A funny kind of morning . . .

[Ideation 8,217]

Picked up johnnyboy and his step daughter catleyn (sp?) before first light and were on our way to our first bit of ground of the day as the sun was making a weak appearance. Today, Finn was back in action, although pretty unfit, and it was the turn of my big sandy hob bear, and the wee silver jilly tilly to have a hunt. With Gem and Luna and a couple of Johns jills, Poley and Sky, the team was complete.

 

The first farm we stopped at was the same as last week, as we fancied having a bit of a mooch around the flat open fields, and hedgerows, and have a look a long an over grown wide ditch. The plan was to try to get a bit of action for the dogs. After a good walk, with the dogs having a stretch and mess about, we raked a long the ditch, and a sporadic tree line, getting a couple of unsussesful runs, where the dogs were unlucky. One kodak moment was when Gem, about to strike on a rabbit, hit a mud slick, and slid on her side at full speed into a bush, totally vanishing into the ditch full of undergrowth. It's times like these you realise just how tough the old girl is.

 

After a bit we got a decent mark on a set a long the ditch / hedge, and netted up some holes, leaving other unetted. The first rabbit bolted out to me and Finn and was almost snatched up as it disappeared at a right angle through the hedge, unfortunatly for bunny, Gem was waiting and after turning it up the field edge, made a neat catch, bringing back her prize.

 

The ferret was still down and nothing else was bolting, so out she was called, and appeared with serious boxing gloves. Down went the S&R ferret, and after a scan with the disco carrot, and a short dig through soft soil, out came two rabbits in a stop end The joys of locators

 

Onwards we went and the dogs scented a couple more, but could not push them out of the thick cover or to ground, and they just kept travelling a long the ditches.

 

Back to the car we went, and off to our second spot for the day, and after a walk, the dogs managed to put a rabbit out of a thick hedge and to ground somewhere in an adjacent hedge. Off we went and the dogs showed interest in a set inside and around a fenced hedge. So in went ferret, and after a bit of hole hoping the first rabbit shot up the hedge, then out Gems side, Gem almost caught it, but it dodged back into the hedge and out mine and catelyn's side, and finn and luna were off, and after a neat course, and a couple of turns, Finn lifted him. A bit of a parade, and he brought it back live to hand

 

Unfortunatly the second rabbit sneaked out while i was taking the rabbit off finn, and luna and gem had come to see what was going on The dogs saw it and gave a good run, turning it away from its destination, but unfortunatly it went back through the hedge, onto Johnnyboys side, with no dog over there, and by the time the troops had got through, the rabbit was away Although i suppose the odd one or two a season need to escape the ferrets, nets and dogs.

 

After that, we dropped into a gully, and the dogs had a good hunt along it's very wet bottom, before finn did his disappearing trick, and was found marking a small warren around a tree and a long the stream. Johnnyboys little jill was down, and i looked over to catelyn who was poised above a hole, out of sight like a pro, she looked at me, made a handsignal and whispered 'bumping', pointed at the hole, and then froze and pounced. She then proceeded to calmly pull the rabbit out of the hole, who needs dogs when you got kids like that I think young Tom needs to watch himself, or he could be demoted.

 

At this point we noticed that Luna was holding her foreleg, and could not put any weight at all on it without screaming, it was also starting to swell. This unfortunatly curtailed our day, but the cold rain started bucketing down about then as well, so silver linings and all that! Hopefully it's nothing serious with the young bitch as it would be a shame for her to be out of action.

 

Despite it being a bit mixed, and briefer than expected, it was as usual a good day, in great company, catelyn (13/14) was a star, the dogs and ferrets worked well, and johnnboy made me a cuppa soup for brunch Can't fault it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ha

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Good write up mate..........it was a good day as always, the bunnies are just an added extra to an enjoyable mooch around.Luna is flat out here and not in any real dis-comfort though she's still carrying it so a trip to the vets in the morning, fingers crossed its nothing serious I could do without her being out of action especially as she's progressing so well.

 

Caitlin really enjoyed today and said thanks and wants to make it a regular thing if thats ok with you mate.........yes mate Tom could find himself demoted as you can tell the apprentices under my tutorlige(sp) are hard core from the start.

 

I've got the batteries for the collars here, they were in my pocket.

[rossi_j 99]

Good write up, nice pics

 

Hope luna a quick recovery.

 

.atb. .Ste.

[Ideation 8,217]

It was one of those funny days mate, where things don't really go to plan but it's a good day anyway, and there are some class moments. Was nice to find that second bunny in the stop end, and enjoyed seeing finn make a proper run in the open, rather than half seeing it through thick woodland.

 

Fingers crossed about Luna, you are right, it would be a real shame Still no idea how she did it

 

Yes, Catelyn is a great kid, and always welcome You are right, she's had a head start on poor tom and is sharp, and it could really demasculate (sp) him to see a wee girl in a pink coat and white head band, jumping on rabbits quicker than him in his tweeds

 

Yer, i noticed the bats when i got home, no bother, hang on to them till next time.

[KittleRox 2,147]

Hopefully the swelling will be down in the morning and no need for the vets,

 

good write up and pics, like the retrieving pic

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Hopefully the swelling will be down in the morning and no need for the vets,

 

good write up and pics, like the retrieving pic

Aye hopefully Rox.........no pics of me today and I had my new hat on aswell.

 

[KittleRox 2,147]

did Jai let you open one present early ? lol

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Good write up, nice pics

 

Hope luna a quick recovery.

 

.atb. .Ste.

Cheers ste.........shit happens, its the nature of the game at times though frustrating as she's coming on real well.It's maddening as I run her regular on ground that can break dogs for fun.

[johnny boy68 11,726]

did Jai let you open one present early ? lol

No mate didnae get a prezzie just a card.

[johnny boy68 11,726]

It was one of those funny days mate, where things don't really go to plan but it's a good day anyway, and there are some class moments. Was nice to find that second bunny in the stop end, and enjoyed seeing finn make a proper run in the open, rather than half seeing it through thick woodland.

 

Fingers crossed about Luna, you are right, it would be a real shame Still no idea how she did it

 

Yes, Catelyn is a great kid, and always welcome You are right, she's had a head start on poor tom and is sharp, and it could really demasculate (sp) him to see a wee girl in a pink coat and white head band, jumping on rabbits quicker than him in his tweeds

 

Yer, i noticed the bats when i got home, no bother, hang on to them till next time.

Yeh mate Caitlin is a star, not many 13 year old girls around who's idea of a good day out is ferreting.

 

At least I know what she's getting for crimbo, wellies,chaps and "her own" ferret.

[simonrocco 175]

good write up and pics pal its good to get the young ones out and about with you every now and again it looks like she was enjoying it atb

[darbo 4,779]

enjoyed the write up. the young lad will have to watch out now. hope luna is ok sounds a very promising bitch.atb

[Malt 379]

Enjoyed that read Jai.

 

Nice result, and fingers crossed for Johnny that Luna's foot is nothing serious.

[KittleRox 2,147]

did Jai let you open one present early ? lol

No mate didnae get a prezzie just a card.

don,t cry mate, I,m sure you look very dashing in yer new hat

[malc1 544]

good [bANNED TEXT] up as usual glad fins back in action i think you should start a ferreting school and i think its time johnnyboy had his santa hat on its that time of year hope lunas ok let me know how you get on at the vets with her johnny atb malc