A pleasant couple of hours.

[Ben W.]

With the sun making an appearance over the last couple of weeks the grass, wheat and barley have certainly had a growth spurt. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it)so has the rabbit population which means some good shooting and some meat in the freezer. Up until three weeks ago seeing a rabbit was rare, in fact I had seen more hares dancing around the fields than rabbits which is a pleasant sight to see in my opinion. However, there has been a definite rise in rabbit sightings around the farm and so it was time to prep the .22lr. Before I had a chance to spend some quality time dusting her off after being in the cabinet for the last few months we had a phone call from a neighbour saying he was overrun with rabbits. The meadow he mentioned runs alongside one of the wheat fields and is a known problem area regarding rabbits, so I quickly checked the zero before heading over to take a look. That evening I managed to bag nine within an hour despite some ammunition issues and was very pleased to blow off the cobwebs finally.

 

The area in question required more attention so I thought I would pop over Sunday evening after completing the boss's chores at home and try and dent the population further.

 

 

As you can see from the photo there is a considerable bare patch in the wheat created by the rabbits and helped by the pigeons no doubt, it extends approx. 30 yards into the field and runs along the field for nearly 200 yards. I used to shoot this stretch with an air rifle a couple of years ago and had some success but felt I was limited range wise to make a real impact.

 

 

The blackthorn jutting out into the set aside just above the moderator is 50 yards from where I am parked up at a turn in the field, the rabbits appear all along the hedgerow and beyond. Although I have shot over 200 rabbits at this patch with the air rifle you can see why the .22lr is better suited with the lack of cover for stalking and extended distance.

 

It was a lovely evening, aside from a couple of ramblers straying from the footpath and walking right past me despite it being obvious as to what I was doing. I'm going to get some signs made up for when I am out with the rifle, people seem to just wander willy nilly even when there is a man with a gun in front of them.

 

 

I finished the evening with a tidy bag for a couple hours work, I tend to leave the kits when there is little financial damage being done but when they are decimating crops then unfortunately they have to be taken out as well.

 

I hope you enjoyed my first picture upload, hopefully there will be more soon enough.

 

Take it easy.

[Paul taylor]

Good write up and pics there mate.

hope you have many more happy hours on the bunnies.

I honestly belive most folk don't even think there are any risks to wandering about around farms and private woodland as I probably wouldn't have before I got so addicted to shooting. It amazes me we don't hear of many if any near misses or people being shot.

atb P.T

[camokid]

the path strayers do get on my nerves they should think before just walking where they want.. good first pic upload and looks like a cracking few hours well done

Edited May 6, 2014 by camokid