potential

[whin 463]

very true poacher most of the estetes i rabbited no permision , just ran aferret through a few rabbits then move on ,but times change and you dont go back i still jump the fence always will

[Trev Smilerface 38]

I started ferreting with no locator. Got taught a lot by a fella in Ascot, i was an estate manager and an abundance of rabbits and different ground to ferret. I learnt the old school ways. Listening was the greatest tool you had. Now we had collars on the ferrets with small bells on. Youd be surprised how you can hear that sound next to the burrow if the ferret is moving or even if its killed. If it was laid up for a while and nothing happenning then it was ear to the burrows and see if ye can hear the bell. Many times you would hear it and then get the poker out and prod the ground till ye found the tunnel and the way it travelled. Then you put your ear to the ground and listend for the bell on the poke hole. Now the fella i worked with was unreal. he heard things that i never when i first started.

 

Now i use a locator, but and this is the but.........my ferts will have the collar on, but i dont get it out every two seconds. I like the quitness when im out not a beep beep beep all day. I use my ears and listen to whats going on.....and i still use a bell on there collars. A locator for me is an accessory not a neccessity.

 

Just my thoughts on it .......i love my ferts and love the sport. And i enjoy reading others views and ideas on it.

[Guest vin]

Well said Whin..

Theres something very special about having a sneaky jump over the fence...Its lets you know your still alive and the old ticker is working.

The other day I was up and over on my own and i was netting up a few holes very low down to the ground keeping out of sight...I heard this car coming up the lane near where i was,I thought it had one of them Boom Boom boxes in the back with the stereo playing some heavy Bass..I made myself chuckle out loud when I realized it was my heart pounding out of my chest ! Spice of life ! love it !

 

As for did i have a locator in my kit bag..? yes I did.. we all did it without one in our youth and its always possible to do..but the locator also give s you the confidence to put your Ferts in places you would,nt without a locator.. I would say on average the locator will come out at least once per trip...that could be the end of the day without one.

 

We all know its possible..but why make life hard.

[NEWKID 29,245]

As vin said, never used a locator in my youth, we used to poach around the edge of the local golf course, one place that always held a few rabbits was a little bury under an old oak right in the middle of the fairway, we'd get there early, nets on, ferret in quick as poss one lad on constant look out for the golfers, rabbits out ferret out and back over the hedge a couple of times had to run for it whilst the ferret was still in, watching for her/him through the hedge and the golfers were swinging away down the fairway

 

Use a locator now but rarely get the box out, I'm not a big fan of digging but it's a part of ferreting and to locate the ferret easily you can't beat the locator. Still find us ear to the hole and sticking bramble down at times old habits die hard.

[KittleRox 2,147]

Lots of good points there lads and as I,ve said I can appreciate locators are very handy, I have noticed though its the auld yins who are commenting and seem to make the point the locator only comes out when absolutely necessery which is all good, can,t help thinking that the up and coming generation young ferreters may be missing out though when it comes to having a well schooled dog doing its stuff and will probably rely on the disco carrot a bit too much

[whin 463]

to me ferreting is like terrier work and i had terriers for several seasons you dont put them in unles you have the kit , ferreting is not as dangerous ,but you put an animal in an earth you want to no the lay out , the old mark one ive had for twenty years newer versions , etc , but great for ferreting terrier work , localy u can get away without collars on some sets but in general if your a serous huntng man a priceles piece of equipment , so is decent ferrets , to go with the kit , as for youngsters not going have a clue like any generaition weather boxing pool snooker there always self made men who shine through ,maybe not as hungry for the cacth kill but there will be some ,worked sets with 50 holes no nets dogs etc long nets the locator worth more than anything once the easy bolters were dealt with , a biiger qestion how many have use done serous days weeks etc on land like the moors, borders of scotland were rabbits are numerous and setts, youl be glad you have locators not just a coulp of three holers and playing about , etc

[NEWKID 29,245]

to me ferreting is like terrier work and i had terriers for several seasons you dont put them in unles you have the kit , ferreting is not as dangerous ,but you put an animal in an earth you want to no the lay out , the old mark one ive had for twenty years newer versions , etc , but great for ferreting terrier work , localy u can get away without collars on some sets but in general if your a serous huntng man a priceles piece of equipment , so is decent ferrets , to go with the kit , as for youngsters not going have a clue like any generaition weather boxing pool snooker there always self made men who shine through ,maybe not as hungry for the cacth kill but there will be some ,worked sets with 50 holes no nets dogs etc long nets the locator worth more than anything once the easy bolters were dealt with , a biiger qestion how many have use done serous days weeks etc on land like the moors, borders of scotland were rabbits are numerous and setts, youl be glad you have locators not just a coulp of three holers and playing about , etc

 

A lot of the sets we do mate are in big old hedgerows 100's of yrds long with hundreds of holes, like I said already only get the box out when really nessacary, but wouldn't put a ferret in without a collar on in these big hedges.