ferrets no more

[Bunny Boiler 177]

It's strange... I'm having a very good season so far. Always been in double figures (usually 20+) apart from once, when I only went out for a few hours. I have however picked up ALOT of permission for this season. You guys need to ask around a bit more I think

 

Hope it picks up,

 

Atb, BB

[jimster68 123]

i know how you feel bud ,i went on my permission yesterday and got 4 rabbits in 5 hours (and its a 50 mile round trip) ,and ive had worse days this season lol,

thing is you cant beat a day out in peace and quiet ,theirs some things you just cant put a price on ..jim

[Mick C. 229]

Its the actual hunting that i enjoy

 

The dog never gets pissed off.

 

i just follow and go off him.

 

Half a dozen is probebly our average

[slips 114]

days of gettin numbers for me av long gone the rabbits av disapeared in big numbers round me thro mixy night shootin diggin out the big main earths with 360s.so all i do now is take a pug 10 nets and the cockers terrier and wonder for a threw hours just droppin the pug were the dogs make and mainly in cover lettin the dogs av the sport and if i want some for the pot i put a threw nets down . do any think there might be a diffrent strain of mixy out thats why there not about

[nothernlite 18,260]

its not all about numbers i enjoy going out with 2 ferrets and a pair of lurchers and a bag and just bolting for the dogs if i get any its all the better if not ive still had a good day out

[Carraghs Gem 1,699]

Shame that jigsaw, its bad enough around here rabbit wise and big bags are rare.

[tegater 789]

Myxy hit where I am for the first time in years, although there are a few about. Just don't want to kill the last ones though.

In the summer there was a really healthy population.

I am seeing them very high up on the moor though amongst the hags, and I did wonder whether it was some built in survival instinct to move away from infected areas/populations.

[jigsaw 11,902]

I must admit im into numbers........small numbers would do like 15 + but to spend a day out for 5 or 7 or 9 rabbits..........hell nah.I had some fantastic days,...........I had some pure shite days,lol but all in all I had it good a lot of the time.wattching the kelpie do her stuff .it got to the stage we were starved of numbers and the bitch got a little frustrated and started crunching the bunnys,my hunting mate gave me his ferrets 4 weeks ago,i gave them to another bloke,no money just a good working home.I hadn't work for my own ferrets,hes packed in the game,I had a hillside bursting with rabbits,the farmer on there is after becoming a very good mate to me,he gets me a bit of terrier work,a lot of goat shooting but what he did a few months ago I cant get over.He bought a myxie rabbit and planted it in his field,it spread as it does like wild fire,so he picked up a few casualties and spread them around,the whole hillside was decimated.You wouldnt see 10 rabbits in a morning now.I went from ferreting 20-40 rabbits a morn to the last visit furkin 9 rabbits.Hes delighted with his handy work,in his paddock at night or day youd see 20 rabbits siting about,the hill was moveing with them I once shot 87 rabbits in 4 hours and the kelpie retrieved 60+ and you couldnt make a dent in them,now theres not 1 to be seen.I kind of gave him a bit of stick over it but what can i say,its his land,his decision.I thought it was great .........he didnt lol.Im not packing up hunting,i do a lot of shooting,a lot of terrier work a lot of walking looking for a hare,not much coursing cause I cant find the basterin hares,lol but i do a lot of stuff,its just the ferreting aint worth the effort any more I reckon,I'll miss it cause thats what I started with,its my first love,I was 12 years old when I stumbled upon 2 lads catching rabbits,i was immediately hooked.I had great times.I might be back at it after a while but I cant justify keeping 2 ferrets and do nothing with them,they are begining to get a bit frustrated I think from doing nothing but having a wander about the garden.itss not fair on them and it drives me nuts thinking of the days when i was a competent rabbit slayer.it embarrases me to come back with 4/5 or some small number of head after 6 or 7 hrs in the fields.cant be having that im afraid

Edited November 16, 2012 by jigsaw

[Guest norseman]

sorry to hear about that jigsaw, if i had your small numbers i'd be laughing. its the day out and the craic that matter. atb

[moonlighter 1,165]

It might be a good thing mate. Have 5 or 6 years without them and the numbers might build back up. I'm in a similar situation this year, not with mixi, but with the game keeper on a massive estate I go on, getting himself a 22 rimi this year. I would say this summer he has shot around 800 rabbits shooting from the truck.

[moonlighter 1,165]

This got me wondering too, if it would effect the fox damage on the birds, as there is less rabbits as food. I wonder what a fox kills more off during a week. Rabbits or pheasants?

[fitchet 788]

This got me wondering too, if it would effect the fox damage on the birds, as there is less rabbits as food. I wonder what a fox kills more off during a week. Rabbits or pheasants?

 

I dont think foxes kill all that many rabbits mate . . .

[patterdalejoel 669]

the farm my uncle works on is keepered, they will try and destroy the rabbit population for no good real reason, then the birds will get hammered. the years they have left the rabbits along more or less the birds have been more or less left alone....