First Outing This Season

[byrney 2]

Hi fellow ferreters. I had my first outing of the season on some new permission last weekend. Last season was my first, and due to the lack of decent land and experience, it was a fairly dissapointing one, although i love getting out with the ferts its puts the icing on the cake when you bag a few.

Last weekend was great though, the land i was on is a "pick your own" fruit farm and the rabbits are causing the owner a real problem. I managed to bag eight in three hours and learned a few good lessons.

The first of these is that i would be much better off using a priest to despatch the rabbits as i have been finding that a Necked rabbit seems to take longer to die and if the rabbits still tangled in the net i was breaking the netting trying to neck them. The next lesson wasw dont use two ferrets just because you have two, i found if i was putting both ferrets down a warren with around eight holes i was constantly untangling nets and the relaying them. In the end i found it much better to try one ferret and them give the other a go. Also i have had enough of the nylon nets i have tried both nylon and hemp and have found the hemp just as reliable but loads easier to deal with so i have just bought another ten off ebay. And the last lesson was dont carry a live rabbit around for long, i had one firmly in my grip and it was totally relaxed, then it gave a sudden kick fell to the ground and was off. Never mind ill get it next time. Had my catch in a curry in the evening which was a great end to a great day.

[Malt 379]

Nice one mate Hope you enjoyed the curry, will have to try that one out.

[COMPO 54]

It can be painful learning by yourself, sounds like you had fun.....personally i would recommend heavier duty nylon nets ( i use 10z) or spun nylon, and also practise despatching in the net, if you shake the rabbit in the net whilst holding it round the waist , its head should drop out through the net allowing you to despatch it easier, but i dont want this to get into a debate about nets and such,

 

good going, i used to ferret a pick your own strawberry field and caught lots and lots of rabbits from a small hedge and bit of woodland that surrounded the field

[kurgan 5]

Try making your own nets much more fun and satisfaction when you catch in them and check out the free video on site .I' m The same had to learn it all by myself couple of seasons and you'l have it all figured out good luck.

[mooster 1]

Nice to hear your story,every trip is a new learning experience isn't it.......something different happens to me every time!

'spose it would be boring if we just went out and caught rabbits with no drama or sport involved.

[Guest little_lloyd]

I find Nylon the most annoying thing ever, always getting tangled and f****d!!

 

Ive invested in a few more hemp & spun nylon what i find are easier to untangle and remove a bolter from.

[Guest Ericanilaru]

As a newbie it would never have occured to me to work them seperately.

 

Just wondering: Does seperating them make it easier to retrieve the one that's working at the time?

 

Cheers

[stubby 175]

Ive found if you want to work more than one at a time, make sure you get a good ferreting partner, twice Ive taken people that were all up for it, and was glad of the extra pair of eyes to keep a watch on bunnies hitting the net or emergine ferrets, but on telling them to grab a fleeing ferret, they wont pick them up in case they bite

[byrney 2]

As a newbie it would never have occured to me to work them seperately.

 

Just wondering: Does seperating them make it easier to retrieve the one that's working at the time?

 

Cheers

HI, i found it much easier. As i said i was using both my ferts simply because i had two. I also found that the first one was bolting a couple and then it went quiet and then sending the second for a go i was getting at least one more rabbit bolting. Thanks

[Neal 1,930]

I'm in a similar situation ie started from scratch and on my tod last season. As you imply, there are so many things which seem common sense to those who've been doing it for donkeys' years but when there's only yourself you can only learn by your own experience. On the plus side though, it does mean that you find a way that works for you rather than doing it the supposedly right way just because somebody else thinks it's right. Eg many would disagree with your findings that working them individually works best for you and I have to admit that despite reading the contrary on numerous occasions, I also find it easier to work one at a time. I also went over to using a priest for the same reasons you mentioned but will still now be trying Compo's suggestion. In general though, as they say: if it aint broke don't fix it!