stealthy1 3,964 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 How will you dispatch them mate, they look like they've got teeth like rats! I certainly wouldn't want to be necking them! I would'nt like to chin one either! Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 This is certainly an interesting topic, and i will be looking in especially to see the outcome from this. From the general appearance of the animal, it looks like it may give quite a good account of itself against a ferret. What size of ferret will you use? Hobs or jills? and are they killers or bolters? Quote Link to post
dirtwinger 235 Posted April 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 This is certainly an interesting topic, and i will be looking in especially to see the outcome from this.From the general appearance of the animal, it looks like it may give quite a good account of itself against a ferret. What size of ferret will you use? Hobs or jills? and are they killers or bolters? Brimmer, i will have the answer to all your questions when i do it. As prairie dogs are naturally predated by mustelids I suspect they will bolt well. From the P dogs point of view it has to be better to run into the open than fight underground where a ferret is evolved for hunting. Plus the P dogs always have a backdoor to their tunnel which implies a bolting mentality. Two more days to the experiment begins! all the best dirtwinger Quote Link to post
dirtwinger 235 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Well it didn't go as well as I had hoped. Not one prairie dog bolted in a whole afternoons ferreting, I think the main problem was the ferrets. One hadnt been worked before and the other only on packrats. The ferrets would go down and stay there for awhile but nothing happened no bumping or squealing, nothing. I think the ferrets were just going down and sniffing the prairie dogs and not attacking them. I'm still sure this will work I just have to find a way to ignite these ferrets aggression, perhaps give them some mice to kill etc. Here a few pics of our failed effort. Dirtwinger Quote Link to post
Malt 379 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 At least you gave it a go mate. Quote Link to post
dirtwinger 235 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 At least you gave it a go mate. I will try and get the ferrets going better I think. Let em have a go at the packrats for a while and get their confidence up. Once they are bolting the packrats well I can revisit the prairie dog question. I know these ferrets are bred from pet stock but mustelids are such predatory creatures that I refuse to believe they wont work well with time put into them. Still you can t beat hunting with animals for making you look like a right prat! all the best Dirtwinger Quote Link to post
The one 8,578 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Do you ferret them like we do rabbits mate ? Set a purse net on the burrow then any that escape the lurcher will pick up ? Quote Link to post
dirtwinger 235 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Do you ferret them like we do rabbits mate ? Set a purse net on the burrow then any that escape the lurcher will pick up ? Thats the theory, of course something has to come out of the hole first. I have ferreted in the UK since I was seven years old so this game isnt new to me, just the quarry. I havent ferreted for about ten years, just decided to get back into it and explore the possibilities here in the US. all the best Dirtwinger Quote Link to post
The one 8,578 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Is that the closest you can get to ferreting mate because is it true your rabbits dont go to ground like ours . Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Thanks for the info. Just as a matter of interest, were they deffo at home? I've seen and had ferrets in the past though that don't get stuck in, and some rabbits know there not in any serious danger and stay put, really wanted to see a positive outcome to this, and a few animals for us to see. Shame you have not got a few seasoned ferrets from working stock to fire things up! Maybee could these critter be out running the ferret below ground? Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Perhaps if you shot a few prairie dogs and gave them to the ferrets as food they might get the idea that they are some thing to bite the ass off, what do you feed your ferrets on out there? Quote Link to post
The one 8,578 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Can you do anything with the pairie dogs Or are they just ferret food and your killing them because there vermin ? Quote Link to post
dirtwinger 235 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Thanks for the info. Just as a matter of interest, were they deffo at home? I've seen and had ferrets in the past though that don't get stuck in, and some rabbits know there not in any serious danger and stay put, really wanted to see a positive outcome to this, and a few animals for us to see. Shame you have not got a few seasoned ferrets from working stock to fire things up! Maybee could these critter be out running the ferret below ground? Brimmer its not over yet although it might take til next season to get a good result. As to outrunning the ferret, the holes are usually two holers with a central chamber, we did see prairie dogs utilizing kangaroo rat dens as well. I think if they were running around I would have heard something underground and all was quiet, I just dont know what was going on down there. They were definetly home as we saw them go down the holes as we approached. Even had one who stuck his head out to watch us ten minutes after we had two ferrets down his hole. Stealthy, the ferrets are on dry food I have tried meat but they dont want it. Perhaps if starved them or got one on meat from a baby i could send their appetite in the right direction. The One, If catch any they will be hawk food. All the best Dirtwinger Quote Link to post
lapin2008 1,587 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Thanks for the info. Just as a matter of interest, were they deffo at home? I've seen and had ferrets in the past though that don't get stuck in, and some rabbits know there not in any serious danger and stay put, really wanted to see a positive outcome to this, and a few animals for us to see. Shame you have not got a few seasoned ferrets from working stock to fire things up! Maybee could these critter be out running the ferret below ground? Brimmer its not over yet although it might take til next season to get a good result. As to outrunning the ferret, the holes are usually two holers with a central chamber, we did see prairie dogs utilizing kangaroo rat dens as well. I think if they were running around I would have heard something underground and all was quiet, I just dont know what was going on down there. They were definetly home as we saw them go down the holes as we approached. Even had one who stuck his head out to watch us ten minutes after we had two ferrets down his hole. Stealthy, the ferrets are on dry food I have tried meat but they dont want it. Perhaps if starved them or got one on meat from a baby i could send their appetite in the right direction. The One, If catch any they will be hawk food. All the best Dirtwinger If the ferrets have come from pets and its their first time working they may take some time before getting the hang of it. I have had the same over here sometimes with some ferrets that don't seem to get the hang of it for the first couple of outings.. am sure they will pick it up once they get hold of one under ground. atb with it Quote Link to post
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