Ferreting - Last day of season

The last day of the season for me after the discovery of lots of little bunnies now on the ground.

[@silent6999]

I love this video. I have ferret all he's good for is making a mess. But we love him.

[@markwilliams8702]

Its lovely seeing these animals work. many thanks for posting the video.

[@freedomofabird]

Thanks Mark!!

[@freedomofabird]

Excellent news and glad I could be of help. Good luck with the ferrets and Happy Hunting!

[@freedomofabird]

Thanks for watching bud. I have some nets with 2 pegs on like you describe, we call them poke nets over here and they are bigger than the normal purse nets. I use them if I have 2 holes really close together, and i cover both with one net. You are right though, they never get out! Happy hunting!

[@BeMe1969]

I like this method. Saves bullets and seems relaxing.

[@freedomofabird]

Very relaxing!

[@sherbert500]

great vid yet again have a sandy jill just like yours who comes off of the kill in no time at all.......saves a lot of digging through stone and roots and that sometimes..........

[@MrBangin2010]

we ferret the exact same way but we would have 2 pegs on purse nets 1 peg in the ground very light in the burrow they never get out like that the pocket becomes inpossible to get out!! love these vids

[@ace69ner]

Great vid guys. Lived it thanks for sharing.

[@robhughes7380]

Ive been watching your vids over the last week or so mate and im well impressed you obviosly love your ferreting but i was just thinking are your lads still going with you as its good to see the younguns getting into it aswell.Good luck for next season mate from all of us here on Anglesey to you and all other ferret and lurcher men everywhere

[@freedomofabird]

She's a lovely little girl!

[@freedomofabird]

Hi, its not a stupid question at all. The rabbits have a natural fear of the ferret as they recognise it as a predator. This makes the rabbits bolt from their holes in an attempt to escape, but get caught in the nets.

[@gimpsunlimited]

Holy gerbil, that hill side is like moon's surface, full of rabbit holes.

[@JahnoKestt]

Haha, the ferrets are having fun! But poor fella's, it's like playing a claw prize game where you finally get the prize but your older sibling comes along and snatches the prize from you! ;)

[@halfway2hell]

After the rabbit is caught ferret pokes his head out as if to say " where did he go mate? " LOL

[@sanketdongare1968]

Jack Scheisse y it's

[@conspiraciesarejustgreatst2059]

Had one pet ferret and knew they were hunters of rabbits and rodents and snakes but didn't realize they were still used for hunting by humans today! God bless you in the UK! Ferrets are my favorite pet and it's awesome to see them doing what comes naturally and still be an awesome pet for a human. So useful compared to nearly every other pet besides dogs and cats. Well dogs really. Cats are almost pointless

[@freedomofabird]

+conspiracies are just great stories Great stuff and thank you for taking the time to watch and comment

[@freedomofabird]

Thats when the fun starts, and the shovel or spade come out! Still, it keeps you warm on a cold winters day!

[@nicole88elizabeth]

I love the ferret at the end of this video! "Come on dude, let me go! Can't you see there's tunnels to explore & rabbits to attack?"

[@BirdOfParadise777]

Thank you:) I am happy to know you will make more vids:) You have answered many already! Thank you for the help:)

[@jluvs2ride]

Fascinating.

[@freedomofabird]

Its simply a case of getting out there, finding plenty of rabbits and approaching the landowner. I always state I will not use guns, I am fully insured, I will leave the ground as I found it etc. Once you get to know the landowner well, shooting is then often gained as well, once they know they can trust you.

[@freedomofabird]

Hi Bud. There is no season for ferreting you can do it all the year around if you want to, but it is harder when the undergrowth is up and the young rabbits are about, but sometimes it has to be done if you are on a complete rabbit clearance job, say for example on a golf course, etc. In the summer if you just want to control the bunny numbers, then selective shooting with a .22rf or HMR is a good option. You can legally ferret anywhere you have permission.

[@halfway2hell]

I think ferrets are one of the coolest animals ever. Same with mink.

[@freedomofabird]

+Jack Scheisse Mink are a serious pest in this country.

[@halfway2hell]

Ferrets aren't minks though. They are related of course. weasels too. Here ferrets are domesticated but minks and weasels aren't. They are quite fierce I know minks will kill ducklings and all sorts of lil critters. They are very intelligent which makes them difficult to deal with. Here people try to kill minks on sight lol. They are cool critters in their own right though lol. apparently you can train minks to help you hunt. They have no fear lol.

[@freedomofabird]

A nice bit of rabbit liver and hearts!

[@freedomofabird]

@senk8drol No. It is where the rabbit has been backed up in the end of a tunnel, and the ferret has grabbed hold of its eye to drag it out, so it can get round to its neck to kill it.

[@CGLouisiana]

I would love to hunt like that, I grew up shotgun hunting and still do with dogs for rabbits, over here we have a lot of rabbits but they don't congregate in huge areas like that, we also have Swamp Rabbits they are as big and sometimes bigger than a Jack Russel, that looks like a bunch of fun, would love to try it...

