Far too cold for this 💩!

[Scully]

It seemed a nice day when I let the dog out this morning, and despite a bit of drizzle I went ahead with my intent to take the ferret out for a bit of bunny bolting. 
I’ve had the Benelli SBE since the New Year but haven’t fired it yet and was chomping at the bit, so after feeding Fergus a minimum amount just to take the edge off, and bunging enough coats into the vehicle to cater for all occasions ( too hot, too cold, not bulky but windproof etc etc ) set off for a mates farm. 
The wind was BALTIC when I got there  so donned my warmest coat while mentally rollicking myself for not bringing a snood ( the one I leave in the vehicle having been removed for a reason I can’t now recall! ) slung the shotgun and set off through the yard. That cold wind just got colder once I’d left the shelter of the buildings but I hadn’t far to go, and once across the railway and the slurry pit another 20 yards further I put down the ferret box, inserted ear plugs and loaded 6 rounds of 30grm 6’s….red ones. 
Plenty of signs of activity but after Fergus had been down at least six there was no joy. Either there was no one home or the burrow was that big underground they were simply giving him the dodge without having to surface. 
Made a note to tell a mate who has several ferrets and we’ll return. 
Boxed the ferret and moved onto a fairly steep banking about 100 yds away which has no cover whatsoever and is perfect for bolting rabbits. 
The walk up the hill warmed me up a tad, so once I’d caught my breath, put Fergus down the nearest hole. 
Within a couple of seconds I heard a squeal, and a rabbit appeared with Fergus attached! They were still in the hole when the rabbit broke free and made off uphill but I rolled it over before it made it to another hole, and it lay dead as tufts of fur blew away from it in the wind. 
Pleased with myself and the gun I popped the ferret down a second hole and waited, and waited, which was a sign he’d cornered something. Debated collecting the dead rabbit but knew Sod’s Law would apply, so left it, and sure enough a rabbit a bit the worse for wear bolted uphill. This one too was rolled over. 
Up popped the ferret with that ‘where’d it go?’ look on its face, so picked him up and placed him in another hole. 
This time was a proper wait and even with my warmest coat on I was growing cold just standing there waiting, until eventually another rabbit exploded from the ground. Missed it first shot but the second rolled it over just as it made it to a mound. I was sure it was dead, but found no sign of it except a small smattering of blood at the entrance to the hole. Nevermind. 
Really feeling cold now but thought I’d give it one more go, and another hole eventually produced another rabbit which rolled head over heels at the shot, but that too rolled into a hole. Annoying. 
Despite telling myself it wasn’t a good idea, I decided to put Fergus down the hole the rabbit had rolled into, telling myself it may still be wick, and to my surprise ( and great relief ) the ferret emerged much sooner than I thought he would, but very subdued and with a collar of smudged blood on his white coat! Couldn’t think what had happened, as he didn’t appear to be hurt, but he’d certainly lost interest. 🤷‍♂️

I’d had enough of the cold by now so boxed him, emptied the gun and gutted both rabbits, plopping an off cut from one of them into his box, then set off back to the vehicle. 
Anyhow, very pleased with the gun, although may either tighten the choke or up the loads before next. 
It was so nice to get that engine fired up and the seat heater on! 
 

[Miserableolgit]

Certainly was a tad fresh out there today. I've had rabbits that have been hard hit only to kick themselves down a hole as the nerves fire off after death. Annoying. I found one of my two remaining ferrets dead at feed time one morning this week. The remaining hob is still fairly young but even though I've kept ferrets for years I think this will be my last as I'm not as healthy and able as I used to be. We shall see.

[Scully]

Indeed. Head shot rabbits bounce themselves all over the place at times, and yes, it is annoying when they bounce out of reach. 
Ferrets will die suddenly just for no obvious reason at times, as the brother to this one did. 
I also just have the one now, and the reason I bolt rabbits to guns is mainly because of the Adrenalin buzz, but also because in no small part I’m too old now to be kneeling down in the wet and the dirt like I used to when younger. 
 

Edited February 8 by Scully

[London Best]

Thanks Scully, I enjoyed the story. 
My old man was a keen ferreter.

