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new permission with rabbit problem


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Hi all, I was at one of my permissions yesterday when a farmer turned up who had some sheep on the fields on my permission, and after talking for 5 mins he asked me if I would go and shoot all his land, he has a 40 acre quarry with a huge rabbit problem and I do mean huge, he showed us around the quarry and I kid u not there was not one spot without rabbit droppings, they are even grazing in his rape fields and munching away, what is the best time of day etc for shooting the rabbits in the quarry,

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Would do but I don't own a air rifle lol

 

It would pay to get one, or a .22LR if you haven't got one of those. Or FAC air. It won't take them long to get wise to the racket from a shotgun. After three or four visits, one shot and it'll be just you and the tumble weed rolling past. Or you can end up spreading them round the farm as the smart ones up sticks and scarper.

 

If that was me I'd be hitting them very hard a few times with the .22, varying the times of day (or night), then back off for a bit so they don't migrate. When numbers are down to the hardened survivors it would be in with the ferrets to mop up.

If the terrain is suitable you could longnet the perimeter, ferret them out and shoot them with shotguns. Great fun and very effective but don't let too many escape because they may not bolt well to ferrets again afterwards.

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It would pay to get one, or a .22LR if you haven't got one of those. Or FAC air. It won't take them long to get wise to the racket from a shotgun. After three or four visits, one shot and it'll be just you and the tumble weed rolling past. Or you can end up spreading them round the farm as the smart ones up sticks and scarper.

 

If that was me I'd be hitting them very hard a few times with the .22, varying the times of day (or night), then back off for a bit so they don't migrate. When numbers are down to the hardened survivors it would be in with the ferrets to mop up.

If the terrain is suitable you could longnet the perimeter, ferret them out and shoot them with shotguns. Great fun and very effective but don't let too many escape because they may not bolt well to ferrets again afterwards.

the good thing is there is a clay shoot set up on the quarry a couple of times a month and the odd lesson in the week so all the rabbits are use to hearing shotguns going off LOADS so thats why i was thinking about the shotty, failing that i will just use the hmr
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Be careful were and how snares are used. I take it at present you are shotgun only? initially creosote (or similar) soaked wood shavings placed down all the holes you can find. Get a small trowel or serving spoon on a stick and put them well down the holes. At dawn the following morning get round and block them holes 2ft down with compacted balls of newspaper. Then hit it with a few mates preferably with a few good dogs and shotguns. With care (rats and mink etc will also seek a hiding place) drag out any rabbits that sit tight with the newspaper blocking their full entry. This used to be called "stinking out" and is very effective at getting to grips with a big population IF you have or can make access to were they live.

The idea is to make a big impact very quick and impress the landowner, then hit it with whatever else hard and regular. In summer the population will recover so in the first summer carry on hard and get them in check.

A moderated .22 Rf with subsonic ammo is the best tool rifle wise But do not lamp it till you have to shoot them in daylight or you will educate them far too fast and never lamp during the short light nights of summer.

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