Hawk1943 0 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Hi Everyone, I was hoping to obtain an answer to something that is puzzeling me... If you have read my profile you will see that i'm still rather green having just got my second season of ferreting under my belt so this question might seem strange to the more exerianced ferreters... Basically when out ferreting I am seeing plenty of recent rabbit droppings infact the whole area is covered with them which I am takings as a sign of activity, yet after 5 hours of ferreting every single hole that we can find only a couple of rabbits bolted... which is very strange considering the area that we were covering... Can anyone explain why I am unable to bolt more than a couple of rabbits... the ferrets are going mad with all the scent around and are refusing to enter some holes (I presume no-one was home) other holes they are going in and out running around tails all bushy, back down the hole... but still nothing... Is something killing rabbits, ie other hunters etc Only it's private land that only we have permission to hunt on, but there is a right of access to walkers etc... Quote Link to post
ryangolding 4 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 One thing Rabbits are breeding and reluctant to bolt, are you using collars on your ferrets to see if they have killed, most people have called it a day with ferreting until next season due to breeding. Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,216 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Rabbit shit means nothing. Can be lying there months and when it rains or the air is damp it looks fresh. Same with 'active' looking holes. Get a decent marking dog, its the only way to go. And aye, could either be disease, other hunters or just the usual, you ALWAYS over estimate the number of rabbits on a piece of land. Quote Link to post
ryangolding 4 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Rabbit shit means nothing. Can be lying there months and when it rains or the air is damp it looks fresh. Same with 'active' looking holes. Get a decent marking dog, its the only way to go. And aye, could either be disease, other hunters or just the usual, you ALWAYS over estimate the number of rabbits on a piece of land. very true Quote Link to post
rough dog 333 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Your right there ha ha ! Quote Link to post
The one 8,566 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Loads of reasons Your ferrets not going deep enough There play holes They have been ferreted before Myxi's got the rabbits Your making too much noise and the rabbits wont bolt As said holes and dropping's count for nothing one rabbit does a load of droppings only a marking dogs will tell you which burrows are occupied saves loads of time as well Quote Link to post
Hawk1943 0 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks for that... I beleive were going to try one more week before the lads of the BFC call it a day for the season, it all depends upon the field master... some of the lads have called an end to the season and packed in Yeserday, others have had a bad season others are training birds so wish to continue for as long as they can... Most of the birds we hunt with are not used to working around dogs, also some of the dogs we use are not that well trained so are more of a hinderance than a help... As for noise we are quiet as possible, with only me and the ferrets going forward i'm then placing ferret in the hole and getting well back out of the way seeking cover behind a tree etc and waiting untill the ferret clears the hole fully before I head back in... Quote Link to post
stevethefish 80 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 There is no substitute for a good marking dog, we dont even bother unless the dogs start digging or just wont take their heads out of the hole. The dogs know if there is anything at home and to ferret blind is a mugs game really unless you are doing it for something to do for a couple of hours and not bothered if you get any. What you are explaining is natural, some sets look as if they will hold dozens but inevitably are empty and some that look unused can hold a few. At this time of year most sets will hold 2, 3 or 4 while they are breeding but there are exceptions, we had one last week that produced 12. Rabbits use some sets like we do pubs and just visit them occasionally (in my case that is) You may do a dozen and get nothing then come across one that is holding the meat. My advice is to get yourself a good marking dog or take someone that has one with you, most dogs will mark to some extent its natural to them so take any old mutt and see what results you get. Good luck mate hope it gets better for you, it sounds like there are some there but hard to find, could be your ferrets though, some just wont go deep. ATB Steve Quote Link to post
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