[udderlyoffroad]

12 hours ago, Scully said:

bunging enough coats into the vehicle to cater for all occasions ( too hot, too cold, not bulky but windproof etc etc ) set off for a mates farm. 
The wind was BALTIC when I got there  so donned my warmest coat while mentally rollicking myself for not bringing a snood ( the one I leave in the vehicle having been removed for a reason I can’t now recall!

I enjoyed that write up Scully, and the above bit made me chuckle. Reassuring that it’s not just me!

I’ve now got a small bag that lives in the truck permanently containing gloves, snood, hat, etc. As well as a change of clothes in case I get a soaking so I can drive home in comfort - my perms are all 30min away.

As for ‘losing’ obviously dead bunnies, all I can say is, if you can bring a dog. Surprising what you can miss whilst searching. More than once I’ve gone back to the truck, released the springador, and been reunited with my missing bunny writhin about 15secs of arriving back at the scene of the crime.

 

 

[Scully]

7 hours ago, London Best said:

Thanks Scully, I enjoyed the story. 
My old man was a keen ferreter.

You’re welcome. Thank you. 

[Scully]

11 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said:

I enjoyed that write up Scully, and the above bit made me chuckle. Reassuring that it’s not just me!

I’ve now got a small bag that lives in the truck permanently containing gloves, snood, hat, etc. As well as a change of clothes in case I get a soaking so I can drive home in comfort - my perms are all 30min away.

As for ‘losing’ obviously dead bunnies, all I can say is, if you can bring a dog. Surprising what you can miss whilst searching. More than once I’ve gone back to the truck, released the springador, and been reunited with my missing bunny writhin about 15secs of arriving back at the scene of the crime.

 

 

Thank you. 
I used to take dogs when I ferreted; a mate always brought along his lurcher which was fabulous at catching rabbits, and she was genuinely missed when she died. 
My Border also accompanied me but never when I went on my own as I couldn’t unleash her and shoot rabbits at the same time when they bolted. Unleashed she would stand literally inches away from the hole the ferret had gone down, listening and waiting, and she wasn’t too fussy which she grabbed when either popped up! 😄That made for interesting times on more than one occasion! 

If I pegged her to the ground I was always afraid she would neck herself trying to break free! The best method was to take a mate ( they were his ferrets back then anyhow ) who would restrain her until a rabbit bolted then let her go. I’m sure she thought she was catching them ( she was fast but not fast enough to catch a rabbit unless the ferret had nobbled it first underground ) as if I did my bit they were dead when she got to them. 
I have a lab’ now, and although she has a good nose, if the rabbit has rolled down a hole I can’t get to them. Am pleased you enjoyed the write up; more to come hopefully. 

Edited February 8 by Scully

[7daysinaweek]

Greatly enjoyed that account Scully.

Nothing like bolting bunnies to a shotty in my opinion. I had ferrets for decades and loved ferreting to nets and my old lurchers.

The feel and sound of thumping under yer feet.

Grand stuff!

[Scully]

1 hour ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Greatly enjoyed that account Scully.

Nothing like bolting bunnies to a shotty in my opinion. I had ferrets for decades and loved ferreting to nets and my old lurchers.

The feel and sound of thumping under yer feet.

Grand stuff!

😀 Ha! Yeah, that ‘thump’ gets you going! 👍

My Border used to twitch like a good un when she heard that thump! 

[7daysinaweek]

52 minutes ago, Scully said:

😀 Ha! Yeah, that ‘thump’ gets you going! 👍

My Border used to twitch like a good un when she heard that thump! 

And a fair amount of head angle turning too I bet.

One of my old 3/4 whippet greyhounds used to virtually stand on two legs when she sensed a bolt coming. She was 22 inch at the shoulder and was lethal to most rabbits on leaving the earth, or on the lamp that were in short yards of her.

I miss those times.

[Scully]

On 08/02/2025 at 22:13, 7daysinaweek said:

And a fair amount of head angle turning too I bet.

One of my old 3/4 whippet greyhounds used to virtually stand on two legs when she sensed a bolt coming. She was 22 inch at the shoulder and was lethal to most rabbits on leaving the earth, or on the lamp that were in short yards of her.

