Bow Back Ferret Box

[john hubery 9]

Over the last few weeks I have been talking to customers, friends and fellow hunters about ferret box designs, with opening of the new shop Hunters Haven, I would like to make some changes to our design of ferret box. Now I know a box is a box is a box, but after taking a long look at our own boxes and those made by other suppliers, and listening to the thoughts of others I feel we can improve on box design. There are some decent boxes out there being made commercially, but lads and lasses say if you used the front of so and so's box and put on a sloping top and fitted it with a bow back for comfort, it seems those that have boxes of different suppliers all have ideas on improving them in some way be if there's not enough ventilation or the ventilation is to far down the box. So here goes this is what I'm looking at but any ideas from you people the lads and lasses that are carrying and using boxes day in day out, Im not looking for you to be slaging boxes off, just honest comments and ideas. I'm looking to change our front ventilation by drilling larger holes along the top and backing them with mesh, so the the venting is along the top of the box and not low down on the front causing draughts in the box, a sloping top like a desk top instead of a flat top, and keeping the bow back. Recently I have had other peoples boxes in to fit a bow back to them because although the owners are happy with the over all design of the box they feel it would be more comfortable with a bow, and of couse an ajustable strap with quick release clip. The boxes will be treated and varnished as standard, and come in single, double a large single the same size as a double and triple, then a large double the same size as a triple, I will get some picturers up over the next few days, as I said all ideas and constructive critism are more than welcome.

[Guest tewkesferreter]

one of the things ive found with bigger vent holes is they tend to scratch and chew at them more,so ive blocked off the bigger holes and put smaller ones in the top of my double. maybe an additional strap to go round the waist,pain in the ass jumping fences and having it spin round to the front all the time.

[pencoed hunter 7]

If you ar drilling larger holes at the top wont the rain get in?

 

A good idea is to try get bag strap and put them onto a ferret box because walking round miles with a box gets heavy after a while and start to hurt

[john hubery 9]

To be honest Tewkesferreter thats some thing no one else has ever come up with before a waist strap, thats the kind of thing Im after

[john hubery 9]

Pencoed the holes will be in the front along the top edge so to keep the incoming air in the top of the box not through the front where the ferret is layed, our straps are 50mm wide, also our boxes are very light we have found a good supplier of light wight exterior ply and 3mm bendy ply for the backs

[pencoed hunter 7]

Ahh ok that waist strap is a good idea though

[Guest tewkesferreter]

p.h i only put 3mm holes in the top and never had a problem with rain getting in,if its pissing down i turn my net bag to the side to cover them.

[micky 3,325]

Over the last few weeks I have been talking to customers, friends and fellow hunters about ferret box designs

John ,in the 60s i had a few outings with a crew from Thrapston,these boys were aces,they knew all the tricksand were out 6 days a week earning a few bob to top there sausage up,other than the amount of rabbits we caught ,the two things i remember was a ferret box and one of there spades,the box had a wide lid with a built in drawer in which were kept, lines muzzles,etc,a bit like the float draw in a fishermans basket,the other thing was a spade one of the old boys had ,it was a long grafter with a probe in the shaft,,as i said these lads were cracks and carried no fat, and all there kit had to be push bike friendly

[The one 8,482]

Im quiet happy with my box the only changes i made was loads more air holes on the front and sides of the box as whatever why its sitting in the car the ferrets can get plenty air and dont overheat .Once its outside theres usually a draught blowing so i dont bother so much

[john hubery 9]

The One, top venting is the one thing most folk as well as myself agree deeds to be looked at for the reason you mention, when traveling in the motor

[pigeonphill 69]

i would keep a flat top rather then a angled top as it gives you some where to sit when you get a hold up ,etc.. and keep the air holes on the small side as ferrets like to scatch at the bigger ones and make the holes bigger, just put more smaller ones in if needed. as for the side belt i think it would be safer to put the ferret box over on its own as if you fell when climbing over the fence and the box is fixed to your side it could end up a bit nasty if you fell wrong for yourself ,just my way of thinking and john your never please every one all the time but its good your trying to come up with something better, all the best in the new boxes look forward to seeing them

[AL BUNDY 45]

the waist straps a good idea if youve a bit of awalk . years ago i had three loops on the box then i just put my own belt through when i needed to . today i was looking for something for a shoulder strap as i had know seat belts left ifound a shoulder strap of an old nailbag its got a mobile phone pocket on it never gave it much thought till i read this could be used for allsorts knife batterys etc

[Neal 1,873]

I have two boxes, both from the ferret box company (I think). One is their poachers' box and the other is the longer double box. I'm perfectly happy with both, especially the weight as I'm a bit of a weed and try to avoid carrying too much if at all possible...that's why I restrict my catch to a maximum of two per day. I agree with the above comment about keeping the boxes flat-topped, not so much for sitting on, more the ability to either stack them or put things on top when they're out of action in the shed from now until the Autumn.

Edited March 24, 2009 by Neal

[COMPO 54]

On the double and triple boxes!

 

Use slide in and slide out dividers

 

I have a medium sized box i made myself, and a large three compartment box i bought from a commercial manufacturer, now i only use Hobs (a decision i made at the end of this season) the triple box compartments are a bit small for the hobs but OK for Jill's, so i may take out one of the dividers to make a large compartment for the ferret on 2/3rds of the box and the other third for locator/camera/sandwiches etc.....LOL

 

It would be nice to have a triple or double box with grooves and pieces of board that could be slid in, thus making it one big box for a big ferret, or dividing it up for several smaller ferrets?? thus if the ferreter wants to take 3 jill's out he could divide the box up, or if he wants a bigger compartment for a hob or a couple of jill's together he can take the dividing wall out! or he could use the dividing wall to make part for equipment and the rest for the ferret(s), would make the box more useable for more situations

[john hubery 9]

Heres a double I made today

 

 

Doule, triple and large double