One leg shorter than the other.

[Brimmer 220]

Hi guys, managed to get out again today on the slopes, the wind had dropped and it remained dry until we were packing up. Both days have worked out quite well for once!

 

The old one wanted to steady the dogs up on some of the flatter ground before we dropped down, had to agree with him, they had a light day yesterday, so putting two dogs with bags of energy on the slopes which in areas are quite steep and boulder strewn is a bad idea. We spent maybee 45 minutes taking the wind out of there sails before we made our way to the edge. By this time we had 4 in the bag, 2 from ferreting and 2 from running.

 

As we looked over the wall, i could see a few rabbits sat over the warrens, which a few did the usual, ran downhill over the next edge, they seem to do that a lot, it seems to be there party trick for staying alive, it seems to work quite well for them as chasing tails in these places will wear a dog out let alone a person with a ferret box, nets and a spade. (And weighing in at over 16 stone!)

 

My old feller let the dogs work, they marked one warren i had seen the odd rabbit over so i started netting up.

These sort of places are strongholds for the rabbits, you rarely work these places as it can be more hassle than its worth, these warrens have probably been there 100's of years, not as extensive as they will have been pre mixi days, but you can still see the scars on the landscape.

 

I had taken two ferrets with me today, The Black Assassin, a dark poley from 2008, who was to be fair, more of a Black Bloater today, i've overdone his feeding of late, my fault. And his albino sister from 2008, she has still not got a name yet, Why not? she's proven herself for nearly four years now, not as hard as the other albino jill b*****d, but will still do the same job sticking with them until they bolt or they are dead. Lets call her Princess, that sounds twisted enough!

 

Anyhow, down 'Princess' went after around 20 nets were put on, it took around 10 mins for her to bolt the first, which also proved to be the last, only one rabbit at home for all that netting effort!

 

Moving on my old feller spotted a rabbit dropping in a warren a bit further up, desperate to get into a few, i started netting it up, It was quite a big warren, and took around 30 nets in the end.

 

 

 

It was taking me a while putting the nets on, and as i could see the old feller getting bored and twitchy, i sent his on his way to work a section of long grass further up with both dogs.

 

I dropped 'Princess' down again, as i waited, I could hear the odd squeal from further up the slope, sounded like my old feller was doing a bit of damage with the dogs!

 

At this point I gave in and got out the box. Only 2 foot looked like a godsend, i hacked my way through the rocky earth and pulled a rabbit missing 2 of something. Its nearly enough to make you give up sometimes.

 

At this point my old feller came back past, dropped another 4 rabbits off for me, and wandered off in the other direction!

 

Back 'Princess' went, this time for a while, it ended up being best part of an hour, to depths of around 6ft, moving a bit, but i wasnt looking forward to a dig through this rocky hillside at 6ft.

 

Eventually she moved them, one by one she put the hurt on them and they bolted, ending up with 5 rabbits from the warren.

Time to hunt down the old chap!

 

As it happend he hunted me down, he had not had seen another rabbit, we were both in agreement to move back up onto the easier ground.

 

I walked the dogs across a few grassy spots, and left the old feller watching by the wallside, they did not throw anything up, only when i got near and old rockpile did i hear a squeal, the dogs were on it straight away and marked up where it was coming from, looks like a stoat was helping me out, a few slabs out of the way, and a pulled a half alive bunny out, the stoat was nowhere to be seen, but thanks anyway buddy, you put those EU dark polecat ferrets to shame!

 

Had a couple more marks on the way back to the truck, got a few photo's of the last warren before we packed up, and almost got a good shot of the dog nailing a bunny, all done on my phone camera, which is shit.

 

 

 

The end total was 18, not a huge haul, but well worked for.

 

 

The old chap gutted them all whilst i stuffed my face, so dont know if there were any signs of cherries in them. Also had a bit of fun laughing at the United/ City game on the way home, the old chap is a keen Red fan,

I'm just a ferreter!

[Ideation 8,217]

Well done mate, and a great write up as usual.

 

I'd love a good mooch on that ground mate, looks like a lot of fun to work the dogs over :thumbs:

[The one 8,598]

Nice going 18 a great haul these days

[breeze 1,395]

Another Cracking read there Brimm I would settle for 18 any day of the week mate . . . But you can keep the 6ft dig's Nice pic of the dog's over the warren aswell