rabbit problem

[mrikirkby]

Been asked to clear some rabbits on maize fields only prob is the fields have no headland and farmer doesn't want us driving on tram lines and i only have shotgun and air rfile. Any ideas other than fac ?

[aga man]

some of the permissions we shoot are horse livery farms no shotguns and not suitable for fac. we make good bags with pcp air rifles.

sit and wait near warrens and known areas. keep any breeze towards you and away from the rabbits.

make sure you rifle is zeroed {we use empty cartridge shells} and know your range.

leave any you shoot and pick them all at the end of play.

you will be amazed how many you can get, especially if they have not been shot before. {you will also enjoy it and improve you fieldcraft skills}.

[TEMPER]

Failing that, get a ferreter to give you a hand.

[mrikirkby]

Thanks chaps we can use shotguns just can't drive on some fields and didn't know if you could lamp with shotgun on foot or how sucsefull it is ? Might try the air gun option too and i don't know anybody with ferrets.

[foxy bingo]

try dawn and/or dusk rabbit stalking with air rifle but wear plenty of camo great fun

[Darno]

Love shooting shotgun off the truck, and hav some very good bags! But sitting out with my air rifle is by far my favourite way to bag a few bunnies, especially on a warm evening!!

Think that's what I would try, shotgun might just scare any others back into their holes!

Ferret is a good idea also!

Edited May 11, 2013 by Darno

[highseas]

longnets at night? snares

[mrikirkby]

Did think of snares but not sure of the dos and donts and the law on them ?

[Gregthegreat]

As mentioned, lie up in wait with the air rifle, on a nice warm evening would be best. Keep still and they'll wander about quite freely. With the air rifle you'll bag a few before they go to ground. Patience will be the name of the game. No need to go crazy with cam if you keep still.

[landrover]

no reason why you cannot lamp them with the shotgun, walking round, just keep down wind of the rabbits

[Gimlet]

When the crops and the vegetation at the field edge get too high and dense to shoot, keep an eye on the tramlines. Rabbits use them like highways when there's little open space. Walk them in day light and note where the heaviest traffic and most droppings are and try and find a position where you can lie up and shoot down the line. Crop cover gives them some protection from predators so they feel safer and more young survive. If the lie of the land is in your favour you can do quite well on tramlines and you'll have fewer to deal with after harvest, and maize stubble is tricky to shoot because the stalks get in the way and its impossible to walk quietly.

[Jim c]

Fac air ?

[mrikirkby]

Well we got few last night so not to bad

Edited May 14, 2013 by mrikirkby

[Jim c]

what with shotgun or air rifle

[woody walloper]

tramlines in maize ?

[stubby]

I use my 410 with a lazer torch (red filter) for walking the backs of the fields, we can drive along pathways, but same as you, no driving on fields

[mrikirkby]

Think i need to enquire about fac or find some one that can help out !

[JonB]

One of my permissions is a fruit farm and lamping them with the shotgun is my prefered method. There is a lot of cover for them in the form of berry bushes so its snap shooting, usually get two or three brace each time we go out so it is effective. Jon

[CharlieT]

tramlines in maize ?

Yes, If like us the maize is still short.

[Jim c]

if you want a hand i have fac 22lr 17hmr and fac air and insurance if ya do give me a pm

[Bleeh]

Back in the day you'd get some news paper and soak it in creosote, stuff that into the warrens and the rabbits would spend the night outside rather than smelling the horrible stuff, the next day you'd walk along and shoot them as they flushed from the undergrowth.

I couldn't recommend using creosote, but maybe someone knows of a more modern alternative.

[Gimlet]

I've used Stockholm tar to evict youngsters when they've dug small buries in the hedges round my garden. Apart from the powerful smell its as sticky as treacle and they don't like it on their feet. Completely harmless to the soil too. Might be an expensive way to treat a bigger bury though.