ferret !

REBEL COUNTY1 · 14-10-2013 08:38PM

I am farming and rabbits are destroying new reseeds and hillside grazing. Only so many can shoot with the shotgun. Would the difference between a ferret eating rabbits not be the only difference between it and a cat for say (going after nesting birds, rats, mice) ?

I should say my only thinking was that surely a high rabbit population means theres not enough wildlife: fox mink etc in the area so leaving a ferrett loose would be somewhat natural. Having read the comments though in what condition a ferret was found in i presume domesticated bred ferrets are not suited for the wild.

dodderangler · 14-10-2013 09:00PM

Not entirely. Old saying breed like rabbits. Wild rabbit doe stars breeding at around 6 months and they breed for like 8 or 9 months of the year. So she could have 3 litters a year of 4-10 kits each litter. And then the kits mate at 6 months. Only so much a fox or buzzard etc can eat.
If you knew of anyone around who hunts rabbits they could try trap a mixxy rabbit and then release it on your land. You should contact a local gun club and they'd only be too happy to help you out.
And they wouldn't ask for money either so don't worry about that.

dicky82 · 14-10-2013 09:03PM

I'm sure there are plenty of 'rebels' here with .22's or .17's or ferrets with collars and nets that would be delighted to hit the rabbit numbers for you.

snipe02 · 14-10-2013 09:08PM

<snip> telljng someone to release mixy into an area thats the not just stupid its cruel there are any amount of lads whod happilly help you reduce the rabbits in an appropriate manner

Mod edit: No terms of personal abuse please.

dodderangler · 14-10-2013 09:12PM

snipe02 wrote: »

Are you a fuc,kin re,tard telljng someone to release mixy into an area thats the not just stupid its cruel there are any amount of lads whod happilly help you reduce the rabbits in an appropriate manner

He wants them gone. It's his land. Farmers have been doing it for years. I also suggested to ask a local gun club.
I agree with you it is cruel but he is a farmer and they are wreaking havoc.

REBEL COUNTY1 · 14-10-2013 09:15PM

dicky82 wrote: »

I'm sure there are plenty of 'rebels' here with .22's or .17's or ferrets with collars and nets that would be delighted to hit the rabbit numbers for you.

I have no problem local lads shooting pheasants or anything on my land but id be slow to give permission (worse again invite) a stranger onto my land esp with guns, i believe you could be inviting a trip to court and payouts

dodderangler · 14-10-2013 09:16PM

Op maybe you should start up a new thread asking for help. There are a few lads on this that are from your area ( assuming your a cork rebel) that would probably dedicate a day or two to helping you out. I'm sure they prob get a few lads with them to help. Everyone loves bunny bashing.

dodderangler · 14-10-2013 09:18PM

REBEL COUNTY1 wrote: »

I have no problem local lads shooting pheasants or anything on my land but id be slow to give permission (worse again invite) a stranger onto my land esp with guns, i believe you could be inviting a trip to court and payouts

What about asking lads on this, meet up with them, cup of tea or whatever, check they have insurance and licence and walk out with them.
No one acts the maggot nowadays with new hunting land as its getting harder to get nowadays.
As I said op start new thread asking for help in cork area and your pm inbox will be full.

snipe02 · 14-10-2013 09:25PM

dodderangler wrote: »

He wants them gone. It's his land. Farmers have been doing it for years. I also suggested to ask a local gun club.
I agree with you it is cruel but he is a farmer and they are wreaking havoc.

well your a hunter and should have more respect for your quarry than to be advocating the spreading of miximotosis its done but we dont need to be selling the idea on here apolagies forthe name calling childish on my part

charlie10 · 15-10-2013 09:46AM

Id gladly pick off a few bunnies for you rebel Im from cork and have insurance . And you won't be getting a trip to court like you said! Just an offer

dicky82 · 15-10-2013 12:31PM

REBEL COUNTY1 wrote: »

I have no problem local lads shooting pheasants or anything on my land but id be slow to give permission (worse again invite) a stranger onto my land esp with guns, i believe you could be inviting a trip to court and payouts

Surprised by this reply. Most lads will have insurance and could supply references from other farms at which they shoot/ferret. Or better still ask other farmers if they have lads they could recommend.

mr lee · 23-10-2013 09:24PM

got a ferret meself last week,grand one,he put his teeth on me twice but never bit down,i had him out twice,down loads of burrows but no rabbits bolted,there is definetly rabbits there,when the ferret is in the burrow does it have to attack the rabbit before they bolt or will the presence of the ferret make them bolt.

snipe02 · 23-10-2013 11:19PM

HOw old is your ferret

mr lee · 24-10-2013 10:01AM

he's young but the man i got him off said he's ready for hunting,maybe he's still a bit young

dicky82 · 24-10-2013 10:19AM

some buck rabbits will stand their ground against a ferret. some doe rabbits wont leave a nest of young. the other point worth mentioning is that some burrows/warrens are huge. and one lone ferret might have a job flushing rabbits. i would always send two in and sometimes four if its a big warren. this has its own inherent problems too though. the last thing worth a mention is that although there are signs that there are rabbits the might not actually be any rabbits there. i would be more concerned if your ferret was showning no interest in hunting.

snipe02 · 24-10-2013 11:26AM

He should bolt or kill them providing the warren is not too big otherwise the rabbits could run around all day and he might not catch them try smaller warrens maybe just too
young....sorry just read above post

mr lee · 24-10-2013 02:30PM

i'l get a rabbit and do a bit of training with him,give him a taste for it,i would say the warrens are fairly big alright,makes me think of a scooby doo cartoon with everyone running around after each other,goin around in circles

dodderangler · 24-10-2013 02:35PM

Has he been around rabbits or tasted it?
I do put one on the ground and have them pull at it. Give a bit of a pull aswell.

mr lee · 24-10-2013 02:54PM

no,he wouldnt have seen one,he's only startin off,i'd say a taste of the raw meat would make him mad for it

dodderangler · 24-10-2013 03:34PM

mr lee wrote: »

no,he wouldnt have seen one,he's only startin off,i'd say a taste of the raw meat would make him mad for it

Definitely.
Don't skin the rabbit either and try give it as fresh as you can when givin it to him. Nothing better than warm blood for a ferret to chomp on. As for bolting I've had ferrets that'll just bolt and i had one that just kill underground. He was really quick.

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