Guest rimotu66 Posted November 12, 2013 Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 I have to agree with a lot that's been said, it is nice to watch wildlife and I have done this through a scope with a loaded rifle, had a Hawk land on a stuffed Magpie once and watched it for a few minutes through a scope, put a shot a couple of feet to its side when it started pulling lumps out of it though I am envious of you though, I havnt shot a rabbit in 18 months as my permission hasn't recovered from its last mixy outbreak and theres no more bunny in the freezer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayDT10 Posted November 12, 2013 Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 Went for a wander around today with the .22LR to see what I could find. After some frustrating waits for various squirrels to come down onto the ground and the huge flocks of pigeons flying over to land (neither of which happened) I eventually stood still enough to see some rabbits come out into the open. However, they were having a lovely play together and when I got one of them in the sights, I couldn't pull the trigger... Should I just give up now? defiantly don't give up , the shooting community needs more people like yourself rathers than those who feel the need to squeeze the trigger at every given chance. It's your gun your land/ permission your choice, good on ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 I understand the above point on one level, if you have an agreement to rid the land of rabbits then that is what you should do, but I have agreements to control numbers and that, to my mind, is about managing populations at acceptable levels. I do have some places where I couldn't justify leaving rabbits to get on with it but others where they are doing very little damage and I leave them alone until winter. I have sat and watched rabbits without shooting them and I mostly leave magpies, jays, rooks and jackdaws alone. The only species that get no second chances are rats. And there is where I would say that the obvious answer to the OPs question lies! Yes, if you have an agreement to rid the land of rabbits then ANY that you see should be shot regardless of age, size or whatever - You have agreed to do a specific job and that is what you need to do. If however your agreement with the landowner is to CONTROL THE NUMBERS then you have a degree of disgression and shooting every rabbit that you see might well not be warranted as long it is up to you to decide on what are manageable levels/numbers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted November 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 And there is where I would say that the obvious answer to the OPs question lies! Not really. My original question was regarding being too much of a wimp to kill an animal, it wasn't about managing the population. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 How can we go out and shoot quarry without admiring and watching it,we cant. we do what we do through a love of the countryside and its inhabitants,nothing wrong in not pulling the trigger. Nothing worse than a hunter with no compassion or feelings, who hunts indiscriminately shooting everything. Done the same loads of times over the years. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 I understand the above point on one level, if you have an agreement to rid the land of rabbits then that is what you should do, but I have agreements to control numbers and that, to my mind, is about managing populations at acceptable levels. I do have some places where I couldn't justify leaving rabbits to get on with it but others where they are doing very little damage and I leave them alone until winter. I have sat and watched rabbits without shooting them and I mostly leave magpies, jays, rooks and jackdaws alone. The only species that get no second chances are rats. Totally agree - I am fortunate on my perm to be able to spend as much time watching hares and deer through the binos as I do shooting things. I don't shoot the hares at all. All of the quarry / game on my perm is watched as much as shot at, that is a huge part of being out there for me. It's not just about shooting - I wrote a similar post in the summer about watching a fox stalk a bunny. The only species on my place that is shot on sight is the grey squirrel. They are cute and they are entertaining to watch but there are far too many causing damage to trees, songbird nests etc etc so they are shot on sight whenever safe to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 I think I'm just a tree hugging hippie. It's my land and they're not really being a problem (yet - planning on planting some trees) when I was looking at woodland to buy, it had to have full sporting rights included, so quite a few were discarded, I eventually found the right one, have owned it since feb this year, often take the guns over with me on visits, as we have seen deer,rabbit,squirrel,pigeon,crow,pheasant,partridge etc, but as yet, I've not shot a thing, when its yours, you do tend to sit back and chill out more... saying that, a bit of roost shooting is definitely on the cards soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Went for a wander around today with the .22LR to see what I could find. After some frustrating waits for various squirrels to come down onto the ground and the huge flocks of pigeons flying over to land (neither of which happened) I eventually stood still enough to see some rabbits come out into the open. However, they were having a lovely play together and when I got one of them in the sights, I couldn't pull the trigger... Should I just give up now? Happens to us all, after a while you really do start to need a good reason to kill something and eventually that good reason becomes harder to find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted November 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 I suspect that when my trees/chickens get eaten by rabbits/foxes then I'll feel differently. I'd also want a friend with me to help process the rabbits/squirrels as despite watching several videos, I've never actually done it myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Not really. My original question was regarding being too much of a wimp to kill an animal, it wasn't about managing the population. OK then, you're a wimp! Now either man up and grow a pair or take up knitting or stamp collecting instead of shooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 I suspect that when my trees/chickens get eaten by rabbits/foxes then I'll feel differently. I'd also want a friend with me to help process the rabbits/squirrels as despite watching several videos, I've never actually done it myself The best way to learn is to give it a go yourself, but if you're really stuck for someone to show you I may be able to help, I work all over the area so if you did shoot one on a week day I could possibly come and show you how to skin and prep one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted November 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 The best way to learn is to give it a go yourself, but if you're really stuck for someone to show you I may be able to help, I work all over the area so if you did shoot one on a week day I could possibly come and show you how to skin and prep one. Very kind, I'll let you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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