Brimmer 220 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 (edited) Hello chaps and the odd chapess, had another outing today. Alongside the usual wanting to get as many rabbits as possible, I set myself the challenge of trying to get away with no digging, or as little digging as possible. (Plenty of no locater talk lately!) I took out the 8 yr old russel, starting to wonder what his name is as 'b*****d' get's shouted that much, also 2 of 2007's albino hobs, these are small - medium hobs, just getting back in shape after I'd overfed them for 2 weeks, now almost at fighting weight! (Billy bob the fang and his brother.) Late start at 9pm to be honest, feeling a little beat up from yesterdays outing, but thats a story never to be told! The lovely mist was down in force! Joy! As you can see, it's ideal conditions to work a headstrong terrier that does not listen to a word you say, 50 yrds and out of sight, hope my voice can cope with all the shouting today! Did not do to bad for the first half hour, 1 mark on a warren, and got one in the net. Walked on and another mark from the terrier, swiftly called away and placed on the lead before he caused chaos! The dog hates me for this, but if he listened a bit I'd let him off! Numb terriers! Netted up, and entered one of them, (By the way I'd done this in silence, no bumps or bangs, and no shouting at the dog!) Now the wait as I'm on the no dig challenge! To be honest the ferret was into the rabbit after around 50 seconds, but bieng a little lad I gave him the chance, plenty of hard pressed rabbits have got away from these little hobs. Still waiting 15 minutes later, enough is enough, I could have gone to sleep! I failed my no dig challenge at that point in time! " 2 minutes later i'm through. On the first in the tube. On the second in the tube. (Chipped a bit off the side for camera purposes!) Ferret came out on the second rabbit, but it did not stop there! No 3. Right thats three in a tight tube, there was no way they were coming out on there own, and no way I was leaving them there for 2 minutes digging! Right, as i'd failed on my no dig day, I tried to get away with least digging in a day. Next warren was one i'd done 3 months ago at the start of the season, i'd had a 4 ft dig on this, knew it could be a tricky one, as all the tubes seem to lead to the deep spot. Dog on a lead, and netted up. Dogs pissed off again! Waited 10 mins on this warren, ferret was into the rabbit at aroun 90 seconds, not happening, guess what, the ferret had cornered the rabbit right where I'd dug 3 months earlier, surprise surprise, easy digging at least! Pulled one out of here, and on the ferret went, 5 mins later he bolted one into the net! Wahey! Thats this warren clear, 7 in the bag now, I decide to place them under an old wall rather than carry them everywhere, my old man tells me to drop rabbits in spots here and there rather than carry them. That's great if you know where they are, or dont have to walk half a mile to pick them up because the plan of the day has changed! I' ll come back to this later. Onwards we go, skimming edges of the land we covered last week, a few bunnies about, but mostly flighty critters. Got a mark here, looks dickie, but what the hell! One road in one road out! In goes the hob after netting up, dog is really pissed off now! After 10 minutes it's obvious it's not coming out, boxed up it shows 2 feet, result, i thought it could be a 5 footer! Pick up the spade, release the mutt. Dog ends up grabbing at it in the hole, gets hold, lets go, rabbits back down. Showing 6 foot, no no no. Sit and wait, after 3 minutes, out the rabbit comes! Thank god for that! Mist is clearing a little by now, time for a few scenic shots! Problem is, now after dumping the rabbits under the wall, there is a buzzard starting to circle above them, calls to his mate, they are both above them now, now a blackback joins them. ENOUGH! rabbits you are coming with me, extra weight yes, but i'm not having those bloody vultures down on my bag! Dog continues as always, non stop finds a nice 2 holer below! Please excuse the fumbling around with the net, holding a camera, pulling the net, then entering the ferret is a bit of a task on your own! Then he finds a rabbit in a pophole, poor bugger. Only fit for ferret food after he treats it like a 4 lb rat. Bladdy terriers!. Continued on my way, just plodding along, shouting of the damn ignorant terrier, and i spot this in a seat to my left! Cooeee! I can see you! It's around 8 ft away, but i know it's beyond me and the spade, and way too good for the russel, what do i do? Right only one thing for it, get the dog in and have a chuck with the spade! This is how it ended up, spade, no dog, no rabbit! Close but not enough force to stop it dead! Started getting into the tricky stuff after this, have to use your head, otherwise animals will get lost and die. Worked a ravine with rockholes from the