Ferreting

[mysecretlife]

Well, I went out with p.a.s on Saturday with his ferrets. First time I’d ever done this and I have to say, even thou I ended up with a spade in my hand in temperatures that would freeze a snowman’s **** off, I had a really good time, made even better by the fact I didn’t get bitten. Cheers p.a.s

[Cranfield]

I don't quite understand the title you gave to this thread, but I certainly don't think ferreting is a "mug's game".

Even when the results are poor, its an excellent way to pass a few hours and when the results are good, its a very exciting way to pass a few hours.

[mysecretlife]

I agree. I thought I'd made my point by saying I had a really good time.

[p-a-s]

cranfield.maybe i can elaborate.well as(mysecretlife) jon said at times it did get frustrating and that might have lead to the title.right jon met me at mine at 8am and we got 2 out of the 4 ferrets i have collerd up,now i could have done with taking all 4 but 2 of the ferts are nippy ******* (need more handling i know) and i didnt want jon getting on the wrong end of a biting stinker especialy with it being his 1st ferreting foray.we got to the farm we were going to ferret,i showed jon how to set the nets and explained about being quiet.so we both got armed with 10 purse nets each and set to netting the hedgerow on the back garden which is probably about 1 acre and its a job i rabbit proofed last year,but the farmer keeps leaving gates open for days on end thus allowing rabbits back into the old warrens.i only noticed a bit of fresh rabbit digging so i wasnt very hopefull of getting a result,i entered the fidget and bang within a couple of minutes we had rabbit number 1 in the bag.we completed the rest of the garden but no other rabbits were at home so we moved into the main field,nice easy warrens out in the middle of the field.when i say easy i use the term looseley as these warrens are realy well established and to make things worse are set on the brows of hills i have ferreted this place several times and had ferrets lay up in these warrens and they have been showing over 6 foot deep on the locator so i didnt fancy a dig as its a clay and stone strata.anyway we netted up another few warrens and got a few more in the bag,then for some strange reason everything went quiet,no rabbits bolting or no ferrets showing for at least 20 mins,so out with the old trusty locator "******" 3 foot deep so we proceded to dig this dig wasnt to bad and between us we soon broke into the tunnel grabbed the ferrets but couldnt find the stop end jon even pushed the spade in the run and still couldnt find a stop,so i back filled and we moved on.now this last warren is realy established and realy it was to big for 2 ferts but the job needed doing so we netted up and entered the 2 ferrets we got a few more in the bag then it went quiet again and stayed like this for at least 40 mins,so out with the locator again but the fets wernt laid up just being given the run around by the non bolting rabbits,anyway i looked at the time 3pm and the skye starting to turn grey, god i quietly said not now please.we waited and thankfully the ferts came out and was quickly grabbed and boxed up.we ended the day with 6 rabbits in the bag, 2 that missed the net and escaped my lurcher,and a couple of underground kills,so not a bad day out,but it was cold and at times rather daunting.i would just like to say to jon thanks for the company and well done as it wasnt the best of days,we even had to tread some of the net pegs in the ground as it was still well frozen.mugs game did come close but deep down we enjoyed the outing.paul