Netting Runs

[NEWKID 28,108]

When we ferret hedges we tend to use stop nets or long nets along the hedge line, and purse net the runs in the hedge, rather than net every hole.

This seems to work pretty well as most rabbits seem to use the same runs through the hedge.

I read a while back about some nets which have a stiff wire "D" ring at one end and the net bags out behind it, these I think maybe used in australia the same way we use purse nets ( this maybe wrong so don't shoot me down if it is lol). I spoke to a friend who's a good net maker about making some for us to use as run nets, he hadn't seen them before but agreed they could be ideal.

Has anyone used these before in this fashion and if so how did you find them?

Cheers

[BrianSteven72 369]

there was an article in the countrymans weekly 2or3 weeks ago about them never used then myself but acording to the paper they are handy

[NEWKID 28,108]

there was an article in the countrymans weekly 2or3 weeks ago about them never used then myself but acording to the paper they are handy

 

Cheers mate, my mates going to make a few and we'll give them a try see how they go. They should hold their shape better in the run which should be beneficial.

[The one 8,562]

You seem to be going to a lot of bother id just net up where i could and try to pick them up there , Or netting up the next burrow and trying to back net them there . Maybe im too laid back id be happy moving them even if it was to somewhere i could or had to dig them out the next time

[NEWKID 28,108]

You seem to be going to a lot of bother id just net up where i could and try to pick them up there , Or netting up the next burrow and trying to back net them there . Maybe im too laid back id be happy moving them even if it was to somewhere i could or had to dig them out the next time

 

Maybe mate, it takes us about 10 mins to set the stop nets or long nets along the hedge and we only net the obvious runs through the hedge, instead of every hole which could be hundreds in some of the big hedges we do, probably only set about 10 or so run nets each section before we move on and do the same. We had 3 to the same net on a run 1 after the other last week, you could have netted loads of holes and they may have bolted from one you missed along the top of the hedge and away. A lot of our permission is big thick hedges so you need the run nets for the ones that don't bolt to the open, I just wondered if anyone had used this type of net instead of purse/poke nets

[Malt 379]

I just use normal 4ft purse nets over the runs in hedges. They work well if you set them up gently, but I use 4z nets they're a pain the arse for getting tangled.

[Brimmer 220]

You mean like a bag, or sack?

[NEWKID 28,108]

You mean like a bag, or sack?

 

Kind of mate, stiff wire in the shape of a "D" with the net tied to this and being a funnell shpe out behind, in principal the rabbit runs into the D end and is caught in the bag behind,

I'm not sure if this would be any better than setting the purse nets like we do now, I would think the good thing is they wont collapse like a purse net can when it's set in a run, but maybe the down side is they wouldn't work both ways, in that if a rabbit hits it from behind and not through the D, I don't know if they wiil work. Just wondered if anyone had tried them before.

When my mate makes a couple I'll give them a whirl if they're crap they'll stay in the shed, if they're any good I'll let you know

[NEWKID 28,108]

I just use normal 4ft purse nets over the runs in hedges. They work well if you set them up gently, but I use 4z nets they're a pain the arse for getting tangled.

 

Been using 4ft spun poly for the runs, they don't seem to tangle too badly but because they're heavier they are harder to set without collapsing, maybe a heavier z would be better.

[Country Joe 1,411]

New Kid, Do you find the Rabbits get caught in the longnets running the side of the hedges, or do the stop nets, coming out of the hedge not pick them up?

[NEWKID 28,108]

New Kid, Do you find the Rabbits get caught in the longnets running the side of the hedges, or do the stop nets, coming out of the hedge not pick them up?

 

Use stop nets more than long nets now mate and like you say most rabbits turn and run the hedge and hit the stop nets, anything that trys to run the open gets picked up by the lurcher (sometimes lol), a mate I go with sometimes, hasn't got a running dog so prefers to put longnets along the hedge either tight to the hedge or zig zagged, at least 50% I would say ,if not more, are caught in th run nets in the hedge though

[NEWKID 28,108]

You mean like a bag, or sack?

 

Kind of mate, stiff wire in the shape of a "D" with the net tied to this and being a funnell shpe out behind, in principal the rabbit runs into the D end and is caught in the bag behind,

I'm not sure if this would be any better than setting the purse nets like we do now, I would think the good thing is they wont collapse like a purse net can when it's set in a run, but maybe the down side is they wouldn't work both ways, in that if a rabbit hits it from behind and not through the D, I don't know if they wiil work. Just wondered if anyone had tried them before.

When my mate makes a couple I'll give them a whirl if they're crap they'll stay in the shed, if they're any good I'll let you know

 

Goodonya for thinking, outside the box fellah

 

But,..it always pays to keep things simple...a good sized purse net will take care of those 'top runs' in your Devon/Dorset high hedgerows....but, as you have noticed, sometimes the net drops, just as the coney hits it..so,..sometimes I carry a few 'hoops' (similar to those that you would attach a wire to, when snaring on soft ground)...and if you reach into the hedge and push a few hoops in, it is easy to hang your nets over them.. Be sure to place the peg , well back, to allow an instant hit, once the rabbit strikes the web..

 

All the best to you, and good hunting,...Chalkwarren...

 

 

www.chalkwarren.co.uk

 

Thanks Chalkwarren, That sounds the best idea, trying to make the "hoops" in the field or position the nets on sticks etc in the runs can sometimes mean they collapse, I think your right about keeping it simple and making some wire hoops to hang a purse net on makes a lot of sense.

Your dead right about the hedges though you would miss more than you catch in some of these without some strategically placed run nets.

[Country Joe 1,411]

Great topic, looking for ways to tackle hedges, as most of my ferreting is along hedgerows, im one of the old school, i just purse net the burys, very productive, but time consuming, and murder on the auld back.

 

Good tip Chalky, with the hoops, any others lads keep them coming.

Edited January 28, 2012 by Country Joe

[TOMO 27,937]

when i set in the runs i tend to wrap the draw cord round a suitable branch,, without any slack in it.

 

i have seen on a warrener film, a tunnel box trap thing that worked well on those banked hedges you have down there,, if i remember corect it cought from both sides and was multi catch,,, of course the down side is carring the dam things about,, but if your lucky enough to drive to warrens,,they would be very handy ,, and on the film they seemed to work a treeat

[NEWKID 28,108]

when i set in the runs i tend to wrap the draw cord round a suitable branch,, without any slack in it.

 

i have seen on a warrener film, a tunnel box trap thing that worked well on those banked hedges you have down there,, if i remember corect it cought from both sides and was multi catch,,, of course the down side is carring the dam things about,, but if your lucky enough to drive to warrens,,they would be very handy ,, and on the film they seemed to work a treeat

 

Got to walk most of it mate, bad enough with longnets, purse nets, ferrets etc..... I like the idea of the trap though...... I've just found you've got to be very careful setting in the runs, they work a treat though if set right, really like the idea from Chalkwarren with the wire hoops I think this could be the way forward for me.

 

Country Joe: I don't know what the hedges are like up your end mate but you could spend the whole day purse netting some of these down here, most are pretty thick and very long, we just find it easier netting the obvious runs and anything that leaves the hedge hit the stop nets then move along the hedge in sections....... I used to sit my terrier on the top of the hedge ( my thinking was she would push them out of the hedge to nets/lurcher or catch herself) but I have found they are less likely to leave the hedge so if she doesn't nail them in the hedge ( to be fair she's not bad at this, but they're only good for ferret food) they go straight back to ground and are reluctant to bolt again.