is it too early to be going ferreting?

[pegstaff 9]

i always thought u should start ferreting around the end of october, the first week in november. giving the rabbits a chance to grow up so i dont kill young. but i have noticed around my place and on here that lots of people are starting now. is it too sharp or can i go now. let me know what you think

[Marksman 934]

all depends on your preference mate and the state of your ground.

A lot is still well overgrown at the mo, but dying back pretty rapidly.

As for killing the young down the hole, give them a good deal of bait before you go and that will be the last thing on their mind. Plus 9/10 times the young'uns will get thru the net anyway leaving them for another day

 

 

Darryl

[The one 8,594]

I try to get out as early as possible and try to ferret as long as possible but i usually find im trying to play catch up after xmas to get some of my permission ferreted and control the rabbits

[max abell 198]

we normaly start end of august there is a lot or cover still around but we do the clear open burries 1st

then as the winter kicks in and the cover dies off do the others

The trouble is with todays winters getting warmer you have to make a start earlier because some years

you can start picking up milky does as early as jan

[bandit man 9]

we had a good day yesterday no young in site we had 4 kills down the holes but all were grown rabbits ,i would get out and have a good look around

[Brimmer 220]

Went out myself yesterday on the high ground for the first time this season.

Within an hour or or so we realised we shouldnt really be there, no young but a lot of three quarter grown bunnys. They were very easy pickings for the ferrets and dogs, nothing really sporting to be honest, plus due to the heat the flies were everywhere within minutes, plus the dogs were struggling with the heat. Gave up shortly afterwards with 27 rabbits bagged, and feeling like we had acheived nothing but carnage.

Within a few more weeks the rabbits will have there full size, the weather will be cooler, and it will feel like we are doing something usefull.

Would probably be a good time to start a few kits on the easy rabbits though.