WHERE TO DIG AND WHEN?

[harrishawkblue 2]

I have been reading lots on this forum about about being laid up.

As a newbie to ferreting it makes one wonder how long you should leave your ferret down the warren before using your finder and deciding to dig?When you are digging what stops you hurting the ferret below.

[stubby 175]

normal we work anything from 3 to 8 ferrets at any one time, you'll know what ferts are yours or your mates, and each person looks out for each others ferts, your hoping your ferrets are working the warren, appearing and disappearing from view, done different holes, you'd therefore notice if one in paticular dosent show for a while, at anytime you can use the locator to get a "fix" on a ferret, if the locator tells you the collar is moving about, then you know the ferts ok, but maybe just working deeper than the others, if you get a fix that dosent move for 5 minutes or so, we mark the spot, then leave it a little longer, this may be a rabbit in a stop end, once you deciede to dig, depending weather your using a mk1 or mk3 both will tell you the depth that the collar is at, I have a shovel with marks cut in the back, giving me 1ft,2ft and 3ft markers, if the locator is saying 2ft, you dig to almost 2ft, checking with the locator as you dig to see if the ferret has moved, if it has, we carry on digging, as 9 times out of 10 you'll retreave a dead rabbit, you can use a probe, which is a piece of rod with a bulbous end, and gently pushing it into the dug hole, feel were the tunnel is,

[harrishawkblue 2]

normal we work anything from 3 to 8 ferrets at any one time, you'll know what ferts are yours or your mates, and each person looks out for each others ferts, your hoping your ferrets are working the warren, appearing and disappearing from view, done different holes, you'd therefore notice if one in paticular dosent show for a while, at anytime you can use the locator to get a "fix" on a ferret, if the locator tells you the collar is moving about, then you know the ferts ok, but maybe just working deeper than the others, if you get a fix that dosent move for 5 minutes or so, we mark the spot, then leave it a little longer, this may be a rabbit in a stop end, once you deciede to dig, depending weather your using a mk1 or mk3 both will tell you the depth that the collar is at, I have a shovel with marks cut in the back, giving me 1ft,2ft and 3ft markers, if the locator is saying 2ft, you dig to almost 2ft, checking with the locator as you dig to see if the ferret has moved, if it has, we carry on digging, as 9 times out of 10 you'll retreave a dead rabbit, you can use a probe, which is a piece of rod with a bulbous end, and gently pushing it into the dug hole, feel were the tunnel is,

 

Thanks for that reply mate it is really helpfull.I use a mk1 collar and locater.

[Brimmer 220]

Never really work that many ferrets at once myself Stubs, do you gain anything through using that many? (ie faster turn over of warrens, size of warrens etc?) If there's only 1 or 2 spade's at most, is 3 -8 required?.

Only hitting small to medium warrens ourself, but sure what we have will shift or kill whats there.

Not sarcastic in any way, still learning from others. and everything about dissapearing for a few mins, and getting a fix on the animal is our line of thinking.

Edited November 7, 2008 by Brimmer

[Brimmer 220]

Also using the box, knowing when the quiet knock sounds tells us to dig a bit more carefull, no need for extra gear like a probe.

[earthpig 0]

Hows it going mate most of this you learn from experiance never heard of anyone hurting ferret ,you know from the feel in the spade and the sound of ground when you close and keep cheacking with locator box to pin point ,when you know roughley the depth acuaracy of your locator so if you know its say 3ft you slow up about 2ft and the next 1ft with some caution its all about common sence mate

[will.f11 24]

it depends on the ferret mate. if you have a ferret which wont come up until the burrie is clear, then its hard to tell apparetly. but if its a ferret that works and comes up alot, and doesnt come up for a while, you may need to find it on the locator but not necessarily dig

[victor 10]

well unless your ferret is realy realy fit thay cant go all day, and if you have seen the amount stubby gets. you'll know why he uses a few ferrets, i use 1 ata time but take all 3, 4 soon enough @ brimmer.

[stubby 175]

Never really work that many ferrets at once myself Stubs, do you gain anything through using that many? (ie faster turn over of warrens, size of warrens etc?)

 

we tend to go in a group of three, therefore each taking between 2 to 4 ferts for the day, small warrens would only get a couple put down, but anything above 10 holes, we stick at least 2 each, we dont use many purse nets, mostly longnet all around and sometimes cross section that too, lots of ferts gets the rabbits bolting, rather than sitting tight, not saying we dont get sitters and digs, as we do,

[The one 8,488]

I usually have a glance at my watch when im putting the ferrets to ground using one ferret per 10 holes roughly and if its quiet after 10/15 minutes i give the burrow a sweep with the locator. Just checking there all still there and moving about any ferrets that are staying still i mark that spot ,them if it stays quiet i will give it another sweep and if there still there out comes the spade. I take off the divot and check the mark again as often this noise straight above the rabbit might l cause it to move or hopefully bolt ,f im still in the right spot dig fast and safely till the last foot then check which side of the hole your digging your ferret is or right under neath you and take out the remaining soil carefully when i break threw to the burrow i clean it out with my hands them have a good feel around before using the spade again