I miss those times.

Indeed. I have good memories of ferreting with a mate and his lurcher. 👍

[Krico woodcock]

Lovely way to spend a few hours.. never done much ferreting,  but done plenty with springers hunting rabbit's,  top class sport, completely underrated,  sadly we have no rabbit's anymore. RHD 🤬

[williamwansbeck]

5 hours ago, Krico woodcock said:

Lovely way to spend a few hours.. never done much ferreting,  but done plenty with springers hunting rabbit's,  top class sport, completely underrated,  sadly we have no rabbit's anymore. RHD 🤬

30 years back had a Brittany bitch and a bit of rough ground with lots of rabbits,she would hunt up and go to point holding the rabbit fixed ,flush on "hup",drop. and i would shoot and she hopefully got a retrieve to hand fantastic sport,sadly nee rabbits about now due to the haemo disease,but a lot of good memories of that period.

[Scully]

21 hours ago, Krico woodcock said:

Lovely way to spend a few hours.. never done much ferreting,  but done plenty with springers hunting rabbit's,  top class sport, completely underrated,  sadly we have no rabbit's anymore. RHD 🤬

That’s a shame; not tempted to reintroduce them? 🙂

[30-6]

I felt your pain there Scully. As I get older I hate the cold more and more.

When I used to ferret, it was nice to warm the hands in a newly caught rabbit until they cooled off.

Two things that stick in my mind for February ferreting are traveling up the M4 to Gloucester and passing Welsh coach's going to an away match and seeing a hawthorn tree with frozen droplets of water turning it into a giant chandelier, a truly magnificent sight.

[Scully]

3 hours ago, 30-6 said:

I felt your pain there Scully. As I get older I hate the cold more and more.

When I used to ferret, it was nice to warm the hands in a newly caught rabbit until they cooled off.

Two things that stick in my mind for February ferreting are traveling up the M4 to Gloucester and passing Welsh coach's going to an away match and seeing a hawthorn tree with frozen droplets of water turning it into a giant chandelier, a truly magnificent sight.

Ha! Quite. 
Had some fabulous days ferreting in a former life.

We used to bolt rabbits to Raptors ( Harris, American LT Kites etc, ) and now and again the odd Harris would head for a bath in a beck, and in days like you describe it was then home time before it froze! 🥶

Edited February 12 by Scully

[30-6]

That must have been great fun with the hawks, always fancied that.

Used to have some shooting where a local guy had a hybrid falcon, and he used to breed a couple of partridge to fly at. I used to give him some pigeon and he'd go through them picking out the shot. 

[Mice!]

On 08/02/2025 at 22:13, 7daysinaweek said:

And a fair amount of head angle turning too I bet.

One of my old 3/4 whippet greyhounds used to virtually stand on two legs when she sensed a bolt coming. She was 22 inch at the shoulder and was lethal to most rabbits on leaving the earth, or on the lamp that were in short yards of her.

I miss those times.

Problem is there's next to no rabbits any more mate.

I only had nets and ferrets but I did OK.

[Scully]

On 12/02/2025 at 17:02, 30-6 said:

That must have been great fun with the hawks, always fancied that.

Used to have some shooting where a local guy had a hybrid falcon, and he used to breed a couple of partridge to fly at. I used to give him some pigeon and he'd go through them picking out the shot. 

Indeed. It was great fun. I was ferret man of course as I had no real desire to own raptors, but one of the lads ( he’s been a Dad for a long time now l….as have I ) still has several, including a majestic American Long-tailed Kite. 
Other mate had a Buzzard and a Harris, but I refused to go if he was taking the Buzzard. Waste of time. 🙄 

[7daysinaweek]

On 14/02/2025 at 21:51, Mice! said:

Problem is there's next to no rabbits any more mate.

I only had nets and ferrets but I did OK.

Certainly true round here mate, the vhd hammered them among other pressures.

Only found locally in the small odd pockets now.

A small bag of nets, one ferret, out alone and getting one or two can be as exciting as a bigger team.

Fantastic!