monkeyjaimz Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 Hi, im newly registered on here and im looking for a little advice on despatching bunnies. Im a maintenance manager at a hotel, we have a large-ish field area and masses of underbrush largely populated by rabbits - which didnt used to be a problem until they started eating the bedding plants etc in the gardens. So i got the green light to perform a bit of a cull. Drawbacks being that i hadnt fired an air rifle since i was a kid and i had to be as discreet as possible as to not upset any guets at the hotel etc. Anyway i got myself a fairly basic .22 smk rifle with a good scope and a sound moderator from the same gun shop i went to with my dad as a kid and have bagged 3 rabbits in 2 trips so far. I get the feeling i should be getting more but the field area is floodlit at night (although i could turn the lights off) and after killing one rabbit i rarely get the chance to have a go at any others. Im now thinking maybe i should be using a lamp with the floodlights off? also i've had a go at a few magpies with little success, should i be using a 177? p.s does anyone know of any farms or similar in the south humberside area i could practise on? cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 I lamp a few rabbits with a (loud) shotgun on a piece of land. Never used an air rifle so I can't comment on them. I'd think that turning out the lights would be a good idea, rabbits can be a bit thick and even though I've lamped this place maybe 7-8 times in the last 3 weeks I still get a minimum of 5 each trip (gun holds 5 shots so that's what I usually aim for, am not there to wipe out just keep numbers down a bit. I like to shoot under 15 yards). I know it may not work in your case but I get my best success on windy nights, maybe if there's a noisey time at night you could go? Any cover like that is good, take your time don't go rushing in, be a bit stealthy and you'll be increasing your bag numbers in no time. Always keep any wind blowing from them to you, I know it's stating the obvious but just incase :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 I would find out where they are coming from and sit up and wait for them. Leave the lights on as they are used to them and this will only help you to spot them. Once you get one rabbit leave it where it is (if discretion allows). If you walk up to it and pick it up you will further disturb the rabbits and it will be longer before they come back out. Try a few methods and work out what works best for you. This is not an exact science and everybody has their own methods. I think patience is the key. If the area is big enough then try walking round but if it is fairly small I would go for the ambush points. Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 As snakebite says leave the lights on if the bunnys haven't been shot at before you should be able to get a few of them before they scarper, find out where they're coming from & ambush them down wind. Keep to headshots (between the eye & ear) Good Luck SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyjaimz Posted December 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2006 Cheers for the suggestions, all very much appreciated. I'm having a hard time getting the bunnies to stick their heads out of the undergrowth at the minute (cant blame em really) i was layed in the brambles for a couple of hours tonight without any sightings. then as i was giving up for the night saw a handful in very low light (just black shapes really) right at the far end of the field. Trouble is the driveway to the hotel runs right past there and makes it kind of high profile for incoming / outgoing guests. Think i need to formulate a new strategy and try again next week. Perhaps now they've been shot at a few times theyre more wary and the lamp may prove usefull with the floodlights off? or leave the lights off for a few days to let them get more cocky and go in for the cull? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipper Posted December 16, 2006 Report Share Posted December 16, 2006 your thinking along the right lines there mj. try and find the warrens that they are comeing from and set yourself up before they start to venture out. keeping the wind blowing towards you is a must tho if you are to have any success. if the rabbits catch your scent in the wind they will be twice as weary or maybe not even show there faces. the more mistakes you make the more you learn the rabbits, the more wiser they become. :unsure: good luck kipper. let us now how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyjaimz Posted December 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Cheers, had a good look around and reckon i know where the burrows are, found a new place to make a (sort of) hide close where i saw the little ******* last week so should hopefully have more luck. Also, this may be a daft question, but is it possible to decoy rabbits at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 I have heard of people using stuffed toy rabbits as a decoy but never done it. Try it and see what happens. The best decoy is to leave the first one that comes out and bump his mate off when he comes out thinking it is safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Ive been out twice down the golf course so far and am yet to see a rabbit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Has the lads say keep down wind try Knocking lights of then use a small lamp i use a deben fits on scope. turn lamp on when you see eyes Knock it of then move slowy towards then switch lamp back on if you done it right he will be sat their waiting for a shot in the bonuce change your times when you have a go at em because they will get used to you coming :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 i think in the 2 YEARS since he posted this, he might have got the hang of it by now. :o :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tug Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 i think in the 2 YEARS since he posted this, he might have got the hang of it by now. I'm glad somebody else noticed... I thought it was a bit of an achievement to be newly registered and clock up 1000+ posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyjaimz Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 i think in the 2 YEARS since he posted this, he might have got the hang of it by now. :blink: :lol: :lol: :rolleyes: Do you reckon? You may have a point :( I did try the soft toy thing and no it didnt work, although snakeys ploy of leaving the 1st one out of the bury alive as a decoy always has Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.