Cold ferreting.

[tote 857]

The ground's rock hard and also has a covering of snow but that didn't stop todays ferreting outing. As my boys Dylan and Declan and I headed over to one of my permissions the temp gauge in the car was saying it was minus 5 degrees.

 

We were prepared for the frozen ground though as we had some 6" nails and a hammer with us as there was no chance of shoving a net peg into the ground.

 

We tried a couple of holes to start with and both were empty so we headed off up the hill to a gorse covered bank that usually holds rabbits.

View from the hill looking across the valley.

 

Not a nice bit to net up, Dylan gets the job.

 

Although we did three buries in the gorse there was nothing at home. After that we went up and ferreted some holes along a fenceline.

 

Dylan and Declan netting up.

 

We worked our way along this fenceline doing about four buries and there was only one rabbit at home, but at least we were off the mark.

 

We ended up back at the farmyard and I saw a rabbit run around the back of a cow shed so followed it and saw it drop down into a single holed burie. We got the hole netted put the Jill down and 5 minutes later we had rabbit number two in the bag.

 

Twenty yards away was another burie that looked fresh, we got the two holes covered and the jill was sent to investigate. Dylan was sitting on top of the burie and he signalled to Declan and I that he could hear a rabbit rumbling.

 

Watch that electric fence Dylan.

 

The rabbit bolted into the net with the ferret attatched to it, so Dylan had the tricky job of seperating the rabbit from the jill which as you can imagine was well up for it.

 

 

We ended the day with three hard won rabbits.

[stevethefish 80]

Well done guys good write up and excellent pics, we are off in the morning, its not been above minus 6 all day here so expecting cold fingers and toes.

[auld salmon 28]

The ground's rock hard and also has a covering of snow but that didn't stop todays ferreting outing. As my boys Dylan and Declan and I headed over to one of my permissions the temp gauge in the car was saying it was minus 5 degrees.

 

We were prepared for the frozen ground though as we had some 6" nails and a hammer with us as there was no chance of shoving a net peg into the ground.

 

We tried a couple of holes to start with and both were empty so we headed off up the hill to a gorse covered bank that usually holds rabbits.

View from the hill looking across the valley.

 

Not a nice bit to net up, Dylan gets the job.

 

Although we did three buries in the gorse there was nothing at home. After that we went up and ferreted some holes along a fenceline.

 

Dylan and Declan netting up.

 

We worked our way along this fenceline doing about four buries and there was only one rabbit at home, but at least we were off the mark.

 

We ended up back at the farmyard and I saw a rabbit run around the back of a cow shed so followed it and saw it drop down into a single holed burie. We got the hole netted put the Jill down and 5 minutes later we had rabbit number two in the bag.

 

Twenty yards away was another burie that looked fresh, we got the two holes covered and the jill was sent to investigate. Dylan was sitting on top of the burie and he signalled to Declan and I that he could hear a rabbit rumbling.

 

Watch that electric fence Dylan.

 

The rabbit bolted into the net with the ferret attatched to it, so Dylan had the tricky job of seperating the rabbit from the jill which as you can imagine was well up for it.

 

 

We ended the day with three hard won rabbits.

im getting dejavu seen it somewere before

[KittleRox 2,147]

Good stuff,atb

[ryangolding 4]

yep def a cold weekend!!!! -10 where i was (pateley bridge) rabbits reluctant to bolt, only 3 healthy bunnies.

[Bosun11 537]

Very good stuff Tote, thanks for sharing

[Jamie m 668]

Good going lads any day out is a blesing when the weathers like this keep at it ,

[HiLost 32]

well done, a few stop or long nets can be a blessing in frozen conditions when its hard to get purse net pegs in the ground

[theferreter 311]

well done mate at least your out i cant get till are permissions with this snow well end up in a ditch some where

[Ideation 8,217]

Nice one matey! Aye i've noticed the rabbits dont want to bolt in this cold either, the ferrets have had to work double time. Last set we did on sunday was only about 5 holes, ended up with three jills down to shift the one rabbit who thought he would be better making a fight of it (too damn deep and hard ground to dig). After what sounded like WW3 the rabbit tried to slink out with both eyes and half an ear missing. . . . .. only to be leapt on by pup. It was like that all day though with the rabbits giving the ferrets the run around and when caught standing and fighting, nearly everyone came out with bits missing!

[tote 857]

Thanks for the replies lads.

 

We didn't have any bother with stubborn rabbits Ideation there just wasn't many rabbits about, all the holes were empty except three. There's definately a shortage of rabbits this year on some of my permissions.

[Ideation 8,217]

Thanks for the replies lads.

 

We didn't have any bother with stubborn rabbits Ideation there just wasn't many rabbits about, all the holes were empty except three. There's definately a shortage of rabbits this year on some of my permissions.

 

That was to Ryangolding matey It's the same here, the numbers are definitely down and we're having to walk a lot further, without the dogs we would be screwed, as we are walking past huge numbers of active looking holes and getting no marks. We're still doing ok but probably half what we should. Also noticed that we are getting a lot less per set, often only one rabbit from 10/20 holers. All good sport any how.

[pitmanuk 2]

nice pics mate and a stunning view across the valley

ATB

[Moe 108]

good report and pics ,cant waite to get out far to much snow on our spots.

[longnetter 32]

Good write up and pics mate, you've done your boys a big favour starting them young.......something they'll always thank you for