TaxiDriver Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) I've added a bipod to my new CZ and was keento give it a try, So last night went out early evening with the intention of laying up and trying to get a few rabbits. I don't think I've got the zero right on, it was done at 100yrds by the chap at my friendly RFD's using a boresighting thing. Anyways, I made meself as comfy as I could and waited patiently, sure enough in odd ones and two's the bunnies start appearing, well to say I shot like Stevie Wonder would be an understatement for the most part I was zinning Winnies over their heads sending them bounding off to the safety of their burrows I lay patiently, and 20 mins or so saw them venture out again, well, next shot was aimed low at the head and 'click' and the bunnies dead, all the others scarpered so I broke covered and retrieved my quarry and back to my lay up position. I paunched bunny as best I could in the dusk light and hocked the back legs to hang in the hedge whilst I tried to get him a mate, had to give up due to failing light, I find it particularly hard to use a scope in low light and it wasn't light enough to shoot at what I thought were rabbits. I came home with bunnie and decided to try skinning this one whilst still fresh, WELL, to say I made a complete **** up of it is putting it mildly, I dunno, I've watched the vids on here and on youtube but I just can't seem to get it right :no: I couldn't get the legs through, I couldn't cut the neck through, anyways by the time I'd finished the rabbit carcass was kinda inside out with the fur on the inside and the front legs ripped out of the shoulders, the flesh of the neck/shoulder area was falling apart, the kitchen worktop looked like a massacre had taken place. All in all, it looked like roadkill had happened right there in the kitchen, sadly it went in the bin again. (I think even next door ferrets would have turned their noses up) It's almost a shame (but also a good job) I'm not dependant on the meat to sustain meself, I'd be a whole lot slimmer But I do feel a bit guilty that I'm not making most of my quarry. Edited May 20, 2011 by TaxiDriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I've added a bipod to my new CZ and was keento give it a try, So last night went out early evening with the intention of laying up and trying to get a few rabbits. I don't think I've got the zero right on, it was done at 100yrds by the chap at my friendly RFD's using a boresighting thing. Anyways, I made meself as comfy as I could and waited patiently, sure enough in odd ones and two's the bunnies start appearing, well to say I shot like Stevie Wonder would be an understatement for the most part I was zinning Winnies over their heads sending them bounding off to the safety of their burrows I lay patiently, and 20 mins or so saw them venture out again, well, next shot was aimed low at the head and 'click' and the bunnies dead, all the others scarpered so I broke covered and retrieved my quarry and back to my lay up position. I paunched bunny as best I could in the dusk light and hocked the back legs to hang in the hedge whilst I tried to get him a mate, had to give up due to failing light, I find it particularly hard to use a scope in low light and it wasn't light enough to shoot at what I thought were rabbits. I came home with bunnie and decided to try skinning this one whilst still fresh, WELL, to say I made a complete **** up of it is putting it mildly, I dunno, I've watched the vids on here and on youtube but I just can't seem to get it right :no: I couldn't get the legs through, I couldn't cut the neck through, anyways by the time I'd finished the rabbit carcass was kinda inside out with the fur on the inside and the front legs ripped out of the shoulders, the flesh of the neck/shoulder area was falling apart, the kitchen worktop looked like there had been a massacre taken place. All in all, it looked like roadkill had happened right there in the kitchen, sadly it went in the bin again. It's almost a shame (but also a good job) I'm not dependant on the meat to sustain meself, I'd be a whole lot slimmer But I do feel a bit guilty that I'm not making most of my quarry. I might be able to take you out if you fancy it to shoot a couple of rabbits and show you how to skin them if that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I might be able to take you out if you fancy it to shoot a couple of rabbits and show you how to skin them if that helps I'd sure appreciate actually seeing it done, I think its one thing watching on telly/pc but actually hands on It's particularly frustrating as it doesn't look like brain surgery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'd sure appreciate actually seeing it done, I think its one thing watching on telly/pc but actually hands on It's particularly frustrating as it doesn't look like brain surgery I might be going sunday night but wont know untill sunday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Have you looked at this ? http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/2313-skinning-rabbits/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I might be going sunday night but wont know untill sunday I'll send you a PM,Im going to Barleylands Saturday for the game fare and sunday AM is local clay shoot but Sunday evening would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'll send you a PM, Im going