bisondan Posted September 15, 2013 Report Share Posted September 15, 2013 Hello All I've fell on my feet a bit through someone I work with and have been given permission to control pests on some sports grounds local to where I live. The biggest problem they have is rabbits, lots and lots of them and they are causing all sorts of damage. I've been up there for a good look around and have got a good idea as to what their routes are. I intend on lamping them and I've lamped before but it's been on the back of a truck but this is different as I'll be static. I'm thinking of sitting under a fishing umbrella on a seat and waiting for them to come out of the undergrowth/hedges in to the open before popping them, I'll be using a 20g Mossberg Hushpower. Has/does anyone else lamp like this, and can you offer any tips or advice? Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Sure someone on here did shoot rabbits like this and put a post on a while ago. If memory serves all he did was to put his fishing brolly in a suitable location and sat on a stool keeping very still. Think his rational was that as he was only showing half of his profile the bunnies didn't catch on. Suitable clothing of course but I don't believe he used cammo gear only country type green/brown. Maybe the gent concerned will read your post and put a response on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 How big/flat is this sports ground/s, and what range do you think your Hushpower can achieve? I have several "sports" grounds, one has 5-6 FULL size football pitches on it and 3 or 4, 5 a side pitches, it is also flat and well kept. Shotgun is near useless here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadioles Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 How "public" is your sports ground. You may find that lamping with a shot gun announces your presence and the dog walkers and anti's will start writing letters of concern. Pre-inform the police that you are there (101) and make sure your permission is in writing. I have found that .22lr with night vision is the best way to remain discrete and it has to be used between about 11:30pm and 6am to avoid other people. The longer range of the hmr would be good but a rabbit 100 yards away through night vision at 5x magnification starts to get difficult and noise also becomes a problem. If your sports ground is isolated and fenced off from the public, happy days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 red lamp NV spotter .22lr or air rifle can't see a shotgun being anything but trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntsman Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Why dont you try longnetting this area Although your not going to get much with your hushpower You will certainly get a decent bag with the long netting technique good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisondan Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Thanks for your replies. Its 3 full-sized football pitches and they are in the middle of nowhere in the countryside, with no public access. I have written permission from the landowner and fully intend on letting the police know of my presence. There is one house at the end of the road where a lady lives so I introduced myself to her last week and she hates the rabbits to as "they eat everything in her garden" (her words) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Thanks for your replies. Its 3 full-sized football pitches and they are in the middle of nowhere in the countryside, with no public access. I have written permission from the landowner and fully intend on letting the police know of my presence. There is one house at the end of the road where a lady lives so I introduced myself to her last week and she hates the rabbits to as "they eat everything in her garden" (her words) What sort of sports grounds are in the middle of nowhere with no public access ?? Anyway in my experience a shotgun would be next to no use unless you only want to bag a couple of rabbits per trip. A 22lr will send bullets zinging all over the place if you miss your target if you are shooting on a sports field with short cut grass. So i would opt for the hmr with a bit of sitting and walking around for the best results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadioles Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 So i would opt for the hmr with a bit of sitting and walking around for the best results. In daylight +1 You can work solo, find a good spot and pick them off as they come out. Based on 100 yards or so range, that gives you a pretty big arc. Better still if there is a raised bank on which you can lie prone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE MEK Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Definitely a job for the Longnets ,sounds perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted September 20, 2013 Report Share Posted September 20, 2013 What sort of sports grounds are in the middle of nowhere with no public access ?? Anyway in my experience a shotgun would be next to no use unless you only want to bag a couple of rabbits per trip. A 22lr will send bullets zinging all over the place if you miss your target if you are shooting on a sports field with short cut grass. So i would opt for the hmr with a bit of sitting and walking around for the best results. i played ruby against a team from Peterborough they played on a field in the middle of the fens about 4 miles from anywhere without a changing room , you had to change at a school miles away and drive to pitch as the fens are flat it was very windy apparently it's always like that colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisondan Posted September 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2013 I had a go last night and bagged 16 rabbits in 3hrs with my silenced Mossberg. Managed to tuck myself almost inside a hedge where they were popping out of, kept the use of the lamp down to minimal use only occasionally turning it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted September 22, 2013 Report Share Posted September 22, 2013 well done mate good shooting colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted September 22, 2013 Report Share Posted September 22, 2013 Well done pal, proves its worth trying different methods even if others say it will be useless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisondan Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 I've shot there 3 times now and had a total of 50 rabbits, left it last week and this week as I don't really want to over shoot it. I've put in for my FAC to as although it's fun shooting them with the shotgun I am limited with my range so it will make sense to get either a .22lr or .17hmr (or both) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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