equipment i take on a days ferreting i always have a line ready for use in my kit bag. Why?

simple realy, modern kit breaks down and normally at the time you need it to be reliable the most, like when the ferret is down below. Now if this happens which it does and has to me, knowing how to line a ferret properly and safely will save the day and in some cases the life of a ferret.

 

I can hear you all now, leave it alone and give it time and it will come out, thats ok as long as the ferret hasnt fallen done an upright tube, the tube that the rabbit can climb but the ferret cant. Sounds a bit far fetched that at the same time not only does your finder give up but the ferret gets stuck, but like ive said, it happens when you least expect it. So, dont right off an old skill, embrace it as a back up plan for when you may need it

[Guest bigredbusa]

it's a bit like the people who want to load up a ferret with lucky charms ie: loc8tor , mk3 collar , bell , hair brush and kitchen sink

 

dont ya just love BRB's slyness

 

 

hey we all have our different ways of doing stuff , some agree some dont . i like proven traditonal methods but will embrace new techy stuff aswell if it doesnt interfere .