Bloody hard morning for just Three

[Arry 27,101]

Think its going to be a hard season for us not many about. Did a road hedge and managed to just scratch out three.

Cheers Arry

[big napper 3,698]

3s better than none pal and your out doing a bit,

Nice one

[Arry 27,101]

2 hours ago, big napper said:

3s better than none pal and your out doing a bit,

Nice one

Your right mate was a pleasure to be out on a lovely frosty sunny morning.

Cheers Arry

[Moochersways 862]

At least your out having a go at some mate

[Arry 27,101]

2 hours ago, Moochersways said:

At least your out having a go at some mate

Yeah Mooch at least its wasn't a blank I do hate blanking. Going to be a lean season I think, Just have to make the most of it.

Cheers Arry

[Bobtheferret 1,291]

Without being negative about if there’s that few about is it not best to leave the ones that are left? Or next season that 3 may be 0…..

[Arry 27,101]

2 hours ago, Bobtheferret said:

Without being negative about if there’s that few about is it not best to leave the ones that are left? Or next season that 3 may be 0…..

We only did two hedges in that field and left the other two which have a few in.  I get where your coming from Bob but its not us that cleaning them out its RHD. I have other permissions that had a good head of rabbits end of last season on some the rabbits are gone compleatly.

If I was a younger man maybe I could pack up for a season or two but I'm 74 mate, I don't know how much longer I have left. I like to get out in the fields and I think its use it or lose it. 

Cheers Arry

[Moochersways 862]

On 02/12/2025 at 22:40, Arry said:

Yeah Mooch at least its wasn't a blank I do hate blanking. Going to be a lean season I think, Just have to make the most of it.

3 minutes ago, Arry said:

We only did two hedges in that field and left the other two which have a few in.  I get where your coming from Bob but its not us that cleaning them out its RHD. I have other permissions that had a good head of rabbits end of last season on some the rabbits are gone compleatly.

If I was a younger man maybe I could pack up for a season or two but I'm 74 mate, I don't know how much longer I have left. I like to get out in the fields and I think its use it or lose it. 

Cheers Arry

 

Catch them while they are there either you get them or disease does that's the way I think about it anyway

[Bobtheferret 1,291]

On 06/12/2025 at 17:48, Arry said:

We only did two hedges in that field and left the other two which have a few in.  I get where your coming from Bob but its not us that cleaning them out its RHD. I have other permissions that had a good head of rabbits end of last season on some the rabbits are gone compleatly.

If I was a younger man maybe I could pack up for a season or two but I'm 74 mate, I don't know how much longer I have left. I like to get out in the fields and I think its use it or lose it. 

Cheers Arry

I totally understand that especially at your age but no matter how well they breed there has to be something to start with or they’ll be gone for good! Like you said though you left some of the other hedges on that field so hopefully still something there. It is a hard one though I know what you mean take them whilst they are there before they are gone but I always try to leave a reasonable number, just take a few not like the good old days. Find myself going out for just a couple of hours rather than all day as just not the rabbits there and don’t want to wipe out what’s left. 

[Arry 27,101]

3 hours ago, Bobtheferret said:

I totally understand that especially at your age but no matter how well they breed there has to be something to start with or they’ll be gone for good! Like you said though you left some of the other hedges on that field so hopefully still something there. It is a hard one though I know what you mean take them whilst they are there before they are gone but I always try to leave a reasonable number, just take a few not like the good old days. Find myself going out for just a couple of hours rather than all day as just not the rabbits there and don’t want to wipe out what’s left. 

Been ferreting all my life Bob always leave some. When I was a kid number were very low four of us would go out all day for a brace and take in turns to have a rabbit. Seen numbers rise and fall, some of the best numbers down here were just before RHD hit. My father told me there were hundreds when he was younger before Mixie hit. So rabbit numbers can rise and fall dramatically but they always seem to come back.

Now patchy, theres few more on the other side of that permission. Some of my other permissions are dead while others not bad. We are only two handed and both in our 70's so a morning tilling up for just three is just hard work thats all I was saying.

Cheers Arry

[Bobtheferret 1,291]

6 minutes ago, Arry said:

Been ferreting all my life Bob always leave some. When I was a kid number were very low four of us would go out all day for a brace and take in turns to have a rabbit. Seen numbers rise and fall, some of the best numbers down here were just before RHD hit. My father told me there were hundreds when he was younger before Mixie hit. So rabbit numbers can rise and fall dramatically but they always seem to come back.

Now patchy, theres few more on the other side of that permission. Some of my other permissions are dead while others not bad. We are only two handed and both in our 70's so a morning tilling up for just three is just hard work thats all I was saying.

Cheers Arry

Love that attitude. Hate when you hear people saying that the rabbit is finished. I believe like you they peak and fall, by the sounds of it before mixi around 1954 rabbits were in almost unimaginable numbers compared to today and 99% were wiped out and yet within 30 years they were in good numbers again and I still hope (and pray) they will be back again from RVHD2 at some point in the not to distant future. Along with rats they are natures great survivors and breeders. My favourite rabbit fact is that Australias rabbit population went from 24 released onto Thomas Austin’s estate to being a national pest so bad that they built the rabbit proof fence just 42 years later! In those 42 years those 24 had become millions! Incredible. Granted those conditions will never be replicated but shows what they can do. 

ps know what you mean about the hard work that’s why I just bolt to my dogs. Quick and tbh probably on average 2/3 get away. 

[Moochersways 862]

Rabbits will never be finished off 8/9 years ago they were very thin on the ground here but they bounced back nicely last few years, I normally average 7/10 an outing and have places where we can do 20s and 30s.....not often but they are there, they'll bounce back more than likely just gotta take the rough with the smooth......I really don't think the thermal tech has helped tbh a man with a thermal scope on a rifle can clear places pretty sharpish