Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: ORCA_SIX on July 22, 2012, 03:01:26 AM

Title: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: ORCA_SIX on July 22, 2012, 03:01:26 AM: Has anyone ever tried to rabbit hunt with a ferret? Was watching these videos on youtube and it look kinda cool.

Shooting Rabbits With The Shotgun - October 8th 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rx_Kj3h9og#ws)
Shooting Rabbits With The Shotgun - June 9th 2012 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dVi8jb4nMY#ws)
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: ORCA_SIX on July 22, 2012, 03:17:12 AM: This video two videos are pretty cool as well. The first one is just using a ferret and some nets. I guess this would be cheaper than taking care of a bunch of beagles.

Ferreting - Last day of season (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj2l2A9dRWI#ws)

Rabbit hunting with ferret. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDeuimltQuY#ws)
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: SpiritWolf on March 03, 2013, 03:14:26 PM: Hi,

I was wondering if you knew of any places to hunt rabbits, not too far from Seattle? I was going to the San Juans, but lodging and meals are quite expensive there.

Thanks much.

Jeff Koch
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: ghosthunter on March 03, 2013, 03:17:49 PM: Ferrets are nasty smelling little critters.
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: ORCA_SIX on March 24, 2013, 11:46:51 AM: Quote from: SpiritWolf on March 03, 2013, 03:14:26 PM
Hi,

I was wondering if you knew of any places to hunt rabbits, not too far from Seattle? I was going to the San Juans, but lodging and meals are quite expensive there.

Thanks much.

Jeff Koch

Sorry I do not. Most of the hunting I do for rabbits are either on the islands or I head out to the eastside in the winter. Lots of rabbits in the Ephrata/ Moses Lake area if you get out to the farmer fields.
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: lucky33 on March 25, 2013, 11:17:05 AM: Hunting them with ferrets is awesome....bad little dudes!!
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: Sagehawker on March 31, 2013, 06:53:27 PM: We used to hunt them (San Juan/European Rabbits) in the San Juans using ferrets to force them out for our hawks. Occasionally the ferret would catch a rabbit and we had to wait it out our dig it out. In England,they use e-trackers to locate the ferrets underground. We switched to Jack Russell Terriers in later years as they were more reliable on the retrieve. Either way, it is exciting when the ground starts thumping. Alas, most of that was a decade or more ago. When I travel out there now, homes cover the historic warrens in many places. Whidbey Island holds a number of bunnies, the key is land access for shooting. We were using hawks as our weapon of choice so we could pursue game in the margins of civilization longer than when we used a shotgun.
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: BiggLuke on May 07, 2013, 01:34:36 PM: Very cool
Title: Re: Rabbit Hunting with Ferrets?
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 10, 2013, 09:28:06 PM: Fitch's and Ferrets were used alot in years gone by, ferrets are the ones that every one has for house pets. Being of the weasel family they do stink unless you get them de-scented. In my opinion a wild mink is more offensive then a skunk. I've had a few tame ferrets years ago back East and enjoyed them. I can not go into detail, but they are a fun past time.

I had an uncle back during the depression that kept the family feed with a couple of ferrets back in Upstate New York. They used them on skunks back then as well, a skunk hide back then was more then a weeks wages. My one uncle was about ten years old and his younger brother was being born. The doctor came to the house to assist in the delivery with a horse & buggy. My uncle took five skunk hides & tied them to the doctors buggy, his wife asked what stunk so bad, his father replied, It's your husbands pay for his doctoring. This was around 1919.
One time they were hunting rabbits with a ferret, they'd send the ferret down the hole and catch the rabbits when they exited the hole. My older uncle went to grab what should of been a rabbit exiting the hole, but it was a skunk and sprayed him in his face. He did grab it and killed it, but was sick for over a week.

Life was hard back then and you did what you had to do to get by, Today every thing is illegal or cost you more then you can go buy it for. Then we have these freakin tree huggin liberals that don't want you to cut a blade of grass because grass has feelings too.

I'm a firm believer of do what you enjoy and if it's not up to snuff, pay your fine and move on. Next time be more carefull.

By the way I really enjoyed this post, it brought back a lot of good memories and maybe a ferret purchase.