[@BlackTheNerevar]

0:45 Rabbit is like, ''What you did there, I see it'' :P I got two boys myself, I love fuzzies.

[@freedomofabird]

Thanks

[@BirdOfParadise777]

Will you be making any more net construction videos? Like ones for "newbies" who don't know nuttin'. Like me! LOL! Can you use anything besides the cards I see in your net making vids? Are they metal? Why do you choose the colors you do to make your nets with? What would happen if the holes in the net were smaller or you used a smaller diameter twine? I have so many questions! LOL! Love your vids! The outdoor vids of the "hunts and huntsmen" are so scenic and listening to them talk is cool!:)

[@guybaltz]

Can't do that in the USA, but it sure explains why mine go nuts for squeeky toy's. I was bit once by one of my own, he didn't realize it was me as I was reaching under a couch, I bled, a lot. Once he saw me, he let go, and I think he felt bad. No use scolding a ferret, they don't realize what they are being scolded for.

[@freedomofabird]

For rats, a barn may be good if you know rats are present, but for rabbits hedgerows or open warrens are best. The fowl smell, maybe it was a little scared being put into an unusual environment and it has excreted some scent to warn off potential predators. Mine sometimes do it if a dog comes near, and the smell is vile.

[@uglyrage]

Great vids m8! i learned to make nets from your vids in an eyewink (+1)... made 3 good ones already, will be hunting with my ferrets end of this year for the first time. greetings from holland

[@freedomofabird]

Yes apart from any long nets i use. See my other vids as to how i make them.

[@freedomofabird]

Yes rabbit meat is the best ferret food that ferrets can eat, and it is the natural food ferrets would eat in the wild.

[@freedomofabird]

Hi pal. No you dont have to train them, they are natural born hunters. Obviously if they come from working stock, they pick it up a little quicker.

[@freedomofabird]

Hi pal. Yes I use a panasonic HD, and GoPro hero for the close up ground level shots in most of my videos. The GoPro is excellent for close but wide angle shots. It would probably help in the making of your vids, as the two or three different camera angles add interest without changing the content.

[@johndeegan560]

you have good ferrets :)

[@Lichbane1]

I guess rabbits are naturally scared of ferrets? Never once ever thought about using a ferret to rabbit hunt.

[@jamieparkes3917]

Thanks you mate happy hunting.

[@freedomofabird]

ferreting is a great sport and a very effective method of rabbit control. I know of old ferreters that regularly caught over 100 a day, and I have no doubt that the occasional ones will still do it today. Prairie dogs are something we dont get over here, but I have seen some good sport with them on youtube!!

[@torontoguy1097]

I LOVE the taste of fresh ferret! YUM

[@Guardian4080]

Looked like a beautiful day

[@moniquethompson8943]

Imagine a better place for a long way toward an agreement on a Saturday morning in my room for improvement of a good time with the new version offered you a good time time time time for me thaks I love it

[@mykylc]

Do your Ferrets ever get caught in the net? 1:34 ready for another hole...that's fantastic!

[@freedomofabird]

Occasionally they do, but usually they step straight through.

[@freedomofabird]

Hi Jamie, yes their is a possibility they may, because its dry, but you should be able to tell a little bit, from the general direction of the holes. This isn't 100% though. I have a set that goes under a road, and I hate doing it, because I know it will be a long wait if it stays under. Luckily all my jills tend to leave anything they kill, but they will stay with a rabbit at the stop end. Make sure you stick a tracker on your ferret, and try it sometime, that will give you the answer. atb.

[@ozboc]

Nice job , i normally hunt with a .22 Lr and cant always get head shots ( especially if on the run ) This method looks good for meat hunting as no damage is done - One question , what do you do if your little helper decides to have a sleep for a bit down a rabbit warren ?

[@freedomofabird]

well said !!

[@jamieparkes3917]

Another good video mate when do ya start going ferreting again.

[@freedomofabird]

Next week hopefully!! Cant wait, how about you?

[@jimconnell8994]

Excellent 😉

[@The70srockfan]

wow i have never seen or heard of "ferreting", what an amazing hunting tactic!

[@bennettarcher378]

Nicely Put.

[@Maxwell1361]

ferrets are so cute :3

[@freedomofabird]

@SJAhunting Thanks for the kind comments pal.

[@freedomofabird]

Ferrets are generally instinctive hunters that require no training, however they can get better, the more they are worked.

[@MrConeycatcher]

great vid when do you normally start ferretin again

[@iwantosavemoney]

this is great do you have to train them? looks fun

[@dogferret1]

Your ferrets look well looked after. Theres been baby rabbits here in kent for ages now unfortunately. The season started late for me as well because of the heatwave in September.

[@freedomofabird]

I got my first ferret when I was about 11, but used to go out with a mate before that. I am nearly 50 now.

[@freedomofabird]

@dogferret1 I look after them as well as I can. These were the first young ones I have seen, but down in Kent it must be a few degrees warmer.

