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ferreting today


Gonna Shoot a Wabbit
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Hi all.

 

Dead eye duck, YTS trainee and i were out today accompanied by dons brother to assist with setting nets etc. As we arrive at our permission for 0830 with the temp gauge reading -2c and dons joints audibly creaking already we set off as a frosty scene greets us. Perfick ferreting weather :good:

 

Our chosen starting place is a cottage garden and around 200yds of accompanying hedgerow. We started with the hedgerow first as the cottage was all quiet. We commenced our usual tactic of ferrety leapfrog with don and yts ranging in front netting up as i post one of my albino jills into the first set. After a few minutes the familiar sub terranean rumbling begins..... whoooosh go 2 nets in unison. i scamper round like the nimble chap i am and the first brace are in the bag WOO HOO!! off to a good start. A bunny hits the net on dens side but bounces out of the net and makes good its escape as another bolts on my side, no mistake as the bunny is firmly netted and 3 in the bag. We make steady progress down the hedge and as i have 6 in the bag i notice with no small amount of glee that trainee is reaching for the spade HA HA you will all be pleased to know that i did feel sorry for him and his impending excavations in the frozen ground BUT I MANAGED TO SUPPRESS IT :no: . As we approached his position he drew a bunny from the depths cursed his ferret roundly and 2 more bolted from the set i was working to give us 9 from the hedgerow. An excellent start.

 

I made a quick call into the cottage to make sure all was well, to be met by the lady of the house, who had been enjoying watching us from window and bade us carry on. So off we went and netted up the garden sets. With some 50 nets down YTS posts his poley whilst i change jills and pop down one of my albinos. It was fast and furious for a few minutes as we quickly netted 5 bunnies with don and i whizzing in all directions to deal with netted bunnies. the action slowed a little as we got another 3 over the next 15 minutes but alas no sign of my ferret. Out with the locator and i found her 2 feet down. YTS can barely contain his mirth as i reach for the spade. i soon break through and we quickly gather the ferret but no sign of the bunny though. As we take a breather and gather in the nets i took this to share with you.

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As you can tell from the bunnies in the forground we had done quite well and had got 17 in total for our mornings efforts

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YTS had brought one of this years kits for her first trip and we took the opportunity to introduce her to her quarry.

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With all out gear sorted YTS broke out the lunchtime vittles. I must admit he outdid himself with pork and apple sausages and bacon soon sizzling in the pan. With lashings of coffee laced with carnation milk and whisky we were soon ready for the fray.

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The first couple of sets we visited we blanked in with no bunnies at home so off we went to a different part of our permission. A small hillside is our next venue and as i start laying nets and the others begin ranging in front i am soon ready to post one our ferrets, In no time at all the underground rumbling begins and WHOOOOSH go two nets, as i am dealing with these, two bunnies bolt near dons feet then another a little higher up. We almost collide and end up in a heap as i go dashing one way and almost take don with me HA HA but not one escaped and the bag is swelling nicely. As we make our way along the hillside we are doing well and as the last set is worked we realise we have 26 in total.

 

After another blank along a rough hedgerow we decide to work another small hillside. Time is getting on now as we quickly net up and with around 60 nets down in go the ferrets. The first bunny to bolt slips the net and makes good its escape however it runs along the hilltop so we will have to check the nets carefully in case it backnets itself on our way back. No mistake next though as the rumbling begins again. Whoosh goes a net and as i am dealing with that another goes..... some nifty footwork and i have both in the bag however not before i go sliding down part of the shale filled hillside in pursuit of the 2nd bunny ON MY KNEES.........YYYOOOOOWCH!!! (a quick look around and no one saw my powerslide or heard my girly yelp so all is well, keep it to yourselves ok!!)We have 28 in the bag. The last set yielded 1 bunny that graciously backnetted itself after slipping the first net. At that we called it a day, all of the sets had been worked we have got all the ferrets safely boxed up. As we make our way back along the hillside YTS gives a whoop!!! and dives on a drawstring that has gone down a hole........yes you guessed my escapee has backnetted itself in a set we netted up an hour ago. It always pays to leave your nets down in a good area, and that is number 30 if i am not mistaken. We head back to the car and give the ferrets a well deserved drink as don breaks out the oxtail soup and mince pies. I took this shot to share with you all of the assembled slain and 4 very happy ferreters. A fabulous day, in cracking company. One for the memory banks indeed. Hope you enjoyed our day with us, All the best for the new year pigeonwatch faithful :good:

4happyferreters301208.jpg

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I heard that girlie yelp - thought it was a rabbit caught by the ferret :no:;)

 

Which reminds me - yts was nipped twice by his docile ferret :mad: :mad: and Gonna was savaged by his :good: :good:

 

Now when I had ferrets they were trained not to bite the hands that fed them, but these young blokes know nowt.

 

Why, one young chap even claimed to me that he could call ferrets out of a hole when they were laid up. The same chap didn't believe in ferret finders but was soon converted when I showed him how one should be used. What was his name - Gonna who? :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

 

Don

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