Sinistercr0c Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 Been over at the farmers today having gotten a call from him saying his PC was kaput (thank god for viruses). Having sorted out said PC, I was chatting with him about the harvest of the oil seed rape and cereals he's planted and he offered me a place shooting the rabbits that apparently scarper out of the fields when the combining is done. Having thanked him for the offer (which I will be taking up with great anticipation..... ) I wondered if anyone who had done this type of shooting could offer me any advice/tips, do's 'n don'ts etc. Many thanks guys.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 yup best to wait when he is just finishing the field off as they get pushed into the last few swathes, stand near the hedge they are most likely to live in and wait for them to run out. Don't shoot at the combine it upsets the driver or did when I saw someone do it. Also be ready for foxes they often come out at the end as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 You need to get between where the rabbits are (the crop) and where they want to run to. Stand back a few lanes from the standing wheat, which gives you a better shooting arc and is safer. Don't rush on to the field too soon, or it could be a long day. In the early cuts the rabbits will move into the field, rather than run out. The only exception I have experienced to this is on very, very large fields where the combines cycle is so long, that the foxes and rabbits will often walk out while it is away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 It is also worth getting up onto the harvester if you are allowed to do so. I normally do this, shooting from the platform next to the cab, with one or two extra guns dotted about to pick off the ones that run out behind the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 if you are going to do as Zapp suggests wear a dust mask and its far better on rape than anything else, barley you will itch for days and wheat if its dusty will leave you looking black. Its the only thing thats bunged my semi auto up, I usually watch the wind and when its blowing the dust away stand up on it and when we go back the other way nip back in the cab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 I follow on the quad bike the wife drives and I sit on a seat attached to front of the quads front rack it saves you legs. Regards OTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimlsd Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 I normally stand on the platform next to the cab... but wear a dust mask for deffo.... i got lucky the last time as the wind was going the right way... its a good days shooting if you can get it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 Also be ready for foxes they often come out at the end as well On a slightly different note, there is one less fox in the world this evening because one went into the machine when cutting grass for haylage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 my mate has a sense of amusement each time one goes up his combine, just alters the engine tone slightly with a minor bang as it goes in the front, must be pretty humane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 i was baleing at one time and a rabbit, went up in to the baleler , but was to quick and jumped away,so for one to though a combine must be un lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinistercr0c Posted June 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 He did mention being up on the combine so hopefully I might get a chance of a high seat (so to speak), and I'll get hold of some dusk masks as well (would never have thought of that) Cheers chaps.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Do most rape fields hold a fox when gettin cut with a combine? I might give it a go any other types of crop work well? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 if you are going to do as Zapp suggests wear a dust mask and its far better on rape than anything else, barley you will itch for days and wheat if its dusty will leave you looking black. Its the only thing thats bunged my semi auto up, I usually watch the wind and when its blowing the dust away stand up on it and when we go back the other way nip back in the cab. As above, you will need a dust mask and possibly goggles, and you will be absolutely filthy and knackered after 18 hours I use my nail of a hide gun (a 25 inch Sarasqueta S/S choked 1/4 1/4) for this as it wont suffer in the dust, and because I can quickly stick a fox load in when the need arises. Without doubt, rape, peas or beans offer the best shooting when the harvest is on. With the denser crops like barley or wheat, a lot of the rabbits etc will sneak away while the combine is elsewhere. If you have rape, beans or peas on your permissions though, I strongly urge you to make time to shoot while the harvest is on. It can be superb ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 Cheers ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Hi, Keep half an eye on where you think the rabbits will go, the other half on the crop in front of the combine (if you're not up top) as the rabbits will move it and critically the other on the driver as he sees all. Remove hip flask and replace with a bottle of Optrex. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex301286 Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 i do it every year on a sweet field of wheat. its always hot and you'll walk about a million miles following the combine up and down and up and down and up but its well worth it, tones of rabbits! just hope the wind blows in the your favor for the dust espesialy if they dont do bales and just cut up the straw :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentbarrel Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 I did alot of hrvest shooting in bean fields last year and its brilliant sport then you want to go back the next day and get the pigeons on the dropped beans. Like above you walk miles, sweat loads and get filthy but its worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinny Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 This is the most fuun shooting i have ever had. In my first year working on the farm in 2008 me and a friend shot over a 100 in one day. We stood at either end of the of the fields and covered half each, shooting what ever ran out of the crop. The last run when there is no more crop left, was full of rabbits. we could not reload quick enough! Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adymorris Posted July 18, 2010 Report Share Posted July 18, 2010 Best few days of the year - normally get about 50 per field but probably not so many this year as we've hit em hard all year round. don't go on the cab platform if you have a semi auto as the ejected shells will eventually jam the thing and an engineer will then have to be called out to make an improvised removal tool made up from a long stick & a magnet to enable him to fish out the shells and get the combine going again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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