| Ferret hunting is a relaxing pastime for many ferret | | | | the ferret hungry is the fact that after a sumptuous |
| owners. Ferrets are known to have been used for | | | | meal, the ferret is likely to fall asleep. This is usually |
| hunting as early as in the 6th century BC. This was | | | | one of the main causes for losing ferrets that fall |
| to eliminate most of the rabbits that caused | | | | asleep in the burrows after a successful hunt. After |
| spreading of the plague in Balearic Islands. Ferrets are | | | | examining all the burrows, in a given region, it is |
| good accomplices for hunting wild rabbits and other | | | | advisable to cover all except one. This will ensure |
| rodents that live underground or in burrows. This is | | | | that when the ferret is let free near the opening, it |
| because of their natural hunting instincts, speed and | | | | would be attracted by the smell of the rabbit. The |
| ability to chase the prey over a long distance | | | | prey would hence be driven out through the only exit |
| Ferrets use their strong senses to hunt down rats, | | | | left. By having a purse net or a trap set up there, |
| rabbits etc., even underground where they are not | | | | the rodent can be captured or even shot at. |
| well served by their vision. Ferret hunting needs some | | | | One must be careful in shooting a rabbit. A wrong |
| preparation and advanced planning unless one simply | | | | shot would mean all the rabbits would have been |
| aims to spend the day aimlessly wandering in the | | | | scared away by the sheer noise of the shot. Besides, |
| shrubs. One would need purse nets, which are | | | | some owners end up accidentally shooting their |
| nothing but nets fastened to metal rings, used to | | | | ferrets that emerge out of the burrow after a |
| trap rodents emerging out of burrows. | | | | hopeless journey underground. Ferret hunting needs |
| On the day of hunting, one should feed the ferret | | | | lot of patience as it might take a long time before |
| decently to ensure it does not eat its own prey to | | | | the ferret either catches or drives its prey out of |
| satisfy its hunger. The other disadvantage of keeping | | | | the burrow and one must be prepared for that. |