Last day of 2011 today. Cya tmoz bunnies 2012 starts!

[Brimmer 220]

Hi guys, know i've not posted much of late, still been at it almost every weekend, getting high teens to low twenty's every week, but nothing really to make any reading material about.

 

The running dogs at 5 yrs old have taken a lot longer than usual to get fit this year due to the lack of bunnies, and the odd injury's here and there, but are somewhere close now.

 

A couple of months ago,the old terrier that I thought at 11 yrs old I could take anywhere, proved he was still way off the 'Dog to take anywhere' list.

My old feller had talked one of the estate keepers into letting us have a go on the estate land he does the moles on, must admit, i've never seen as many rabbits anywhere as on this land, all gritstone rock and bracken, would easy clock up 200 in a day with a rimmy if thats your thing.

As a man that like to work his animals, I found myself wanting bigtime in the dog department with only the old terrier with us, not the terrian for running dogs with 45 degree slopes, and rock everywhere, the old dogs mind was blown following rabbits and not working the land around him, the old lump of a terrier was finding it far to easy to go to ground underneath these big rock slabs the size of cars amongst the bracken, and was going out of sight way to often. On a lead we managed to clock up in the mid 20's with him still, even under rock you still always managed to find a way to get the rabbit and ferret back out, netting all exits religiously was the key.

Only thing I can take from this day was that my terrier was not a 'Dog to take anywhere'.

A good lab, collie or mongrel brought up right would have been better placed to be honest, but you live and learn.

 

Anyhow back to the usual work and land, running dogs and ferrets.

Due to injury's the runners have had the chance to work on there own quite a lot. This has improved the dogs no end, ironing out a few faults, not totally, but the biggest fault was working them side by side for most of there working life. (something i've been drilling the old feller about for years.)

Like I say not huge bags, just high teens for most days. but nice controlled work from the dogs.

 

One thing I can say are almost faultless though on our trips out are the ferrets. I have 8 in all, 5 hobs and 3 jills. Aside of the poley jill that was dropped into my backyard 3 months ago (abandoned), all my stock is getting on a bit, my youngest were born in 2008, but as i say, cannot fault one of them, all have there place, and all will stick at any rabbit until it bolts, is dug to or is dead. Some folk don't think thats a worthy trait in a ferret, but i'd not house or breed from one that didnt show willing, even the abandoned poley jill has had a few kills to her name, she has earned her place.

 

The last few weeks have been interesting, both running dogs are up to speed, no injury's, and as I said, are near full fitness. Due to limited days out this has led to me and the old feller splitting up like old times, with a dog and a couple of ferrets apiece. (All animals deserve the work!)

I tackle the steep slopes with the steady dog Robbie, and his tired old 72 yr old bones hobble around on the flat ground with the desperate dog Jed, with a couple of the easyferrets. Phones on hand in case of difficulty, but he seems to have done ok up to now, (4 digs!).It has worked quite well to be honest.

 

Today was one of those days, not been out during chrimbo, so a late start after dropping the bottles of whiskey off at the farms we go on.

Around 9 am we were rolling, finally on my own i got to go on some land i've been trying to get to for nearly a decade of babysitting the old feller, as i thought, there were still decent numbers there due to being on some tricky slopes.

Robbie was slow to get going to be honest, not covering the ground how i'd like, but a fault thats been worked into him. Eventually with a couple of kills and marks he was settled and the day cracked on.

 

 

 

The two albino jills i had taken with me as always worked there evil magic, disturbed rabbits hit the net, or were dug to and extracted with an attachment.

 

The tally built, sure the old feller could not keep up.

 

 

Robbie kept marking and catching a few with some spectacular slalom type runs down the slopes, usually ending in a suicidal end over end strike.

 

Got the odd boney dig, this one ended up when I broke through in the jill with some new fur gloves!

 

 

If a ferret wont stick with it, its no good to me!

 

Anyhow, got a phone call from the old feller at this point, i think he'd had enough! he came to pick me up.

He'd only managed 5, with all the excuses in the world!

I didnt let on how many I had at this point whilst on the phone, it was quite funny to throw 20 rabbits over the fence at him!

 

It was only 12.15 pm, not a bad bag 25 rabbits between us for 3 hrs, but it was getting a bit wet at this time, an what the heck, there's all tommorow to go at yet! Roll on 2012 see you then rabbits, only a few hours away!

 

 

Happy new year guys.

[andy s410c 63]

Decent bag there B All the best for the New Year you fancing a dodge over the "eastside" anytime soon??

[The one 8,598]

Nice to see you posting again mate