Ferreting without a locator

[stevethefish 80]

Well had my second trip out on saturday, I went for a couple of hours with a mate down on a small bit of permission that has a good head of rabbits. I didn't take any of my gear as he said he had it covered, but what a mistake. Shaun does not have a locator and although the first set went like a dream a 7 holer and 5 bolts the rest was just torture.

He put his jill down that must be crossed with an otter its that big and we heard a thump and then nothing for 30 minutes. Luckily I took my .22 rimmy so had a bit of target practice when the rabbits popped out of the hedgerow. Eventually the ferret appeared blooded and was sent straight down the next set and again it was another 30-40 minutes waiting before it appeared. I told him before he put it down the first hole that it was risky without a collar and locator and his reply was no she will come straight out if she kills, I've heard and seen it all before after 40 years ferreting. Well it eventually came out and it was just in time as the light was dropping, we finished up with 9 in total with the ones I shot and me ribbing him about not having a locator in this day and age.

The moral of the story is dont go ferreting without a locator, you get rabbits killed that you cant recover, it knackers it up for ferreting those sets for a while and it can be a long wait.

So he is now looking for a collor and locator if anyone has anything for sale at the right price, if you have pm me please.

Cheers..........

[Jamie m 668]

Good wright up Steve wouldn't we all like them at the right price lol

[The one 8,585]

Some days it's nice just being out its no all about numbers

[stevethefish 80]

Some days it's nice just being out its no all about numbers

Quite right! but cant see the point of killing them if you dont take them home for food.

[Malt 379]

Bollocks to the locators..

 

I await the angry mob.....

[Lab 10,979]

Bollocks to the locators..

 

I await the angry mob.....

I agree............

 

Never used 1 and never will.................My Grandad would turn in his grave with such technology in the field...

[Malt 379]

Bollocks to the locators..

 

I await the angry mob.....

I agree............

 

Never used 1 and never will.................My Grandad would turn in his grave with such technology in the field...

 

 

It's electronic witchcraft Lab, I'm telling you...

[The one 8,585]

Bollocks to the locators..

 

I await the angry mob.....

I agree............

 

Never used 1 and never will.................My Grandad would turn in his grave with such technology in the field...

 

 

It's electronic witchcraft Lab, I'm telling you...

 

Bet the first time you guy heard a moblie phone ring you tried to throw it a slice of bread

[riohog 5,938]

years ago when i kept the ferrets , never had a loctor . but a trick i was tought was this .. used to use old saoucers to feed them on . , and they got use to the rattling of them together and associated it with food , so we used to take a couple with us when fereting and . if one was down longer than normal we used to rattle the saucers together and out came the frret ....... sounds daft but it worked

[8shot 192]

years ago when i kept the ferrets , never had a loctor . but a trick i was tought was this .. used to use old saoucers to feed them on . , and they got use to the rattling of them together and associated it with food , so we used to take a couple with us when fereting and . if one was down longer than normal we used to rattle the saucers together and out came the frret ....... sounds daft but it worked

 

 

or by ratling ur keys at feed time works exact the same

 

altho if its stuck behing the rabbit you got no chance

[Malt 379]

Bet the first time you guy heard a moblie phone ring you tried to throw it a slice of bread

 

 

 

I'm not against the use of locators, it's just I've been out with lads who start doing the 'feed the chickens' dance all over the bury within 30 seconds of a ferret being entered.. Others then stand there spade in hand with gritted teeth like a coiled spring waiting for the ferret to sit still for more than 30 seconds, then BANG!

 

Sometimes I think the art of ferreting is being lost by the 'I want it now' generation with locators and ferrets bred to kill..

 

If I want to spend my winter Sunday mornings digging, I'll put some spuds in the garden or something..

 

Locators do have their place, but IMO they come after field craft and experience.

[stevethefish 80]

Points taken lads, I know that some dont use or want locators but I am doing it for pest control for the farms and estates who want results that can be seen. If we did it without the old box we wouldnt get a 1/10th of what we get now and the gamekeepers would be looking elsewhere for some who could produce the goods.

Dont get me wrong I love ferreting even if we just bag a couple, but if you saw the amount of rabbits around here taking the odd few would not make a difference. It speeds the process up and increases the bags, keeps the gamekeepers and farmers happy, my mates make a few quid selling the rabbits and everything is sweet.

I totally agree that its not grass roots stuff, but everyone finds enjoyment in different ways.

[TOMO 28,712]

Bollocks to the locators..

 

I await the angry mob.....

I agree............

 

Never used 1 and never will.................My Grandad would turn in his grave with such technology in the field...

 

BET he never had a p.c either,, yet here you are

[Richie10 345]

Went out yesterday. Ferreting under a shed with a concrete floor.

 

Ferret was behing the rabbit on under the concrete floor and wasn't moving. I waited and using the locator found that he had moved to the doorway and where there was no concrete just half a foot underground. Dug down, found the hole and the ferret popped up, hand down and a live rabbit was found.

Without a locator we would have been there for hours. Definately a good piece of kit.

[Guest WEE WEE PANTS]

Barely use locators, ferrets come out most times with a bolt, and if they dont, then a quick tap/jingle of keys, and either a rabbit already caught of a rabbits foot gets them out.