Furrosious ferreter 499 Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 Hi all... My main worker is looking bored as can be, shes healthy and fit. But shes giving me that look everytime i go in the court or walk past, you know the one, get me out in the field look. Ive only ferreted 2 seasons over the winter, and its great fun and very rewarding. We have had 273 rabbits and a mouse. I have not ferreted in summer and would like to know if there is anything different to do... Ie, Is there likely to be more digging? (This could be a problem as warrens are deep and in sandy soil) Young rabbits? Collar or no collar? (I dont use one in winter) Purse nets or long nets? Any info or tips welcomed Thanks FF Quote Link to post
Welsh_red 4,302 Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 Just out of interest how come you don't use a collar Quote Link to post
Furrosious ferreter 499 Posted July 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 Started that i couldnt afford one... Then when i got one the ferret didnt like wearing it... would work the holes properly. She comes back to a squeaky dog toy normally. And a kiss at the hole entrance. Touch wood ive not had to dig one out yet... Had to get a long bramble once and feed it down the hole backwards to twist on rabbits fur to pull out. Been lucky really. FF Quote Link to post
Arry 18,510 Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 I know what you mean, I feel for the ferrets they just want to be out there and so do I if the truth known. My mate and I were talking about taking them for a run out, if we do it will be some ground burrows in the woods, no cover there so you can see them okay. We will travel light and take no nets, just drop them in and let them bolt. On the collar side, I would try and get her used to it mate. One of my ferrets got a habit of slipping out of the burrow a carrying on down the hedge by her self, found her with the finder fifty yards away on more than one occasion. Mind a lot of our ground is thick hedges. Its peace of mind some time just knowing the ferret still in the burrow you doing. Try making or buying a ordinary collar like a cat collar put it on her in the hutch and leave her to get used to it. Cheers Arry 1 Quote Link to post
rabbit demon 301 Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 Longer waits for the ferret as it will find nests and kill the young, doe's are less reluctant to bolt. Jaggies, nettles to sting the hell out you and catch on nets. Grounds harder to dig too. Summertime ferreting is a pain in the balls to be honest. Id Invest in a collar and locator if I was as you will lose the ferret if it gets stuck behind a rabbit in a stop end. Quote Link to post
fred90 3,089 Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 why not respect a season & stick to Autumn & winter.people moan when there's not much about.i understand if its pest control but if not then respect your quarry. 5 Quote Link to post
wildman 374 Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 Most lads don't ferret in summer for a few good reasons 1; to give the bunnies chance to breed n restock the land 2; ferrets are prone to over heat if worked in hot summer months 3; ticks are wriffe in burrows and can kill ya ferret in no time if undetected 4; after a long hard winter graffting there nuts off ya ferrets need to rest n breed too 3 Quote Link to post
Furrosious ferreter 499 Posted July 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 Cheers guys... It was only going to be a one off thing just to get her out... I have a finder and collar and a spare collar so putting it on her now to get used to. Hopefully will work. I do respect the season and am looking forward to the start of it, but i think its going to be abit later this year... The rabbits are doing really well this year on my perm, so im sure she'll enjoy it when we do get out. FF 1 Quote Link to post
beany01 223 Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 I tried it in May, and it was a ball ache. The rabbits didn’t really want to bolt, but the ferrets enjoyed it. Warrens being full of babies made it a digging mission. The larger babies scarpered all around the warren and it was dig after dig. I also heard the ferrets getting into nests and listening to the babies squealing one after another wasn’t nice. Seemed such a waste to me, as in the Autumn, they would be good sized and you can do something with them. The time it took to clear a warren was horrendous. Warrens that would be cleared in half an hour in the winter were taking up to 3 times that. I only done it to show my face on a new permission and was curious as I had never been summer ferreting. If you do it, you would definitely need to take a ferret finder. It seemed a waste killing the babies, but to leave them in the warrens too would be sacrilege, at least the ferrets got a feed off them. It’s definitely not for me, I’ve told new perms they will have to wait for the autumn, if they can’t wait, then so be it, they can get someone else. I have done a little air rifle shooting with the night vision on local perms that I can’t ferret due to roads etc, to top up the ferret food over the summer, and that suits me fine 1 Quote Link to post
Furrosious ferreter 499 Posted July 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2018 Yeah i think ill leave it for now... Might do abit a lamping instead... Ill take her over the playing field for a run... Kids will like that. Shes still not liking the collar, shes abit like when you put socks on a dog. Dont think she ever going to like it. FF Quote Link to post
Bobtheferret 1,223 Posted July 22, 2018 Report Share Posted July 22, 2018 (edited) Agree with Beany01 completely, good points. I do exactly like him bit of air rifle shooting in the summer months for fresh ferret food and keeping land owners happy, my air rifle doesn’t see the outside of its case between September and April though. Edited July 22, 2018 by Bobtheferret Poor spelling 1 Quote Link to post
The one 8,395 Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Theres better ways of getting or controlling the rabbits during the summer , but theres nothing wrong with a bit of summer time ferreting watch out for the heat and give the ferrets plenty of water and its hit and miss with digging you get into young rabbits the ferret will nail them , but get into half grown three quarter grown they will bolt and are a good handy sized rabbit . The worst thing to watch is transporting the ferrets in the car it can get so hot in a box so quickly i carry mine in a basket and keep the rear windows half way down and only put them in the box while i'm using them and repeatedly keep opening the lid and checking on them Quote Link to post
terryd 8,024 Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Like arry said get it used to the collar now is the time just pop it on in the yard while they have a run around then come work time they wont react to it 1 Quote Link to post
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