to Barleylands Saturday for the game fare and sunday AM is local clay shoot but Sunday evening would be good. It would be sunday evening. Didnt know ther was a game fayre at barley lands but i did know that there was the young farmers fair on sunday at boyton hall which is owned by the philpotts are you sure you dont mean that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 It would be sunday evening. Didnt know ther was a game fayre at barley lands but i did know that there was the young farmers fair on sunday at boyton hall which is owned by the philpotts are you sure you dont mean that No, deffo mean the thing at Barleylands, at Billericay, its on Saturday and Sunday. Im taking my son to the game fair Saturday whilst his mother is at work, then Sunday AM she'll be having a lay in whilst I take him to the clay ground to have a shoot with his (mine actually lol) 20G I guessed you meant Sunday evening for Rabbits, I dont see many out in the daylight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) Boresighting just gets you onto the paper to zero, its not a way of setting it up to go shooting. the skinning thing will come, its better in winter when you can hang them with thier jackets on for a while first and things dry up a touch first. after a few hundred its no harder than opening a packet of biscuits Edited May 20, 2011 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 To jump through all the hoops of getting a SGC & FAC and not know how to skin a rabbit! That sort of stuff is learnt when you are a lad! Getting your cash out and putting it on the counter is easy, you should know how to deal with something before you decide to kill it. TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 the offer is still there to show you, if you want to get over this way, let me know, have rabbits in freezer think you should zero your rifle in closer, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertan_J Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 To jump through all the hoops of getting a SGC & FAC and not know how to skin a rabbit! That sort of stuff is learnt when you are a lad! Getting your cash out and putting it on the counter is easy, you should know how to deal with something before you decide to kill it. TEH The man's asking for help and people like you don't help at all. Did your post boost you ego a little bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 The man's asking for help and people like you don't help at all. Did your post boost you ego a little bit? Albertjan, thank you, Unfortunately there's always someone who likes to look down from their moral high horse, personally I wasn't going to dignify his post with a response. I have watched loads of vids on youtube and read the previous posts that I could find on skinning, but having not previously chosen to shoot any rabbits I haven't had any hands on experience. Have now had a couple of offers of a demonstration from a couple of more helpful respondants, So thank you to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maidment78 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I was usless too to start with but time patience and a good recipie for stew for the botch jobs did for me, moving on to deer now so that will be a new test. Good luck, be patient and take your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Go out and have a day zeroing your scope at different distances and when it's done shoot a young one, they are much easier to skin and you are much less likely to damage it through having to pull, tug and wrench the skin off. Also, are you skinning from the belly or the back? I skin from the back as I find it cleaner and easier. The more you do the quicker and easier it gets. PS. Ferrets don't care what it looks like so no need to bin them if it all goes pear-shaped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 quickest and easiest way i find is to lay it out,chop head and legs off with axe,then pinch fur in middle of back and poke knife through and make hole,grab both ends of hole and pull apart,should come off quiet easily,cut around tail when it comes to that bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 Big Thanks to Alex aka 'Jasons Gold' for taking me out last night on one of his permissions. He's a lucky chap, nice bit of permission and rabbits a plenty. We had a mooch round in his Vitara, set up a target to check zero of my rifle (it looks to be 3-4" low at 50yrds) but I couldn't do anything about it as I hadn't got the Allen key for the turrets. Alex showed me a bit more of the property and pressed his .17hmr into action taking several bunnies at varying distances, he then showed me how he guts and skins a bunny, he's another guy who makes it look dead easy As it got proper dark and the temperature had dropped, out came the lamp, we went round the property again and in one field spotted a fox slinking about nose firmly planted to the ground and almost oblivious to the bright lamp. Unfortunately for us Alex judged the shot to be to risky owing to the lack of backstop and the close proximity of the road, So foxy lives till another day. I've now got 2 rabbits without fir coats in the freezer until I come up with a nice curry recipe. Thanks Alex - Top bloke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertan_J Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 Good result pal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted