Mobberly
I picked Sheila up from Bolton and we drove down to Cheshire. I took my air rifle, 2 of my poley jills (Bandito & Jilly) and my lurcher (Flash). Sheila took her air rifle, 5 ferrets, but only worked 2 (Arwen & Flower) plus her lurcher pup (Bryn).
We arrived at 12:00pm and started off by making our acquaintances with the landowner & had a pot of tea, then we were shown around the land, to where the buries were, and we tried to decide a line of attack. We decided to start on the bury close to the road. 2 ferrets were introduced into the bury (Arwen & Flower). So we set the long net along the fence on the opposite side of the drive from the hedgerow we were ferreting. Almost as soon as the ferrets were entered we got one to bolt from the bury but it shot out and ran down the drive, and totally avoided the long net. Unfortunately, the lurchers were on my side of the hedgerow and didn't see a thing. Rabbits: 1Ferreters & lurchers: 0
After a minute or 2, another bolted, went straight across the drive, and into the long net. Rabbits: 1Ferreters & lurchers: 1
Arwen was still underground, and was located 3' deep, under the drive, so we decided to put Bandito in, and see if she could shift her. After about 3 minutes, they were both out, and were both wearing rabbit fur on their claws. Rabbits: 2Ferreters & lurchers: 1
We moved on up the drive and netted a large bury on a banking, Bandito & Jilly went to see if anyone was at home... A few thumps and a squeal - Jilly bolted a young rabbit, the squeal got Flash running from the end of the bury I was working with Bandito, to see what the fuss was. The tiny rabbit slipped the net, and ran up the bank, but was brought back a couple of seconds later live-to-hand by Flash. Rabbits: 2Ferreters & lurchers: 2
The next bury we tried was empty.
We had been watching the land all the time we were there, and had noticed that only young rabbits were being bolted, and the rest were out feeding, so we changed our tactics. We put the ferrets & nets back in the car, and walked the land with our rifles & lurchers. Every time we entered a field, we saw rabbits running for cover, so figured an ambush was the call of the day. We sat in a field that had a little cover (a few remaining potato plants that had grown from spuds left in the ground after last year's harvest). Sheila took position with Bryn beside her, I walked across the field and took my position with Flash. After a couple of minutes, a large rabbit returned to feed, he didn't get a chance, I placed an Eley Wasp between the eye & ear at 35-40 yards. Flash set off in the direction of the sound but because the rabbit had just keeled over without a kick, she didn't see it, and went straight passed it, putting the rest of the rabbits to ground. So I collected the bunny and then sat on the other side of the field. Rabbits: 2Ferreters & lurchers: 3
Then it was the waiting game again... I spotted a pair of tiny ears just poking out of a ditch, then all of sudden there was a tiny head under them, I raised my rifle, took aim, and pierced its ear, the tiny bunny ducked, and moved along the ditch, then disappeared into the hedge. After nearly 1/2 hour, my legs were getting stiff, so I got up and walked back across the field. A rabbit had returned to feed, so I stalked within range, and took my shot at 40-45 yards. It hit home and the bunny was kicking its way back to the long grass and bury, so I ran to collect it. Another perfect head shot. Rabbits: 2Ferreters & lurchers: 4
As we returned to the car, we figured out our best approach for each field, and we'll get them on our next visit.
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