ferret hunting

[Paula]

has anyone heard of using ferrets for hunting rabbit? my neighbor said in the 20's alot of people did it. sometimes the ferret would kill rabbit and stay down in hole and eat it. guys would leave coat out there for ferret to lay on when it would come up and guy would come back later. thinks it might be illegal now.

[Dom]

yea they also smoked them with sulfur long time ago do not think its leagal i wouldnt try

[Paula]

[growalot]

I'd call the DEC and find out ...you may need to get a "special" permit to do so

[Paula]

i have no intentions in doing this i only asked if anyone had heard of it. i thought it was interesting.

[growalot]

I found this on a search.....

NYGunman

01-03-2005, 11:31

OK, I got an email back from the DEC. Here is what they say.

The New York State Environmental Conservation Law actually prohibits

the use of ferrets to hunt rabbits. This law goes "way back" but it is still a legal restriction. Of course, hunting with dogs is still legal in New York and remains the most effective way of taking rabbits and hares. I hope that you have good hunting. Thank you for contacting us.

Gordon R. Batcheller

N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation

Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233-4754

Voice 518-402-8885

FAX 518-402-9027

[email protected]

[Paula]

i have no intentions in doing this i only asked if anyone had heard of it. i thought it was interesting.

[growalot]

It is interesting and I have heard of it.... did research on it when I was researching hunting with Fox terriers I use to raise years ago....I understand when you said you didn't plan on doing it.... just thought I'd post what I found in reference to NYS

[Paula]

thank you

[Daveboone]

My grandfather used to use a ferret back in the 20s and 30s. Even then it wasnt legal. The animal they used was actuallly called a "fitch" and was not the same critter as you can buy in the pet stores now. They were semi wild critters, that you had a harness on, sent down the hole then pulled back up. The problem was you were never quite sure what else might be down the hole! Sometimes the fitch got ate instead! Not legal now, no special permits available.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

My grandfather di it as well. They did however shoot the rabbits that the ferret chased out. I remember him telling the story about leaving the coat and going back the next day to pick the ferret up if it caught one in the hole. I also remember he has the tendency to stretch the truth but he swore when thee was more than a few of his buddies together they would each hold a burlap bag over rabbit holes when they sent the ferret down. He said shells we at a premium during depression and WW2 so a bag ans a club put dinner on the table with no expense.