June 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 (edited) Have been out today with the 22lr and stll couldn't get on with the BSA sweet22 scope, managed to go through about 110 rounds and couldn't put 2 side by side never mind a grouping :yp: . Took it back to my RFD's to see if I was doing something wrong or missing summat obvious The chap double checked with the bore sighting gizmo and then tried adjusting it for different ranges and apparently it looks like it might have been a duff one as he couldn't see the reticule adjusting. It's been swapped out for a Hawke Panorama EV, same 3-9x40 magnification but illuminated (red/blue) mildot reticule, been out tonight and whilst I need to do a bit of fine tuning I've had 4 rabbits tonight AND.......managed to paunch and skin them meself (feeling very pleased with meself lol) Edited June 5, 2011 by TaxiDriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Cut round the tail....? When you skin it leave the tail on, if you twist and pull it will take out the last part of the rectum and colon so you don't have to cut it out. Anyway I leave it to you experts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 I'm currently putting together various methods of paunching and skinning rabbits for something else i'm working on. I particularly like the method below. Quick, no mess and ready for the pot. Although, I appreciate some people like to paunch in the field, then skin later. But I like it none-the-less...i'd recommend a knife for the legs! I can never just pull it like in the vid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Another I like, sorry. I like the 'gut flick' on this one. So, instead of doing it all like in the video, do the gut flick first to paunch only. Then complete the skinning when you get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Have been out today with the 22lr and stll couldn't get on with the BSA sweet22 scope, managed to go through about 110 rounds and couldn't put 2 side by side never mind a grouping :yp: . Took it back to my RFD's to see if I was doing something wrong or missing summat obvious The chap double checked with the bore sighting gizmo and then tried adjusting it for different ranges and apparently it looks like it might have been a duff one as he couldn't see the reticule adjusting. It's been swapped out for a Hawke product, same magnification but illuminated (red/blue) mildot reticule, been out tonight and whilst I need to do a bit of fine tuning I've had 4 rabbits tonight AND.......managed to paunch and skin them meself (feeling very pleased with meself lol) hi mate - i think you need to bring your zero down to say 50 yards, at 100 it will give you quite a lot out at 50 (as you said), imho the .22 lr needs some practice before you can move the zero much further than 50, i'm not there yet myself - i only really use the .22 out to about 60-65 yards when i know i can pretty much aim and know it should hit the spot. the skinning rabbits bit will come in time, i think people forget that everyone has to learn! happy shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 hi mate - i think you need to bring your zero down to say 50 yards, at 100 it will give you quite a lot out at 50 (as you said), imho the .22 lr needs some practice before you can move the zero much further than 50, i'm not there yet myself - i only really use the .22 out to about 60-65 yards when i know i can pretty much aim and know it should hit the spot. the skinning rabbits bit will come in time, i think people forget that everyone has to learn! happy shooting. Hi,appreciate your comments but at 50yrds I might aswell not have it as you can't get nearer the rabbits on my permission, they're so unused to human presence. I've worked on a 72yrd zero now that the scope's been changed to a Hawke product which I'm happier with and more confident about as It's familiar having used one on my air rifle and transfered it to my FAC R10 recently. I had 4 rabbits last night, although I shot like a phone contestant on the Golden Shot (up a bit, left a bit, right a bit stop, fire) but I did manage to paunch and skin them meself in the field and relatively easily. I'll get out some more for target practice and fine tuning before venturing out after Bugs again. I dunno yet what boiled rabbit tastes like, but my gawwwd Don't it flippin STINK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Hi, appreciate your comments but at 50yrds I might aswell not have it as you can't get nearer the rabbits on my permission, they're so unused to human presence. I've worked on a 72yrd zero now that the scope's been changed to a Hawke product which I'm happier with and more confident about as It's familiar having used one on my air rifle and transfered it to my FAC R10 recently. I had 4 rabbits last night, although I shot like a phone contestant on the Golden Shot (up a bit, left a bit, right a bit stop, fire) but I did manage to paunch and skin them meself in the field and relatively easily. I'll get out some more for target practice and fine tuning before venturing out after Bugs again. I dunno yet what boiled rabbit tastes like, but my gawwwd Don't it flippin STINK Don't forget to take the glands off them - either side of the ****, pea sized off white colour, they stink, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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