Anyone heard of Rabbit hunting with ferrets?

[Illia]

Wow. And here I thought Ferrets were legal in all states. . .


Then again some state laws are just ridiculous. Like owning Piranhas. You cannot own any Piranha or relative carnivorous fish in the state of WA. Why?!!! They can't even live in the wild in our constantly cold waters, and, it's not like I'm gonna build a giant tank of 'em so I can dump bodies in there.

 

[Ferrret]

Quote:
It's likely due to numerous crappy pet owners. Officials got tired of so many people not taking care of their exotic pets that they banned people from owning them.
There are a lot of people that decide to buy a pet because it's cute, different or extreme with no idea how to care for them. Many, many people own animals that need specific care, reptiles, salt water sea life, partially domesticated animals, even domestic animals, and they think they can just throw food and water at them and they'll be okay. Some states respond by instating regulations, licensing to own the animals, permits and such, others just outright ban the animal for it's own protection.

I'd rather see some regulations in place rather than none at all. None at all leads to people keeping a tiger in their apartment or a lion in the basement.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
You are right they don't dig the hole........but most cottontail will use a hole , if chased or cold...guess you must never hunted rabbits ,if you don't think they use hole ,dug by other animals............


I have also track rabbit to a hole in the winter fresh snow..........see it hundreds of times...just like they will hide in a brush pile.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Not really--domestic rabbits are descended from European rabbits not North American ones. Those found wild in NA only make little depressions which they line with fur and grass to nest in they do not dig holes much less tunnels. That being said, there are people that have abandon domestic rabbits and these animals, assuming they survive, would certainly burrow. It is just that there aren't a lot of these feral animals out there to be consider "wild" game.

BTW, I've hunted rabbits behind beagles--we just flushed them from briers and woodpiles--never known them to do any more than duck into woodchuck holes and under abandon buildings when pursued. The point would be that it wouldn't be a good use of ferrets for hunting them since it is not part of their normal behavior. That kind of hunting would have been confined to the Old World or Australia.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Not really--domestic rabbits are descended from European rabbits not North American ones. Those found wild in NA only make little depressions which they line with fur and grass to nest in they do not dig holes much less tunnels. That being said, there are people that have abandon domestic rabbits and these animals, assuming they survive, would certainly burrow. It is just that there aren't a lot of these feral animals out there to be consider "wild" game.

BTW, I've hunted rabbits behind beagles--we just flushed them from briers and woodpiles--never known them to do any more than duck into woodchuck holes and under abandon buildings when pursued. The point would be that it wouldn't be a good use of ferrets for hunting them since it is not part of their normal behavior. That kind of hunting would have been confined to the Old World or Australia.

Like i post in the other post, track a rabbit in the winter snow, you will find one that goes in hole ,like old woodchuck holes, that how you hunt with ferrets. YES HERE IN THE USA ALSO........

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

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My two boxer mixes (60+ and 70+ pounds each) are definitely scared of my 2 pound ferret. They will both get up and leave the room if the little weasel heads their way. I imagine that hunting dogs have learned to be leary of hunting ferrets. My little guy is a big baby with no hunting tendencies at all (except that he hates squeaky toys). If my softie has the dogs running scared I'm sure a fiesty hunting ferret would completely give the dogs the willies.

My understanding is that hunting with ferrets in most parts of America is illegal. You also have the fact that most ferrets sold in the US are pet quality only. They have had aggressiveness bred out of them. Of the 9 that I have had over the years only one had any hunting ability at all and she was pretty hit and miss about it. European lines tend to be bigger and wilder/tougher. Some are particularly bred to be hunters. Clearly that lot would be more successful at it. I think hunting with ferrets is still popular in Europe and Australia.

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

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We actually have gopher tortoises that dig some gnarly tunnels. It is very possible that the rabbits are simply moving into those. Once a rabbit lives in it, it is called a rabbit hole.

Gopher turtles? Really, Taz? First the good ol' Buff roo... Now you have hybrid turtles digging up your yard.

Yep they are protected too..like the burrowing owls (which are amazingly cute)

 

[sourland]

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Or you might just do it and get caught.

 

[CCourson05]

Quote:
Or you might just do it and get caught.

Don't jinx me!

 

[conny63malies]

Quote:
It's likely due to numerous crappy pet owners. Officials got tired of so many people not taking care of their exotic pets that they banned people from owning them.
There are a lot of people that decide to buy a pet because it's cute, different or extreme with no idea how to care for them. Many, many people own animals that need specific care, reptiles, salt water sea life, partially domesticated animals, even domestic animals, and they think they can just throw food and water at them and they'll be okay. Some states respond by instating regulations, licensing to own the animals, permits and such, others just outright ban the animal for it's own protection.

I'd rather see some regulations in place rather than none at all. None at all leads to people keeping a tiger in their apartment or a lion in the basement.

Here in Ft Riley they are illegal. Our neighbors had two.THey both took of several times , one finally got lost and the other , well i just caught it this week in my garage. Next time i take it to the pound.