How to get lucky with pugs and drummers

A ferreting permission is like a rusty bike, laments Simon Whitehead, as no one wants it until you start to show an interest in taking it on

2022-08-17 -

Having just returned from the Game Fair, where my Pugs and Drummers stand continues to go from strength to strength, it’s clear to me that few outside of the rabbiting bubble realise precisely how serious the undertone of the title really is.

The word ‘pug’ was slang for ferret and ‘drummer’ the rabbit.

This was concocted at a time when ferreting was frowned upon by the landed gentry. Those who practised ferreting were persona non grata and permission to work the land was seldom granted.

The local hostelries were full of men and women talking about their sorties with

their pugs after the drummers — and the police, watchers and keepers had little idea what they were talking about. We must not forget that people lost their lives, freedom and homes, or were even deported, due to the assortment of crimes committed in pursuit of the wild rabbit.

Secret key

These days, the chances of us being deported are slim. However, gaining not only prime ferreting permission, but any permission isn’t as straightforward as it should be.

Permission is simply being allowed to ferret on a set area of land. Every parcel of land is someone’s property. Those who own, rent or work this land may not always be keen to let anybody on, irrespective of the damage caused by the rabbits.

I always look at gaining a permission as if it was a rusty bike in a shed. Nobody wants it until someone shows interest in it, then all of a sudden everybody comes out of the woodwork.

I have found that the secret key to unlocking ground is held by the shoots and especially the guardians of the land, the gamekeepers. They know their patch intimately, but ferreting is often an incentive and perk for the beaters and pickers-up, so many are reluctant to upset the apple cart and simply grant anyone permission. At the end of the day, any shoot is only as productive as its beating line and the rest of the team behind the Guns.

Whatever the answer, you must respect that decision. To respect your quarry, equipment or ground must

“The key to unlocking ground is held by the guardians of the land, the gamekeepers”

become second nature. For if you lack respect, how can you expect others to respect you? A couple of years ago when I returned to the north-east, I struggled to find good permissions as the majority of land already had people on it and, however frustrating, I respected the fact that the keepers and farmers trusted and looked after the folk already ferreting for them.

Trustworthy

The harsh reality is that many landowners and farmers may have been caught out by the odd ne’erdo-well at some point in the past. What you have to do is convince the person in charge of the land that you are after rabbits and rabbits only, not birds, hares or anything else that you come across. And also that you are a trustworthy and honest individual.

This is easier for some than others. Trust plays a big part in gaining

Left:

Below: and keeping permissions. The last thing people want is some strangers coming on and helping themselves to whatever they want. What you must do is put your case forward in a sensible, professional manner. Think of all of those ‘but ifs’ or ‘last times’ to show that some thought has gone into why you are there.

Show whoever you are seeking out that you are reliable, trustworthy and have thought through what you are asking. If you are a newcomer,