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Hi all,
just got back from a trip out with Max (Blues Brother) and my lurcher Oscar.
Come across a sparse hedgerow about 300m long with several burys, the field either side of the hedge was open on fairly hard ground,about 100m, well the ferret was entered and we decided not to net the holes, hoping for any rabbits to cross the open field.Well one ferret was,nt bothered, so tried the other, he was keen to enter, then we waited.Max at this stage is stood next to me in a stalking kind of stance with his ears pricked up.Looking very keen.Oscar is too busy wanting to get at the rabbit holes,( A right pain to be honest, I,ll use him for lamping from now on) The best method is to be as quiet as possible and down wind, anyway I could hear the rumble of the rabbit moving at pace under ground, so the ferret was doing a grand job.
Then whoosh the rabbit appears at full speed bolting form the hole, Max is slipped and gets into Mach 1 mode , the rabbit runs along the hedgerow, and then turns in to the centre still at speed, meanwhile my mates dog Jake a brother to Oscar has followed the rabbits path on the other side of the hedge, he makes a strike at the rabbit which then reappears my side of the hedge to within the striking distance of Max who makes a first class strike and the rabbit is caught.Well done max.
Oscar chased a rabbit across the field, but started to "Open Up" so I put him on the lead. I,ll wait a few weeks and try him on the lamp.
Max has previously started to yelp so I think the few mixy rabbits he has caught recently has calmed him right down, well another rabbit bolted and Max was slipped, he was straight into head down mode in pursuit of the white tail, thankfully no yelping to day and he was onto the rabbit after about 30m showing some good pace. Max made a single strike and was successful, hes just turned 1 year old so I,m chuffed with the fact he appears to of grown up abit, shows genuine pace and keeness, is calm when the ferret is enterered and stays away form the holes, all in all a good outing for Max.He is now fast asleep after a well earnt sunday lunch, on the settee.
The ferrets can still be picked up with confidence, theres nothing worse than a jumping ferret when you try to pick it up at a rabbit hole.Some folk use a dead rabbit to coax the ferret out, a good method IMO.
Well only went out to see whats about, and Max caught 2 and the ferret pulled a rabbit out of its bury !! Is that a priceless ferret or what ?
Oscar needs to calm down abit so I,ll have him on the lamp soon.He appears very keen for a young dog and I,m sure will make the grade with time.
Yep a decent start to Max,s hunting season.
Just like to add the holes if netted would have produced 9 rabbits, but because we gave the white tails a sporting chance, they escaped to live another day.
The dogs are tired , they have had brilliant exercise, I,ve got out the house and enjoyed the Herefordshire countryside, the ferrets seem to be as busy as ever, so I,m pleased and looking forward to the next trip out next weekend.
Mike
just got back from a trip out with Max (Blues Brother) and my lurcher Oscar.
Come across a sparse hedgerow about 300m long with several burys, the field either side of the hedge was open on fairly hard ground,about 100m, well the ferret was entered and we decided not to net the holes, hoping for any rabbits to cross the open field.Well one ferret was,nt bothered, so tried the other, he was keen to enter, then we waited.Max at this stage is stood next to me in a stalking kind of stance with his ears pricked up.Looking very keen.Oscar is too busy wanting to get at the rabbit holes,( A right pain to be honest, I,ll use him for lamping from now on) The best method is to be as quiet as possible and down wind, anyway I could hear the rumble of the rabbit moving at pace under ground, so the ferret was doing a grand job.
Then whoosh the rabbit appears at full speed bolting form the hole, Max is slipped and gets into Mach 1 mode , the rabbit runs along the hedgerow, and then turns in to the centre still at speed, meanwhile my mates dog Jake a brother to Oscar has followed the rabbits path on the other side of the hedge, he makes a strike at the rabbit which then reappears my side of the hedge to within the striking distance of Max who makes a first class strike and the rabbit is caught.Well done max.
Oscar chased a rabbit across the field, but started to "Open Up" so I put him on the lead. I,ll wait a few weeks and try him on the lamp.
Max has previously started to yelp so I think the few mixy rabbits he has caught recently has calmed him right down, well another rabbit bolted and Max was slipped, he was straight into head down mode in pursuit of the white tail, thankfully no yelping to day and he was onto the rabbit after about 30m showing some good pace. Max made a single strike and was successful, hes just turned 1 year old so I,m chuffed with the fact he appears to of grown up abit, shows genuine pace and keeness, is calm when the ferret is enterered and stays away form the holes, all in all a good outing for Max.He is now fast asleep after a well earnt sunday lunch, on the settee.
The ferrets can still be picked up with confidence, theres nothing worse than a jumping ferret when you try to pick it up at a rabbit hole.Some folk use a dead rabbit to coax the ferret out, a good method IMO.
Well only went out to see whats about, and Max caught 2 and the ferret pulled a rabbit out of its bury !! Is that a priceless ferret or what ?
Oscar needs to calm down abit so I,ll have him on the lamp soon.He appears very keen for a young dog and I,m sure will make the grade with time.
Yep a decent start to Max,s hunting season.
Just like to add the holes if netted would have produced 9 rabbits, but because we gave the white tails a sporting chance, they escaped to live another day.
The dogs are tired , they have had brilliant exercise, I,ve got out the house and enjoyed the Herefordshire countryside, the ferrets seem to be as busy as ever, so I,m pleased and looking forward to the next trip out next weekend.
Mike
