Pair 'O' Messers.

[Brimmer 220]

Allright chaps, not much to post this season TBH, been out only a handfull of times, not because of lack of interest, just lack of rabbits!

The first trip out at the end of Sept confirmed our worst fears, the previous harsh winter had wiped the rabbits out on the high ground we have worked for 20yrs, we had a few days, but far from the big bags that came before last winter fell.

After the first trip out, I spent many a weekend driving around prospecting most of the north, same old story, any of the high open ground looked barren, but i've spotted some decent spots to knock on in the future, as i'm sure there will be some good numbers there in years to come.

 

There seems to be some spots on the lower ground that the rabbits have done ok though, must have been enough food for them, not big bag sort of spots, but enough for the odd mornings sport.

 

On our way back from a low scoring day at the end of Oct, the old feller had called on some permission we had wiped out around 10 yrs ago, only small blocks of low lying land, but worthy of a looking at. The farmer remembered us and, and gave us the go ahead.

 

The week after we had a crack, one of the runners, and a couple of ferrets. Not a massive day, but winkled 14 out before 12 oclock without breaking a sweat. We could have hit a lot more at the time, but the cover and nettles were heavy, so thought it best to leave it for month or 2.

 

Last weekend i had another crack at it, the old feller didnt fancy it, if it does not involve running dogs, he's not interested. He seems to forget rabbiting is not all about lurchers!

 

Faced with the prospect of a day on my own, i thought i'd give Andy 410 off here a last minute ring on the off chance. He's been out with me before, one of the decent trustworthy lads, and is a whizz with his quickset. .

 

Half an hour later he rang back. Well why would he want to go shopping with his lass, when he could spend a day out with me!

 

Arrangements made, we met up at 7.30am the day after, my terrier and two ferrets apiece, me two small hobs, Andy's two poley jills.

 

To be honest, I thought we would be lucky to get a few rabbits, I knew of one decent warren we had left back in Nov in the middle of a nettlebed, now a little exposed.

 

 

To our surprise this threw out 4 bunny's to Andy's longnet and one dig that Andy captured!

 

 

My russel at 11yrs old was hard work, and struggled to settle into the job in hand for the first hour or two, over ambitious as always, but after a lot of bollockings he started to do his job. I can see why he was dargging us on, as I had a stroll, I came across a huge warren underneath the trees and cover that previously hid it. This place looked busy, and the dog backed it up, marking all over the place! Hidden close to the back of houses, I had never been on this in the past, and it looked untouched.

 

I was not kitted for this warren, nor Andy, but what the hell, we had a long net to get round half the warren, four ferrets, a stupid russel and of course ourselves!

 

Andy set up the longnet, we put his two jills in, and the comedy began! It did not take long to see action, in fact it was happening all the time, I have never seen rabbits as confident slipping the ferrets, the came up, they went back down, they ran to the net, they ran back down. Can only put it down to the close proximity to the houses and people. here's Andy's jills doing there best with the awkward sorts that I filmed on my phone.

 

 

The barking dog is not mine by the way, its a daft collie from the houses.

 

Maybee 30 minutes of this went on, the odd rabbit falling to the net, the odd one escaping out of the side without the net, until the little hobs were chucked in, and the daft dog let loose to pin them down. This seemed to hold them down a bit, one of my hobs took a battering, his manstick was torn, and was not shaping too well, they engage and punch above their weight, but due to their small size sometimes end up getting a hiding! no digs though!

 

After about 2 hrs, we called off the warren, think there was only 1 slippery customer left inside, but another 11 rabbits in the bag. Wish I had the big poley hobs with me on that one, hindsight is a great tool!

 

After that just clearing a few warrens me and the old chap had done before a few months earlier, the dog marked, (he was doing ok now!) Andy set the long net, we put the ferrets in, nothing came out out. Stupid fooking dog.

Andy picked the long net up, heard a rumble underground, rabbit came out. Stupid fooking Andy and Brim.

Why dont we trust the dog? He wouldnt try digging the warren out for nothing. One of the hobs was still stuck on something though, here's Andy trying to 'tickle a rabbit!'.

 

 

To be fair it was stuck tight up!

 

Any how onto another warren, got 1 dig at 3 foot in heavy stone, eventually broke through, pulled the ferret out, then the rabbit blocking him in. Without a locater this would have been a lost fezzer.

 

Ended the day on the 20 bag, not really a hard day, but one to remember.

 

[redeye jedi 39]

Fantastic post Brimmer

 

ATB

 

REDEYE

[Moe 108]

good report well done

[ferrety f 23]

Sounds like a good day.. well done lads

[Guest thebigdog]

great write up pal, good stuff

[auld salmon 28]

nice one brimmer thought you had packed in

[IanB 0]

Good going lads, nice write up too

[watchman 256]

excellent that mate,well done

 

 

 

Can only put it down to the close proximity to the houses and people.

 

shame that looks a nice little opertunity for a .410 on the job

[andy s410c 63]

It was a good day B....them rabbits were to comfortable in that warren...not a care in the world .I must remember to mind my language when on camera tho

[The one 8,594]

Nice read and picts mate , youve been quiet for too long missed your posts

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Nice write up mate

[KittleRox 2,147]

Good stuff

[John-B 4]

Nice one you pair of messers, sounds like you had a cracking day

[theferreter 311]

good post mate well done