Ideation 8,217 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Was reviewing the ferret food situation today, and as they say, the cupboards were bare. I bred a litter of kits this year, only five, but the wee buggers ate me out of house and home. Nothing in the chest freezer and no dried food. With 12 hungry stinkers to feed (10 of my own and 2 here on holiday), it's like feeding an army. Anyhow, 3 options, buy some ferret food, which is getting too expensive, a small bag only last 2 or 3 days, take the gun out for a walk, or have a wander with a stinker.. . . . . Surprise, surprise i decided on the latter option. I don't normally start until Sept 1st, due to cover and the little rabbits we have here quite late (low ground), but as it's near enough i thought i'd pop out for half an hour or so. Stuck half a dozen nets in my pocket, decided on one of my younger jills, Tilly, a small, silver jill, who is going into her 3rd season, and shouted up the dog who was sunning himself in the garden somewhere. Finnbar (the whippet) wandered in to find why i had rudely disturbed his lounging, saw the ferret box and nearly shot his load. As last season was his first, i think when we suddenly stopped for the summer, he thought i'd become a vegan or something. Anyhow, didn't want to deal with any cover, and didn't want to hit the coverless spots on my local permissions (as thats where johnnyboy and i will be heading next month), and didn't want to drive, so decided to go a little 'off piste' into some old growth woodland i've had my eye on to see what was about (no one else has rabbiting permission here before anyone cries). Walked down, over the stile, released finn, he put a rabbit up straight away, and after brief chase put it to ground. Let him have a cast about to look at the other holes, about 8 or so, a few more maybe connected, maybe not. Netted up what i could, left the rest for the dog. Got the jill out, turned the collar on and dropped her by the hole the dog was marking strongest on, she slinked straight down like a little silver snake. After a couple of minutes, bump bump, bumpedy bump, hand on the dogs collar, his ears are up, tense as f**k, then whoosh, one hits a net, the dogs straight on it. Foot in hole, rabbit dispatched, in the process of netting up when another bolts straight out of an unetted hole, dog hears it, spins about and is off (it's got a decent head start). Last i see of him is a black streak disappearing through the trees, lots of crashes, snapping branches and a bang and a yelp. Ah f**k i'm thinking, broken the dog again. I've got the net from the first rabbit back on, go to have a look to see if dog is still got all 4 legs, get to wee rise and he is fine, marking the base of a distant holly tree, just then rabbit number three makes it's bid for freedom, again from an unnetted hole. Unfortunatly for rabbit number three, he has set his little heart on seeking refuge in the same set that rabbit number two went to, and Finnbar the whippet is stood over it snout down a hole, wheezing like an asthmatic. Couple of hisses and an 'oi' from me and he turns around, sees rabbit, steams towards it, bunny tries to change direction, but he's heading up hill and finn has a clear run at him, strike, squeal and bunny is heading back from whence he came in the gob of my wee negro. At this point i kind of forget about the ferreting, there is something about the dog catching one, that just wins hands down. Little bugger even brings it back to me. Turn to go back to the set, and can hear a piercing squeal, so the little jill has killed something. Get there and my now red ferret is coming out a hole as if to say, 'job done boss i f****d him right up'. Drop her back down for a run through, she comes straight out, no interest in a dead bunny. So back down again, foot over hole, locater on, she comes out another hole but lingers in one space for a couple of seconds. Reading, 4-5 foot. Ferret boxed. Shovel out, bit of a dig, around some roots etc, break through and can just feel the bunny up the tube but can't close my fingers on it to pull it out. Get out my drawing ferret stick her down the hole i've dug and let her latch on and draw out bunny. Bunny has no eyes. Looks disgruntled to say the least. Back-fill well, nets off, leave the escapee for another day, and off home for a cup of tea. A very pleasant start to the season, and ferrets fed for another couple of days. Hope you enjoyed the write up and here as some photos, sorry they are off my phone so a bit crap. (That's how you backfill! Hole is under the Mrk3) Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 that will keep them feed for a day or two well done Quote Link to post
Joe67 239 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 sounds a good day mate,good to see the dog doing well.good read also Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,217 Posted August 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Cheers guys, wasn't bad for a random half hour, 1 set. 2 of those rabbits are being eaten now and the remaining one will go in tomorrow. Then i need to rustle up some more meat. I'm really looking forward to filling the freezer back up! Quote Link to post
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Summer hunter..........boil my piss you lot. Good show mate.......well done finnbarr and its good to see I learnt you how to back fill. You go out and get the rabbits in them nice cover less spots.......leave all the brambles and nettles for me. Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,217 Posted August 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Summer hunter..........boil my piss you lot. Good show mate.......well done finnbarr and its good to see I learnt you how to back fill. You go out and get the rabbits in them nice cover less spots.......leave all the brambles and nettles for me. Haha, i was waiting for that! Aye, i was thinking i could have done with you when i was digging. But i think you'd have been proud. Don't worry your wee head, where i went was. . . . like i said, 'Off Piste', it was a bit of a commando mission, not somewhere we will ever go with 3 dogs, and us chatting like old women. Too small anyway. I went there so as not to disturb the lovely coverless spots i got picked out for the 4th. Don't you worry, not a bramble of nettle in sight, got to love them pine trees! Quote Link to post
weasle 1,119 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Its always nice to have a few little test runs,start of season. Quote Link to post
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Summer hunter..........boil my piss you lot. Good show mate.......well done finnbarr and its good to see I learnt you how to back fill. You go out and get the rabbits in them nice cover less spots.......leave all the brambles and nettles for me. Haha, i was waiting for that! Aye, i was thinking i could have done with you when i was digging. But i think you'd have been proud. Don't worry your wee head, where i went was. . . . like i said, 'Off Piste', it was a bit of a commando mission, not somewhere we will ever go with 3 dogs, and us chatting like old women. Too small anyway. I went there so as not to disturb the lovely coverless spots i got picked out for the 4th. Don't you worry, not a bramble of nettle in sight, got to love them pine trees! I'm off for a midnight stroll myself fella...........I need some fert food too. I've had a look at a few spots over here we may get on them around December. Quote Link to post
tubba 38 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Good read that mate well done. Quote Link to post
Moe 108 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 good read that mate ,nice looking dog you got. Quote Link to post
darbo 4,779 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 good read. strong looking whippet .atb Quote Link to post
Ideation 8,217 Posted August 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Cheers guys! Good luck later johnnyboy, looking forward to getting out with the full team, not long now. Going to look at another farm this week, met the woman in the spar of all places. Fingers crossed there are some spots without too much cover. I'm not even contemplating the mountain till we have had a few good frosts mate, i'm ok, but you got to be at least a foot below them brambles. Quote Link to post
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Cheers guys! Good luck later johnnyboy, looking forward to getting out with the full team, not long now. Going to look at another farm this week, met the woman in the spar of all places. Fingers crossed there are some spots without too much cover. I'm not even contemplating the mountain till we have had a few good frosts mate, i'm ok, but you got to be at least a foot below them brambles. Yeh I've had enough now..........can't wait to get back it fella. Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Summer hunter..........boil my piss you lot. Good show mate.......well done finnbarr and its good to see I learnt you how to back fill. You go out and get the rabbits in them nice cover less spots.......leave all the brambles and nettles for me. still to much cover over here mate another few weeks il be back at it cant wait to get back out Quote Link to post
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