Ferreting in the Dales
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This trip wasn’t about catching rabbits. Nor was it about admiring the breathtaking scenery. It was all about the people on the warren - namely Bob Merrin and Ian “Torchie” Clayton. As a collective, these exponents of rabbiting have seen momentous changes during their lifetime. It had been a decade since I had last walked out among the hills with Bob, his award-winning hemp nets and a boxful of ferrets. I finally grasped the opportunity to get me, my friend Richard, Bob and Torchie on the same warren.
After an evening of proper Yorkshire hospitality, the day dawned. I had little need to set my alarm as the anticipation and excitement ensured I was awake well before breakfast. With my new puppy, Tawny, walked and breakfast eaten, the gang started to assemble in the small village of West Witton.
Though we were in the Dales, the warrens weren’t the stereotypical shallow scrapes we were usually accustomed to clearing when we visit. The warrens we were set to ferret suited our ethos perfectly. They may have been a lot deeper, but whatever the depth and size, you still need to find and catch the rabbits.
I had brought Tawny to see her father, Torchie’s dog, Dan. Tawny is a bundle of mischief. Longevity isn’t often spoken about in working dogs, but it is essential in a ferreting companion. Speed isn’t everything, and while Dan may be losing his physical abilities, he will never lose his nose for rabbits, and that will always bag more bunnies than sheer athleticism alone.
As usual, our job could be the easiest in the world or akin to finding hen’s teeth. Honouring the mark by producing the rabbits shouldn’t be hard, as the one thing we didn’t lack was experience. Between them Torchie and Bob share nearly 135 years on Earth. Every purse-net laid was made by the weathered and worn hands of those laying them. Bob, a keen advocate of hemp nets, makes the most of his with a 2¼in mesh. These were a match made in heaven for the sizeable rabbits roaming these fields. Torchie, on the other hand, likes his synthetic twines.
Though there is no right or wrong way to ferret, the individual styles of ferreting on show couldn’t have been more contrasting. Once the dog had marked the warren, the nets went down and the ferret went in: catch, despatch, nets up and move on. Timeless, yet as effective now as it was 50 years ago. The only major changes in Bob and Torchie’s ferreting has been the invention of the ferret-finder and the availability of suitable synthetic twines.
Torchie started the day off with his usual dogged determination, bagging a solo bunny from a steep incline even before we could get off the farm track. We then gravitated towards a stone wall where a few holes united the band of merry men like a golden thread. Like-minded souls worked as one almost telepathically. While one laid a net, when a rabbit bolted, without a word, one of us instinctively despatched the rabbit as another one of us simultaneously relaid a fresh net.
Bob’s weathered face was a joy to watch. He’s nearly 70 years old, yet has an enthusiasm and drive that, at times, put us all to shame. He has seen it all and nothing fazes him. Under his deerstalker hat, his brown eyes stared intently at his motionless hemp nets. Time appeared to stand still as the large polecat dog ferret worked under our feet. We waited patiently. The net bulged in a blink of an eye with a rabbit. With swiftness and dexterity of hand, the quick despatch was classy and experienced. As Bob stood beyond the re-netted hole with a motionless rabbit inside his hemp net, there was an air of authority about him. This was going to be one of those special day’s ferreting.
Пікірлер: 42
Closing shot of the ferret basher is a classic.Maybe the SSF should read Bill Owen's book.Compo's Guide to Ferreting and Firkeling..😈
I'm getting a working ferret on Friday my first one (I'm only 15) but I gotta say this video was so educational and really showed me how things are put together. Good job guys.
Really enjoyed this journey. It means so much personally to finally get us all together on a warren. been too long in the making.
@crabs857
5 жыл бұрын
my best days ferreting was 209 rabbits in one day at the back off staffordshire police headquarters in stafford with 4 ferrets simon.
Perfect days ferreting brilliant video I wish I could go ferreting with simon and torchy
Absolutely cracking lads proud As punch your in our great county doing top work well done thanks for sharing it with us all best !
