Unexpected ferretting

[Nickb]

While I was out last night I lost my new head torch so had a drive back up the farm to find it. After a bit of searching I found it

Anyway after speaking to the farmer last night I verified where a certain boundary was that I was unsure of , and walked it to plan my next foray.

While I was walking down the far boundary I noticed a guy ferretting in the next field so I introduced myself and asked if I could accompany him as I haven't been ferretting for a long time.

The old guy said it was nice to have some company so we chatted about all things ferretting. Turns out he was 76 and still very fit , digging holes and stringing out the drop nets.Nice to be out ferretting again , thoroughly enjoyed it and must do it again.

 

[VSS]

Nice!

 

[old keeper]

I do envy those ferreters who have the luxury of ground buries out in fields. After a lifetime of ferreting Devon banks and hedges thick with Blackthorn, bramble and nettles, some on the side of a precipice it would be nice to have one decent ground bury! Sadly, I have none!

 

[Fair Hill]

Ground burrows are the job alright, less messing about and very relaxing.

 

[bumpy22]

Nothing better. I do all fieldsports since I could walk and I got to admit nothing gets the adrenaline going more than the drumming under ground

 

[andy R204]

It's still my main fieldsport albeit October-February.I'm a one man band,love seeing the stinkers work,that sound of rabbits thumping down below,then all hell let loose into the awaiting nets.
At 51 the hills & quarry walls are getting steeper,the kit getting heavier but I feel like a teenager again when I'm out.
Different story the following day but I'll keep going till I physically can't.
Glad you enjoyed your day with the elder chap

 

[Brambles]

I love a days ferreting and watching the dogs working.

 

[Nickb]

I do envy those ferreters who have the luxury of ground buries out in fields. After a lifetime of ferreting Devon banks and hedges thick with Blackthorn, bramble and nettles, some on the side of a precipice it would be nice to have one decent ground bury! Sadly, I have none!

Yep we are blessed up here , we have plenty buries out in grass fields.

 

[old keeper]

When I started out ferreting we too could manage about 6 months a season, now things have changed. Firstly, rabbit numbers have dropped dramatically due to disease and it's rare to be able to start working with the ferrets until November because of the cover, then by February there are young rabbits about which ends another season. I'm not sure about other parts of the country but down here more and more hedges are being fenced, funded by government grants. They stipulate sheep netting with two strands of barbed wire on top a metre off the base of the hedge. You can get inside for one season but by the second year, it's impossible. One way or another, ferreting which has always been a big part of my life is coming to an end, but at almost 88 it's about time anyway!

 

[finnbear270]

Good to see a long net deployed,

 

[stavross]

Yep we are blessed up here , we have plenty buries out in grass fields.

View attachment 397075

I think they are sheep mate, not rabbits