Just looking through regs and I see hunting with ferrets is not allowed in Ontario. Anyone know why that is?
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Just looking through regs and I see hunting with ferrets is not allowed in Ontario. Anyone know why that is?
Don't know why, but I do know its been that way for as long as I can remember, early 1960's
It’s because a rabbit doesn’t stand a chance ! They used to put the ferret down the rabbit holes, then wait for the rabbits to run from the holes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cass
I can't see that being the reason. They do it in many countries. People could argue the same thing about using dogs.Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
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Do we have a native ferret in Ontario?
Maybe to protect the native ones, or to prevent a population of escaped ones.
No idea. Just found it odd lol
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People do a lot of things in other countries that are illegal here! I haven’t seen a hunting dog yet that can go down a rabbit hole and chase the rabbit out !! Likely another reason is to prevent escaped ferrets from establishing a wild population.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cass
Simple Falconry was for the aristocrats ferreting was done by the poor. Guess who made the rules.
Sometimes the ferret caught the rabbit in the hole, would piss off my grandma, he would have to try to pull the ferret out by the long leash.Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
Back then ferreting was a way of feeding your family and they never hurt the population, now it is rare for someone to need to hunt for sustenance, it is just not the same time now.
I used to hunt with them in Scotland when I was a kid and had lots of fun field every other weekend.Ferrets are domesticated Polecats,and Polecats are basically about the same size as a mink.Ferrets do not do well on their own in the wild just as a dog would not do well.They are basically used for cottontailsQuote:
Originally Posted by Cass
as they are the animals making holes/warren systems.
The rabbits are basically caught in purse nets placed over the holes.Some escape from the nets,some holes don,t get covered.
The great thing is that a ferreter can simply let excess rabbits go after capture to prevent over harvest.
Getting back to the initial question, I suppose they are prohibited because it might be considered unsporting or there many have been a concern about them escaping and breeding with mink,marten, or animals of similar size much like the wolf/coyote mix.
It there was a problem with rabbits (think Canmore) ferreting would be a great and cost effective solution to clearing up the rabbits.We don,t seem to have any excessive numbers of cottontails here to be worried about.