@ferretWhitehead
8 жыл бұрын
+adam furby It is a fantastic place to ferret
Proper old fashion style ferretting, with modern locators. Cracking sport
Nice video thanks for sharing..
6.12 a little mouse runs back into the hole...well done great video..
grew up ferreting in tasmania, australia. good memories
I learned a lot from this video, thanks.
@juv7
5 жыл бұрын
What have you learned watching some clown snapping rabbits necks somebody should snap there neck
@mizzpoetrics
5 жыл бұрын
@@juv7 Awww, are you a triggered vegan/vegetarian? Why were you even here? Clearly you have issues with this video....next time, just keep scrolling!
Wish we had such nice open Warren's fulla bunnies.
What a wonderful way to spend a day, with great friends and good working Ferrets, and of course, those well trained Dogs. !
@jacquelinepmartin5720
5 жыл бұрын
Reg Sparkes
Great film , have you heard of the South Somerset Ferreters , they make really good films
Even the postman turned up to help 1.27
спасибо вам за видео @t
Iwas out spotlighting 1963 had a bloke join us for the joy of it he told us that they were out one night and had a wippet with them for the ride turns out they shot i bunny the wippet went out and retrieved it spotted another and th en watched the dog go around the light to get the bunny and retrieve it they fired 1 shot and ended up with 360 pairs of rabbits be a bugger of a job cleaning them ///that was his story but if you have ever seen the rabbit drives they had here in australia you would understand it
how in the world do you not get the shite bit out of your hand when are you reaching in those holes to pull them out?
would a full bred collie be ok for ferreting or wouldn't they be fast enough?
@greensaturated2084
8 жыл бұрын
+superhunter992 Not ideal for running rabbits down but may catch the odd one, you wouldnt go out just 'bolting to the dog', nets would be involved. But perfectly suitable for marking and holding netted rabbits and if it catches the odd escapee - thats a bonus.
@superhunter992
8 жыл бұрын
ah right in the end i have got a patter dale terrier form working stock she is fast and very strong for a pup i have not got my ferrets yet but i will need to get em soon or she might not take to em
@greensaturated2084
8 жыл бұрын
Once again she will be perfectly capable for marking and holding in nets. Ive not had huge amounts of experience with a terrier ferreting but I'd be cautious about them shaking rabbits up hard if you intent to sell the meat.... If its ferret food thats not a concern.But yes, best to get the team together as early as possible and go slowly. Edit - If your after kits best to get in there asap as Its getting late in the rehome season.
@superhunter992
8 жыл бұрын
Right thanks unfortunately i dont i will be able to get em this season as i have been made redundant i can afford to keep my dog in good health and with plenty of food but not for the ferrets i would rather see to the dog and make sure it is kept well rather than dealing with the ferrets aswell
วิดีโอที่น่าสนใจมากวิดีโอที่มีคุณภาพดีมากเรียนรู้มากจากความรู้ภาพยนตร์ให้ดูประเทศของคุณมีความสวยงามและอุดมไปด้วยฉันต้องการคุณ! ฉันชอบวิดีโอนี้โปรดดำเนินการต่อ
On 4:20 how did you know where the rabbits are?
@sterkar99
7 жыл бұрын
in 6:00 too
Why the orchestral music?
hows the lurcher bred
@ferretWhitehead
9 жыл бұрын
It is a reverse three quarter collie greyhound. 3/4 collie and 1/4 greyhound
@epicmulhearnairsoft
9 жыл бұрын
very nice i have myself a bull/whip/grey yours has a fantastic coat
@janetdean698
4 жыл бұрын
What do you do with the dead rabbits?????
Can neutered pet store ferrets be taught to hunt
Game fairs are full of specialists, professionals,,,been out once with someone never asked again or watched afew on youtube ,,, lmao. Remember penny Taylor saying a lad was telling her how his akita courses an caught hares lmao. Worlds full of them ,ask for them to come out an show you how it's done ,,,there even faster with excuses than bullshit. 🤣🤣🤣👍
that is not gods own county cornwall is
اهنكم بل صيد
About as much sport as throwing poison in the hole!