Blunderbuss Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 I was out for an hour's wander with the HMR last night, and only saw one rabbit which I shot cleanly. I mainly shoot rabbits in the summer, and so am in the habit of gutting them as soon as I shoot them. This turned out to be a heavily pregnant doe, full of large, well developed and animated foetuses. She can't have been far off giving birth, which the first week in February surprised me a little. I have shot pregnant does before but never so far advanced. I'll be honest, it freaked me out a little. I dispatched the young PDQ. The fact I'm typing this 24 hours later tells me it's still weighing on my mind a little. I know it's bound to happen if you shoot enough rabbits, and I'm sure there'll be cries of "man up", but it was pretty unpleasant. I'm fortunate on this permission that it isn't swarming and I'm under no pressure to eradicate huge numbers, just keep them in check. I think I'll keep to the half or three quarter grown ones in future though, to avoid this. I still skinned and filleted it for the freezer though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 been there several times mate , the first one was a bit sad but now its classed as two for one ! chin up , it wont be such a shock next time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PWD Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Nowt wrong with that reaction mate..Its called compassion and all shooters should have it if they are normal . At least you finished the job unpleasant as it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointer Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Dealing with milky doe's is all part of the parcel. It can be unpleasant, but it's necessary. It will be easier next time. It's also a sign of the mild winter we had untill now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 I've had a few like that, the first time was not nice and I stopped shooting for a while! But it comes with the territory unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Come across this often and must admit it can be a bit disconcerting to see them moving about,but to be honest not even those are wasted;I take them home for the ferrets(dead of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Been there & will be again:not nice but no practical answer if your controlling rabbits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 As above mate not nice but bound to happen one day. Anybody who says it doesn't effect them (especially the first time) is a liar or not human. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Yeh, fair dos, it was interesting the first few times but you have to deal with it. It doesn't matter if you are an undertaker, brain surgeon, fireman, policeman, whatever, you are still human, but you have to find a way to turn off. I'm a Pest Controller, I solved 6-8 problems with one shot, that pleases me and the landowner! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Same here ive shot one this year that was about to drop...not very nice, the worst for me was when i was about 17 shot a hare that was also about to drop..the fact i can still remember that 15 years later must mean somthing as well... rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhw100 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 All six of mine last night were pregnant...there's nothing you can do. I know it's horrible but they do die relativley quick due to suffocation. I've shot so many of them pregnant (at all times of year) I don't really let it bother me no more. Don't worry mate you wern't to know,although it is inevitable nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Part of the job mate. Wonder what you would do if you had to gralloch deer with well developed foetuses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 (edited) Part of the job mate. Wonder what you would do if you had to gralloch deer with well developed foetuses. I'd deal with it, but perhaps not actually relish it Edited February 5, 2012 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Been there myself. Certainly played on my mind for a while, although personally I found it harder to get the thought of starving kittens out of my head when I shot a few very milky does. Things like this remind you you're human, I firmly believe a healthy response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 I'm a Pest Controller, I solved 6-8 problems with one shot, that pleases me and the landowner! ATB! Have to agree, I go out there to reduce rabbit numbers. Pregnant does are a nice efficient way of doing so. Not sure how its any better or worse than shooting mum?? Slightly weird views in this thread IMO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Have to agree, I go out there to reduce rabbit numbers. Pregnant does are a nice efficient way of doing so. Not sure how its any better or worse than shooting mum?? Slightly weird views in this thread IMO! First sentence fair comment Second sentence a bit uncalled for IMO! I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, I'm not saying not saying it's wrong, I'm not saying it won't happen again. Just chatting about how I felt about it, if that's OK with you? If that makes me weird in your eyes, so be it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) There's nothing wrong or "weird" about feeling "thoughtful" about the first doe in young or milky does that you shoot nor does it make you look like any sort of a "softie", after all we are all "surposed" to be human and have some feelings! However these things do and will happen as rabbits are breeding all the year round, so sooner or later it is inevitable. All you can do is accept that this is an inevitable and unavoidable part of rabbit control, remembering that for every one milky or pregnant doe you shoot there are thousands that you will not get a shot at! Edited February 6, 2012 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheldon Cooper Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 once shot a kangaroo that had a baby. The ozy guy i was with just wacked it on the toyota bonnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Hi Heavily pregnant dose will feed further out and when other conney will not feed they will be out Feeding ,but don't wory every one with a heart would feel the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I went ferreting today and 3 of the 5 rabbits I shot were pregnant does. Also one hole I did a baby rabbit (no bigger than a Wren) came crawling out of the hole. I think it may be time to stop ferreting for the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas hunter Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 first time it happend to me i was 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapid basher Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 has everbody ses it happens to most including my self but how you can skin it and freezer it then put it to your lips is beond me im shure it wont be the last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy220 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I have had some milky does, never a pregnant one fortunately. I have never had the stomach to eat them though and have always fed to the dog. I know you can eat them but is there any difference in the taste? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 when i shot a heavily pregnant rabbit, i could see its abdomen wriggling well after. I guessed it was pregnant, cut it open and dispatched 5 very advanced babies. I couldnt eat that one, and it did put me off a while. But you get desensitised to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 As above mate not nice but bound to happen one day. Anybody who says it doesn't effect them (especially the first time) is a liar or not human. sorry mate not wanting to start an argument but i am not a liar i am human but it does not effect me what so ever as Dekers said it's 6-8 with one shot colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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