ian w-b Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi all last night in the pub the topic of rabbits came up one guy said not to shoot them cos there 'in milk'.what is that all about. thank Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi all last night in the pub the topic of rabbits came up one guy said not to shoot them cos there 'in milk'.what is that all about. thank Ian Means they've got kits in the burrows, at this time of year on skinning you find 'milky' does, lots of milk running down the mammary tissue. Some people choose not to shoot rabbits at this time of the year for this reason, I see it as good pest control... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Means they've got kits in the burrows, at this time of year on skinning you find 'milky' does, lots of milk running down the mammary tissue. Some people choose not to shoot rabbits at this time of the year for this reason, I see it as good pest control... sadly, so do i. They all go regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*danny* Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Ive never understood the whole - dont shoot its carrying young, theory the whole excercise in shooting rabbits is to keep numbers down so why not take out the whole litter with one shot rather than leaving them to be born, do more damage than necessary and go on to mate everything in site and populate further some would say its heartless, my theory but they're not cute cuddly wittwle pets - they are vermin pure and simple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 It may well seem hard/callous in some quarters but milky or not they go, and expecting or not they go, 1 shot at the right time can often account for 7-8 rabbits. This is the difference between Pest Control and sport (whatever the **** sport shooting is meant to mean). ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albion Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 It is a legal obligation to control rabbit populations on your land, milky or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pabs Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Good pest control at this time of year. Kill off the mothers and the young will die. Simples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 I even shot a hare yesterday that was full of young. If you asked to get rid and you dont, there is always somebody willing to do it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian w-b Posted April 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 went out yesterday got 4 so milky or not if i am in range pop down they go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garden gun Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Bunny can breed all year round. Mature in about 12-16 weeks; 7-8 in a litter - do the maths. They go if they are in the sights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garden gun Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Bunny can breed all year round. Mature in about 12-16 weeks; 7-8 in a litter - do the maths. They go if they are in the sights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Ive never understood the whole - dont shoot its carrying young, theory the whole excercise in shooting rabbits is to keep numbers down so why not take out the whole litter with one shot rather than leaving them to be born, do more damage than necessary and go on to mate everything in site and populate further some would say its heartless, my theory but they're not cute cuddly wittwle pets - they are vermin pure and simple You've missed the point. It's not because there preggers, it's if they have had the kits, who are in the burrow and dependent on the mother. If you kill the mother they'll starve, which is a less humane way to go. Not saying I wouldn't shoot a mother rabbit, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pabs Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 (edited) You've missed the point. It's not because there preggers, it's if they have had the kits, who are in the burrow and dependent on the mother. If you kill the mother they'll starve, which is a less humane way to go. Not saying I wouldn't shoot a mother rabbit, though. That's true, and kind of the whole point in the value of shooting the mothers, because the young will die. But if I don't shoot and the young mature, those that I don't get at a later date will dig holes as they do, then my farmer's cattle stand a greater chance of breaking a limb. And that ain't gonna happen. Edited April 4, 2011 by pabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynamic85 Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 Does that theory also go for rats with young, pigeons with chicks etc? If so we'd never shoot anything just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoughton Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 As pointed out above, rabbits breed all year - so it's simply not possible to claim a close season when you don't shoot to avoid milky does. If I noticed that a doe was milky I would probably spare her - but it's virtually impossible even at normal ranges. In 30 years of shooting rabbits I think I've only ever spotted it 2 or 3 times! Ultimately it is a job of pest control and I don't think it helps to dwell on the matter too much. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 I hope then we don't get mails next year asking to shoot other peoples land becuse theres no rabbits on their own. Shooting is a sport and most don't get paid to do it. Kill every thing there is nothing left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 I hope then we don't get mails next year asking to shoot other peoples land becuse theres no rabbits on their own. Shooting is a sport and most don't get paid to do it. Kill every thing there is nothing left. I'd be happy if there were no rabbits left on my farm, if one of the guys who shoot for me said they wouldn't shoot young or rabbits during the most prolific season, they wouldn't be coming back on I can tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 I hope then we don't get mails next year asking to shoot other peoples land becuse theres no rabbits on their own. Shooting is a sport and most don't get paid to do it. Kill every thing there is nothing left. shooting is a sport and yes we dont get paid for it , But we still have a job to do for the farmer and if we start slacking there is always another shooter round the corner to take the job in hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoughton Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 I wonder if foxes leave the milky does out of consideration for the young ones? :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 You've missed the point. It's not because there preggers, it's if they have had the kits, who are in the burrow and dependent on the mother. If you kill the mother they'll starve, which is a less humane way to go. Not saying I wouldn't shoot a mother rabbit, though. Agreed Bleeh. If I have a shot on a buck or doe this time of year, I tend to take the buck. I prefer young didnt starve to death. It just doesn't seem right. Inhumane. However, if its in an absolute zero tolerance permission, I do what has to be done. Don't like it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted April 14, 2011 Report Share Posted April 14, 2011 I saw the title and thought it was gonna be a recipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted April 14, 2011 Report Share Posted April 14, 2011 I don't like shooting lactating rabbits but it does have to be done or I loose my permissions. I shot 4 last night and 2 were full of milk and it didn't feel great.... but on the plus side, I find they are much easier to skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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