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ferreting


fieldwanderer
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:lol: Thanks guys! Had a pleasent couple of hours out earlier.

 

Well, finaly found time to pop out so grabbed a young jill and my kit and off I went (this jill's something else, she never seems to stop!)

 

Got to the warren I'd decided to try and got set up - didn't take enough nets though :oops: and it's still a bit too overgrown really (my hands are a bit tingley now) but, got set up and went 20-30 yds away for a fag and to get the collar on, checked it still worked and in she went - like a bullet! she seems to know what all this is about :good: Trouble was, she (being a bit hyper at the best of times) wouldn't come out! she was all over the place so at least I didn't need to dig but every time she came out into the light, she turned round and disapeared again :lol: Which was great until it lashed it down and I wanted to pack up and go home - 30mins I stood there in the pouring rain waiting for a chance to grab her :lol: only took one bunny, should've been 6 but the un-netted holes let me down badly.

 

So, I'm chuffed and she seemed to enjoy herself - thanks for all the advice! Looking forward to all the undergrowth dying back for the winter, I can't see the ferts going hungry that's for sure :lol:

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:lol: Thanks guys! Had a pleasent couple of hours out earlier.

 

Well, finaly found time to pop out so grabbed a young jill and my kit and off I went (this jill's something else, she never seems to stop!)

 

Got to the warren I'd decided to try and got set up - didn't take enough nets though :oops: and it's still a bit too overgrown really (my hands are a bit tingley now) but, got set up and went 20-30 yds away for a fag and to get the collar on, checked it still worked and in she went - like a bullet! she seems to know what all this is about :good: Trouble was, she (being a bit hyper at the best of times) wouldn't come out! she was all over the place so at least I didn't need to dig but every time she came out into the light, she turned round and disapeared again :lol: Which was great until it lashed it down and I wanted to pack up and go home - 30mins I stood there in the pouring rain waiting for a chance to grab her :lol: only took one bunny, should've been 6 but the un-netted holes let me down badly.

 

So, I'm chuffed and she seemed to enjoy herself - thanks for all the advice! Looking forward to all the undergrowth dying back for the winter, I can't see the ferts going hungry that's for sure :lol:

 

Well done mate. My best advice would be don't snatch at the ferret as it is coming out of the hole, let it come well away from the hole before you lift it. If you start snatching at a ferret it will eventually come to the mouth of the hole and walk backwards into the hole as soon as you approach it. Hoping to get out ferreting this weekend, weather permitting.

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Well done mate. My best advice would be don't snatch at the ferret as it is coming out of the hole, let it come well away from the hole before you lift it. If you start snatching at a ferret it will eventually come to the mouth of the hole and walk backwards into the hole as soon as you approach it. Hoping to get out ferreting this weekend, weather permitting.

 

 

I'd agree with this.

 

You have to think of it from the ferrets perspective, they only have very short vision 2-3 foot, so a massive looming blob that suddenling attempts to grab it is a bit of a scary thing.

 

I often make a clicking sound, or just say the word 'ferret' when the come out of a hole and I want to retrieve them, which can help them reconise this massive blob as you. Another thing I'd recommend is never attempt to pick the up from the head downwards, always go for the mid-rift without passing your hand over the head. I sometimes distract the ferret with my other hand, or the sound of the ferret locator, and when looking away, pick them up with my other hand.

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Also never try and coaxe them out with a dead rabbit, as they will get used to this and expect a dead rabbit every time they come out of the hole. Bleeh is rite have a noise when they come to the mouth of the hole and they will recognise this. Sometimes requires patience waiting on them clearing the hole but its worth it in the long run.

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Thanks Guys, makes sence - she didn't come out much even when I was nowhere near her, maybe them bunnies down there were just too tempting :good: Maybe she's still just a bit too young really. I think a new ferret finder would help, as would a second person to help to carry all the stuff (I could take a shotgun then! :huh: )

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:lol: Treated myself to a mk3 finder today - much happier with it (nothing wrong with the other really, I just preffer the way this one works) so if I'm not working tomorow, I'll be ferreting :good:

 

Any more gems of advice? I'm in half a mind to take a scythe and start by clearing all the holes, then pop home for something to eat and go back with the ferreting gear (to let things settle down again, about an hour).

 

I'll take more nets this time :rolleyes: while I'm on the subject, any advise on untangling them - any tricks?

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:lol: Treated myself to a mk3 finder today - much happier with it (nothing wrong with the other really, I just preffer the way this one works) so if I'm not working tomorow, I'll be ferreting :good:

 

Any more gems of advice? I'm in half a mind to take a scythe and start by clearing all the holes, then pop home for something to eat and go back with the ferreting gear (to let things settle down again, about an hour).

 

I'll take more nets this time :rolleyes: while I'm on the subject, any advise on untangling them - any tricks?

 

 

 

I'd say spend a day cleaning a bunch of holes, then go ferret them the next day.

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Clear the holes then leave them overnight as once you have left the rabbits will leave to make sure there is no danger, as for untangling them there is no easy way. I was taught to get the ring of the net on my finger and run my other hand through so it all goes towards the peg, then just push the peg through where the tangles are :good:

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thanks again guys - another pleasent trip and two more bunnies to feed the ferts.

 

What worked well?

 

well, I'm too impatient to wait overnight (wanted a play with my new toy) so I went for a stealthier approach involving secateres :good: made netting up much easier and I still got a couple of rabbits. Didn't have much trouble with tangles and found an easier way to carry everything.

 

What didn't?

 

30 nets wasn't enough :yes: and I should've checked the batteries in the collar better - fine up to about 5' but no more than that :yes: off on ebay in a sec to buy a load :yes:

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:blush: Thankyou. Looking forward to getting this ferret finder working properly though.

 

Now I mention it, I noticed earlier that the ferret seemed to come out whenever I turned the finder on! I assume she wanted to know what the noise was but at the time I would've preffered her to keep working :yp:

 

Thanks for the advice about nets, I'll have to give it a go next time :hmm:

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