Not my best 1/2 day ferreting

[henry d]

I don`t usually use the shotguns for ferreting rabbits unless it is fencelines or other hard areas, today was one of those.

 

The wood is mainly birch scrub and has lots of rock piles, I don`t think it was houses but it may have been rocks from the local fields dumped there. The burrows in the open areas are easy enough to ferret, but the holes are always full of sticks and leaves and are either located around the base of the trees or under fallen trees.

 

Me and my mate "Lucky Jim" started at one of these open areas and the first burrow was empty and the fert came out quick, next one we didn`t see her for a minute or 2 and we guessed, rightly, that she was on the trail of one. Out it came and I fired first and missed followed by us both firing together and the first bunny tumbled head over heels.

 

Another 3 burrows before we evicted the next one which ran straight at me and the dog and she sat beautifully as it turned on a sixpence and ran away before I dropped it at 15yds

 

Next was a series of burrows in one of these rock piles and when we eventually moved the first one we both fired together and another one is bagged, however we soon heard squeals !! and I didn`t collar the ferts as I couldn`t use a spade anyway.

15 minutes later and she re-appears and we move on, this time we get a quick bolt and I hit it first shot followed by 2 more for Jim.

 

We left around 11-30 as it changed from drizzle to rain and the wind was freezing too.

 

I`m going to have to invest in a long net to get these places sorted as nets are OK if the holes are cleared first and the rock piles might be better long netted too.

 

Pic of the rock pile burrows.