[@kingsterelite9947]

thanks for the reply appreciated is there a certain time of year when its illegal to go ferreting. would a barn be the place to start off in terms of getting a feel for it . can you help me also i let my ferret have a sniff around in a hedge row and when he came out he had a real fowl smell on him is that scent marking thanks once again

[@freedomofabird]

@MrConeycatcher You can get rabbits all the year round, in different parts of the country. At any one spot though, they generally arive about the same time, given a week or two either way because of the weather.

[@freedomofabird]

Thanks.

[@freedomofabird]

thanks Rob for the comment, happy hunting.

[@awesome696969696]

This may sound stupid, but how does this work? Do the ferrets attack the rabbits and they caught up in the net? This is the first time I've ever heard of/seen this before, so sorry about the dumb question :)

[@freedomofabird]

Thanks pal

[@jamieparkes3917]

Thanks mate how do go about ferreting promisson mate I started ferreting about a year ago and got very little land.

[@jamieparkes3917]

Hi mate I've just got some land to go on and one or two off the sets are near a road will they go under the road at all.

[@kingsterelite9947]

hi quick question is it easy to train your ferret to do this. i wanna do a bit of ratting with mine but scared ill lose it thanks

[@freedomofabird]

Yes no problem, but it may take a few goes to get good. They need to get used to the smell of the rabbits if they have never come across one before, but the hunting is instinctive.

[@quickclot1]

What a team.

[@freedomofabird]

Usually about mid September

[@MrWhoKnows-]

You obviously are experienced, how long have you been doing this?

[@freedomofabird]

Now THAT would be interesting ferreting a rabbit that was bigger than a jack russel!!

[@bmxvids98]

I was wondering what you do with the rabbits that live thanks

[@freedomofabird]

Just need the weather to get a little colder.

[@sambunch2653]

awesome

[@michaeljames8892]

Have you ever attached a camera on the ferret, just to see what they see underground? Just curious!

[@freedomofabird]

No it's to hard to do and not very good. There is some footage on KZbin but it doesn't show action on rabbit

[@freedomofabird]

@MrConeycatcher I dont know, may be it smells right. Ferrets like going down tubes, tunnels, pipes and ginnels, because they are ferrets and thats what they do!!

[@alecguinness3268]

So do you do any amount of training for the ferrets, or do you just pop them into the hole and they start doing their thing?

[@markmason13]

Hi again Freedomofabird what is the vest you are using and how many nets will it hold?

[@freedomofabird]

Jack Pyke dog handlers vest. 20 nets each side plus 20 in back pocket

[@markmason13]

Ok thanks mate, I am fed up of carrying a game bag full of nets so I have ordered one off of Amazon. I was looking at combat vests but the pockets are to small on them.

[@freedomofabird]

They hunt on instinct and need very little training, just loads of experience!!

[@freedomofabird]

@69Jackmix69 The hole was a lot smaller than it looks, and the ferret only just fit in. There are hens the other side of that wall, and it could have been a rat the ferret was killing. It wasnt a case of stood there watching, I am not putting my hand into a hole, in the same wall I know rats live in.

[@MrConeycatcher]

great vid i was getin babies in the middle of december is that normal

[@freedomofabird]

I guess any rabbit that lives down a hole can be ferreted. I have never been bitten by one of my own ferrets, although I have been bitten by somebody elses!! The teeth dont stop until they hit bone!!!

[@freedomofabird]

Look after them!!

[@freedomofabird]

As a vegetarian you are free to speak your mind. When you grow up know what you are talking about, then you will look back and realise that hunting is an essential part of this planet. "Vegetarian" is just another way of saying that "my ancestors were sh~t at hunting" and probably leached of the hunters of their time.

[@domafox]

were you two able to get that one rabbit out of the rock wall?

[@mcknighter23]

can hand reared rabbits still be used for ferreting and do your ferrets ever bite you

[@freedomofabird]

No, although I believe some people do

[@freedomofabird]

Thanks Sam. I have replied to your other message.

[@freedomofabird]

Hold the ferrets around the chest, keeping their front legs between your index and middle fnger and they will not be able to scratch you. Hope this is of some use.

[@iWh15tl3]

Is this the exact same place where they filmed some of the scenes of the old movie Robin Hood? starting Kevin Costner?

[@peachmonster]

What defines the ferreting "season", if I may ask? Is it some government-issued time frame, or simply based on the breeding cycles of the rabbits? Also, do you always go to the same hunting ground?

[@freedomofabird]

The ferret is killing a rabbit that it has cornered in the wall. Once it has started it is kinder to let it finish the job, than leave an injured rabbit.

[@fireredhead9]

Do you ever feed your ferrets some of the rabbits? Or is that frowned upon. I ask because we wouldn't feed our bird dogs the birds we got because they'd eat them all. Really cool hunting technique...like real life "whack a mole".

[@conwayvenne309]

What do you do with them after netting them??

[@dvrn86]

Used to hate that lock jaw!

[@tylerfeller2689]

Get my new 2 today can't wait to get them out there

[@elicha12]

I know this is old but how was it ? were you able to make them work ?

[@mattmatty4670]

Cool thanks mate

[@Nahfam143]

also how much rabbitscan live in a nest like this?

[@samshawphotography]

EPIC