Saturdays trip out.

[sussexpoacher 45]

Well saturday finally arrives and my mate Rich picks me and the dogs up and we head off, we were supposed to be doing a wood today but the estate manager had rang and said the deer stalkers were out that day so Rich rang another of his permissions and got the go ahead to do there instead.

 

Rich had decided to try a new bankside he hadnt ferreted before so we let the dogs out of the truck and had a walk along to see how the ground lay, the dogs started marking almost immediately so we got the ferrets collared up and set them to work, we had decided to just bolt for the dogs as it was impossible to net all the holes, our plan was to push the rabbits along the bank to the last set of holes then net that set up.

after a few minutes a rabbit bolts and our plan seems to be working as the dogs push it into the next warren along, as we wait for another bolt i see a bloke with a flag walking along the top of the bank, it seems the estate manager had forgotten to tell us they were shooting that day so we spend the next 15 mins dodging low level pheasants and partridge whilst shot rains down on us.

we pick the ferrets up and move along the bankside to another set of holes, after 5 mins one of the jills pops up 50 meters away and we realise that this is one hell of a big warren and we dont have the daylight to do it so once again we move on bolting one rabbit which one of the dogs snaps up easily.

 

Rich has brought his young pup to watch and learn and so far she has been a little star, totaly unfazed by the guns and low flying birds, she just concentrates on whats happening underground.

 

we load up and drive a couple of miles to another bit of permission and as we drive across the field we see an ancient digger clearing a ditch, today isnt turning out as planned but we carry on and walk up to a hedge which has a nice little four holer in it, ferrets are entered and the wait begins, bumping from below tells us bunny is at home then he bolts and all the dogs are in the wrong place so they go running down the hedgerow and bunny turns and goes back down the warren.

a movement in the next field catches my eye, its another bloody shoot! so another couple of minutes a banging and shouting later peace has returned only for the odd woman with a pack of german shepherds to decide she is going to exercise them making as much noise as possible, by now we have picked up one of the ferrets and boxed her up, the final ferret keeps appearing then vanishing back below, out with the locator and the digging begins and finally she is boxed up. as i backfill the hole my dogs take off over the turnips, i look up to see them after something they shouldnt be, fortunately it makes it through a hedge with seconds to spare and the dogs return and get a bollocking for ignoring the stop whistle/yell/swearing.

 

We pack the dogs and gear back in the truck with one rabbit to show for our efforts.

 

Not the greatest day for ferreting but Rich, me and the dogs enjoyed every moment and his pup is turning into a nice little worker.

 

Edited November 20, 2011 by sussexpoacher

[lampingkid 56]

looks like you have a good bit of land there mate

[kx100 66]

daryl that land is the same as the hopes

[lampingkid 56]

aw kl have u asked gary boout u still haveing permission

[Tyla 3,179]

Its not the bag that matters, its the sport. Looks like excellent ground for the dogs