The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-02
THE FERRET as A HUNTER.
IL Is Very Popular With All the
sPOrtsmen on the European CONT


4
sPOrtsmen on the European CONT
nent.
From the Chicago News.
In England, France and Germany shoot
ing with ferrets is much better understood
than in America, says an exchange. Wher-
ever tried here it has become at
once popular. The greatest difficulty Amer
lean sDortsmen have to contend with in
following this pastime is the scarcity Of
weIl-trained or even partly trained fer
rets-
The difficulty is caused, in part, by the
sportmeD themselves exclaimed a breed
er Who makes a speciality of these animals.
when L nrst commenced this business 1
had ferrets on hand that were trained like
bird dogs, and of course valued accord
tngly. But there was no demand for them,
and when asked SIS or SD for a perfectly
trained ferret people thought l was crazy.
So 1 gave II up, and now have neither
trained ferrets nor ferrets bred from train
ed stock. 1t does not pay"
Particularly in rabbit shooting are fer
rets useful As every hunter knows, a
rabbit which has once made earth or
taken to his burrow, is pretty safe from
further pursuit. And as rabbits lie up
great part of the time when not feeding,
1t is readily seen that the ferreter, for
whom this is the exact condition wanted
has much the best of it, when he knows
his business and has a good ferret
Many of the ferTets in use are trained
only enough TO permit safe handling The
superiority of a thoroughly trained ami
NAL over one of the other class is SO APP
parent in active field work that any
trouble necessary to produce this perfee-
ton is well repaid. Buck ferrets are much
better than females in hunting, and they
should be procured when young one
ferret is enough for ordinary shooting
although many spOrtsmen prefer to work
them in pairs. The first lesson in the
training must be in docility, for ferrets
are savage, like cattle, and give very
ugly bites with their sharp white teeth
All lessons are conducted through the
medium of food. When offering food to
the ferret the trainer makes a squealing
sound, something like a rat squealing.
This is done by pressing the tongue
against the teeth and strongly sucking
the air through the interstccs.
This is done whenever the ferret is
fed, so as to impress upon his mind that
the sound is connected with food This
much learned, half the training is done
Next comes the handling The trainer
must bear in mind that when the hand is
put down the ferret will think 1t is some
thing to eat, and will rise UP to nose it,
If the hand is jerked away he Will be
quicker than the trainer and Will seize it,
giving a pretty bad bite. This is one of
the hardest lessons the trainer has to
learn and requires no little courage the
first time or two. The withdrawal OF the
hand must be accomplished with fairly
slow, but steady motion; Having overcome
the first timidity, the ferret can be han
died at all times and at all seasons.
Having got so far the ferret is taken
into the open, and is taken hungry, so
that when he hears the food call he viii
be keen to so to the trainer when he is
rewarded with a piece of liver or meat
For Carrying the animal regular ferret
bags are sold, but better way is to have
him loose in q side pocket of the coat, and
keep the flap buttOueti down. When the
little beast has learned to obey in the
open. he is advanced to the hedge row or
brush and is taught to come whenever he
IS called. When the hunting commences,
the ferret Is fed well the night before,
but not in the morning unless it IS very
cold, when a little milk may be given. This
insures better work. Arrived at the
earth, located either beforehand or by
the hound the ferret is placed in the en-
trance. If the earth be tenanted he will
go down. If not he will so in little way
Sometimes the best animals win take
lazy INT, and refuse to come out of an
earth. With decently trained ferrets this
seldom the case Should 1t occur the best
way is to make a nest of grass or leaves
at one end of the burrow ana bank both
ends up with a sod Of grass. The next
morning the ferret will be Found curled
upon this bed awaiting his master.
Young ferrets viii sometimes Insist on
attacking the rabbit whenever possible,
instead of simply driving or dragging him
out for the sportsman's benefit When
this disposition is evinced the ferret must
be muzZled. Most of the muzZles offered
in the shops are monstrosities and made
simply to sell. A race horse could as well
run with a jumping rope about his neck
a.
clumsy arrangements. Amy harness
maker can very soon turn out a muzzle
that will fit like a ladyS glove ana in
which the ferret will work comfortably
and well. On the collar directly at the
back of the neck and on each side may be
slung a sleigh-bell, the tiniest and light
est procurable. This is necessary, other
wise if the ground Is at all covered with
grass or underbrush the greatest watch
fulness is required, for it ruins ferret
to let him run around loose even for a
few minutes, as he is sure to do if he gets
out of an earth without being seem The
objection to a. bell is that the sound tray
els a long way underground and rabbits
while the sportsman is occupied with the
one.
These precautions are of course, neces-
sary, principally with young and inexper-
fenced ferrets. The little animals are quick
to learn, and proper training will make
them as perfect in their work as bird dogs.
They Will obey every word and sign of
their masters, and even where a rabbit
has been "spinned'' in an earth they will
drag it out instead of killing it.
Most rabbits bolted from earth are
killed within a twenty-yard range. There
fore, except when the hunter is q crack
shot, the gun must be a cylinder bore, or
must be loaded to produce what is called
scatter shooting. The regulation charge
if three and one-half drains of powder
with two heavy wads, and one and one
eight ounces No. 6 shot Many sports
men prefer No. shot, for a rabbit under
full swing will frequently get away with
quite a gOod-siZed load of lead on board.
Wood or smokeless powder is of especial
advantage on misty mornings when
smoke from black powder hangs around.
Bessie Footlights-I should like to show
you my new dance, but there isn't room
for it here.
Manager-Wait till I move this table