last ice age still bieng used with the bunnies. Any one of these will claim an animal, just walk away, although i don't like to do it. Got the odd tricky but workable mark on the edge of this. Had to move the boulder in front of the dog, but got the bunny. That pushed us up to 19 bunnies at this point, Wanted the 20, but it was looking grim, then the dog marked this! Bloody tricky spot, but what the hell, netted it! One hole in one hole out! Fingers crossed! Out the bunnie comes thank god, but the ferret goes back and starts bumping around! Luckily the dog shows me the way on the backside of the rock! And out comes 21! Enough now, off home we go with a decent bag of 21, took some getting, but job done! All the best lads! forgot the bag piccie! Edited January 30, 2009 by Brimmer Quote Link to post
doddsy1970 9 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Brimmer you sure get the rabbits and some good pics too. As a matter of interest where abouts are you in the world? Quote Link to post
mattydski 560 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Ferreting in the real world Man after my own heart.. Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted January 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Brimmer you sure get the rabbits and some good pics too. As a matter of interest where abouts are you in the world? Between a rock and a hard place mate! Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted January 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Can I add I had to dig only 3 times today, but had to net up bloody loads! Big hobs and locaters V/s nets they all cancell each other out in the end, Do what you want, the rabbits is always better than you! Quote Link to post
chalkedup 14 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 your hard work always pays off mate well done Quote Link to post
redeye jedi 39 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 good work, take my hat off to you brim mate. stunning part of the world you got there buddy. Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted January 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 good work, take my hat off to you brim mate. stunning part of the world you got there buddy. Just a passenger on it mate, like the last and like the next! God help them! Quote Link to post
BEARINATOR 2,876 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Good bag Brimmer mate and nice pictures Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Yo Brim! absolutely facinating mate, where would we be with out feildcraft, terrier does'nt look botherd about the names you called him, good result. Quote Link to post
Tiercel 6,986 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Can I add I had to dig only 3 times today, but had to net up bloody loads!Big hobs and locaters V/s nets they all cancell each other out in the end, Do what you want, the rabbits is always better than you! Spot on. Incidentely it was on a warren like the last one you done that I lost the only ferret I have ever lost. The holes looked simple enough to a 15 year old at least. But after she had not emerged i tried digging around the rock to see if I could find her all I found was a crevis about 6" wide that seemed to go down for ever. Even though it was a good five mile walk to the farm i went back 3 or 4 times but never did find her. Quote Link to post
bullmastiff 615 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 'The no dig challenge' - Failed! Cracking story and good photos to go along with it - Success! Great read Brimmer, thanks for sharing. Cheers Luke. Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Can I add I had to dig only 3 times today, but had to net up bloody loads!Big hobs and locaters V/s nets they all cancell each other out in the end, Do what you want, the rabbits is always better than you! Spot on. Incidentely it was on a warren like the last one you done that I lost the only ferret I have ever lost. The holes looked simple enough to a 15 year old at least. But after she had not emerged i tried digging around the rock to see if I could find her all I found was a crevis about 6" wide that seemed to go down for ever. Even though it was a good five mile walk to the farm i went back 3 or 4 times but never did find her. The rabbits are better than us or anything that chases them up there, some cannot be caught, thats why they are there. Edited January 30, 2009 by Brimmer Quote Link to post
TOMO 27,277 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 good read that mate , 3 digs thats good going for you Quote Link to post
carlbell 0 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Excellent write up and and excellent pics looks like you need some shovel throwing practice though lol. Would be a pleasure to work that land just for the view never mind good bags as well. Quote Link to post
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