henry d Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 I`ve hardly been ferreting this past season so I decided to stretch the legs and take a ferret some nets and the two dogs out as well. The field in question is a short walk from my house and is 1/2 set aside and 1/2 crop most years and they rotate which is which every 2 years or so. We walked into the wind to look for some holes and the fist likely spot was a 2 holer with recent activity, I netted up and went back to collar the ferret. Five minutes later and she comes back up and looks at me as if to say "OK where next" Next one was about 150m upwind and was 7 or 8 holes, some close together and some even partly collapsed as the soil is sandy and an easy dig. Some holes started about 18" down below the ground level and it looked as if a few local dogs had been there digging as well as a fox, who had left a few scats about. I managed to net up without treading too much on the top of the burrow and entered the ferret on the upwind side as I hoped to get a quick few bolts to the downwind side as the wind was very strong. It seemed to be a collapsed leg of the burrow as she came out within 10 seconds and when re-entered came back just as quick. This time I put her on the downwind side and within a minute she had bolted one out of the same hole as she was entered. :( Two minutes later and another bolts from the furthest away hole and is dispatched. The ferret didn`t show so I assumed she was still working on a rabbit. Ten minutes later and nothing is moving so I gave another ten minutes, but still nothing so I switch on the locator and do a sweep, I get a reading close to the mouth of one of the deep entrances which has two holes close together and by fining it find out that she should be right at the mouth !! I look in and don`t see her, but notice a shiny piece of metal It`s her collar, she managed to slip it !!! I then hear above the wind the sounds of a rabbit squealing, so I edge away as it seems quite close and coming from the other hole. Five minutes later and no sounds have come from the hole for about half that time so I slip away and get one of the rabbits and paunch it. I lift te net and stick the rabbit in as far as possible and start waggling it about and then in a flash there is the unmistakable pull of a ferret on the other end and in the sandy soil it is easy to get her out. I then box her up and get the spade out, get the jacket off and start digging by following the hole and soon I am waist deep in the ground and then I find that I have come to an open chamber with what looks like 3 or possibly 4 other legs off it, but i would need to remove a lot more soil to get my arm anywhere near them, so I get my wee springer in on the act. She wastes no time in getting in until only her back legs are still outside and she soon backs out with the last bunny It is the first time she has done that for me but the old dog has done it a few times in her 15 yrs but I didn`t think she would be quite as nimble as the youngster was today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 great read and i love that photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiltsmark Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 That picture tells the story perfectly, great read as well.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samyw Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 good pics good write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 great write up HD! that pictures mighty good as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Well done H a good read too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Top Man H, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Well done H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Personally I thought the pic was cack but as I didn`t take a camera with me I felt duty bound to post some kinda piccy .............. still glad you enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclemicky Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 HD thanks for sharing mate , nice write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 top job H, not bad for an old dear :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justintime Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 cracking read H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Dog Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 HD, you might not be happy with that photo, but for me, I think it great. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Every picture says a thousand words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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