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A nice couple of days


Tyla

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Been out with the ferrets the last two days. As i've been having a lack of rabbits on the usual place recently i tried a bit of ground that i've not touched this year. i lamped it the night before and there are lots about although Tyla only managed to connect with two but it gave me an idea of where to start.

 

i went with jaegervulpes off this site and another mate, first set was empty and the second was plain hard work with the rabbits refusing to bolt and the ferrets killing below ground at undiggable depths 16+ foot :blink: managed to get two out of there that were shallow enough to dig to.

 

The next two sets produced 4, 2 dug and 2 bolted. Had a good look around the ground, there are some monster buries with literally 100's of holes stretching over big areas. im not brave or well equipped enough to have a go at them yet, need alot more long nets than mine to do it properly but will have to have a crack before the cover grows back.

 

Ended the day with 6 and pretty sure we had to leave a few below ground which is a shame. No pics as left the phone at home :doh:

 

Today a mate and i went a bit further afield to a farm in kent. The day started fairly bleak with one dug from the first bury then nothing from the next three sets. The puppy kept marking a massive warren which i didnt have enough nets for but by this time i was getting frustrated so we ran the longnet across the back of it and netted up with all the nets we had, about 50, which left easily as many again open.

 

We entered all 4 ferrets and then the day improved a bit, rabbits bolting all over the place! Most bolting from uncovered holes but being backnetted while trying to get away from the dogs, one into the long net and then ... nothing. No sign of ferrets and nothing bolting for 1/2 hour, couldnt find the collared jill on the locator and was starting to fret until finally got a reading. A quick 2 foot dig and got on more then moving the jill around trying to find the others. Eventually she settled at 4 foot and on digging down found 2 rabbits in a stop with the polecat and the hob. Called it a day after that as it was only an hour til dark.

 

Finished the day with with 12, first doubled figures this season, and the conviction that i really need at least 2 more collars! it was my mates first time ferreting and i think he enjoyed it as he wants to come again :D

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Nice one! Think I'd be leaving the digging alone if it showed 16 foot! :icon_eek: Is that one of those Rolson babby spade's you have?

 

Yep, a screwfix micro shovel, under a tenner. im very impressed, super light, seems strong and very easy to dig with means you can keep a nice narrow hole and still work at the bottom. All that said, im still not going to dig 16 foot with it :blink: ! Some of these warrens are unreal, they are in ancient woodland and hedges and some have probably been there for centuries.

 

Thanks stealthy, its not my first double ever though, just this season - been suffering a dearth of rabbits on my usual permission hence the change of venue! Oddly enough used to get good 30+ bags without making a dent from places that now just dont seem to hold the numbers. Not seen a huge amount of mixy either so was wondering if it may be VHD? i've never had any experience with it though so i dont know what to look for :hmm:

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Nice one! Think I'd be leaving the digging alone if it showed 16 foot! :icon_eek: Is that one of those Rolson babby spade's you have?

 

Yep, a screwfix micro shovel, under a tenner. im very impressed, super light, seems strong and very easy to dig with means you can keep a nice narrow hole and still work at the bottom. All that said, im still not going to dig 16 foot with it :blink: ! Some of these warrens are unreal, they are in ancient woodland and hedges and some have probably been there for centuries.

 

Thanks stealthy, its not my first double ever though, just this season - been suffering a dearth of rabbits on my usual permission hence the change of venue! Oddly enough used to get good 30+ bags without making a dent from places that now just dont seem to hold the numbers. Not seen a huge amount of mixy either so was wondering if it may be VHD? i've never had any experience with it though so i dont know what to look for :hmm:

 

Aaah! thought you meant first ever double figures, don't know what's happening with rabbit numbers, but I know its a country wide problem.

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Saw those lttle shovels at my local fencing suppliers and picked one up, they weigh absolutely nothing, and look strong enough for all but the heaviest of digging. Handy little piece of kit for the price!

 

Have you field tested the new shovel yet mate.

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