Denboy Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Hi guys I was out last Saturday morning and had a go at shooting rabbits with a shotgun just by sneaking around the wood. The first rabbit I missed, I saw a pair in a field outside the woods so I went back into the woods and came back out near the pair but couldn't get a shot on them as they saw me and I couldn't get a fourth as he ran into the rape and I didn't want to ruin the crops. Even though I didn't get anything I had a brilliant time trying. Does anyone else do this type of hunting? I know the best time for rabbits is morning or night do you think I'd have much lunck in the afternoon? Has anyone got any tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 My tip is walk quick and react quick when you see them. Can't see the point in sneaking about with a shotgun, rabbits are a lot sharper than people. I guess they need to be, it is life and death for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 My tip is walk quick and react quick when you see them. Can't see the point in sneaking about with a shotgun, rabbits are a lot sharper than people. I guess they need to be, it is life and death for them. +1. Though I'll occasionally go for a quiet sitdown by a warren of an evening if I'm needing bait for my fox trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darno Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Yeah, I do it sometimes, I quite like working the dog through long grass and shooting as the bolt back to their holes. Had 21 in the last 5 days with my air rifle though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berettadevon Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 quite often i go bunny bashing in this way, it helped when i practiced with my rabbit clay trap with the spring wound up so it sent the clays across ground like a rocket. im sure the rabbits down in the wooded area i shoot are on a natural speed drug or something lol!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I often shoot them daytime with the 12 gauge, and have done for 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Had 2 from the pigeon hide on saturday does that count Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrawny40 Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 had 6 last sunday with the 12, walked off some nettles on one of my perms. great sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Got 6 Sunday just walking around the fields in broad daylight ... first time ever i got 2 with one shot as they were sitting next to each other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I used to, but it's a waste of effort. Go out with the lamp and the .22 and shoot 100. Go out with a shotgun and shoot a handful. I'd rather concentrate the effort on where I get the best results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I use a 410 for 99% of my rabbit shooting. It's gives off more of a 'pop' than a 'bang'. On Friday night I shot one, reloaded and shot the other one sat next to it. It didn't even flinch! (until it was shot obviously) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 When I go to our covers to check Rabbit traps I take a shotty, sometimes 12 sometimes 410 depending what else I'm doing. The other evening I did a quick walk through before checking traps and I had six shots and got five Rabbits. The night before I'd been lamping on a cover using my WMR which is unmoderated. Three bunnies sat at 90yds and I popped one after the other without them bolting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 When I go to our covers to check Rabbit traps I take a shotty, sometimes 12 sometimes 410 depending what else I'm doing. The other evening I did a quick walk through before checking traps and I had six shots and got five Rabbits. The night before I'd been lamping on a cover using my WMR which is unmoderated. Three bunnies sat at 90yds and I popped one after the other without them bolting. Haha sounds like one of those fairground air rifle games with the ping down targets. I have the same with the HMR sometimes, they seem so shocked then stay put. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Depends on whether I'm just having a wander wih the dog or trying to control numbers really. If just wandering with the dog along the railway banking or hedgerows any time of day can see a few bolt, which is great fun. If trying to control numbers I find lamping yields bigger bags, but if you want some serious fun and a real challenge and good numbers then get yourself a couple of ferrets and try bolting bunnies to your gun. The best fun you can have with your trousers on and you will learn so much about taking your time and lead(leed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorismyhero Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) yup do this all the time, If you can "stalk" your rabbit to within 35 yards-ish then you can be fairly sure you walk lightly as it were..usually manage 3 or four like this on a walk around plus a few pidgeon. As said, if its numbers you are after then lamping and or something a bit quieter from a hide yields better returns.... the advantage is of course that you dont need to be carting large amounts of "stuff" about... gun , carts priest, good sharp knife, a bag to carry your "bag" in,(I also carry small smart phone and small personal 1st aid kit) I tend to carry this light weight amount of kit in a swat type vest, having tried pockets, cartridge belt (which idea I have fallen out with big time)., a small rucsac, and other ideas, Ive always come back to the swat vest. mind you the guy thst runs our local clay shoot recons i look a right B*****r wearing it but it does work well. Normally for a "mooch around" I only carry 25 carts...but I have loaded it up with 250, plus the other stuff AND a 3 litre water bladder. You hardly notice the weight because its kept close to your body and is borne by your shoulders in the main. Edited August 20, 2014 by victorismyhero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Nothing better than an early morning mooch along the margins in a wheat field, gun ready for any rabbit legging it back to the hedgerow. In my case an actual rabbit in the bag is a bonus, but an early morning mooch with everything going on around you is better than lamping any day. In saying that if you want to address a rabbit problem. Lamping is the only solution this time of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hi guys I was out last Saturday morning and had a go at shooting rabbits with a shotgun just by sneaking around the wood. The first rabbit I missed, I saw a pair in a field outside the woods so I went back into the woods and came back out near the pair but couldn't get a shot on them as they saw me and I couldn't get a fourth as he ran into the rape and I didn't want to ruin the crops. Even though I didn't get anything I had a brilliant time trying. Does anyone else do this type of hunting? I know the best time for rabbits is morning or night do you think I'd have much lunck in the afternoon? Has anyone got any tips? Fine sport especially with a good dog! Up here Rabbits use the moor for cover as much as warrens. I was umming and erring at 5:30 this morn if I took the shot gun or the .22, the rifle won and there are four plump ones all ready for a couple of pies, I only took the rifle because I fancied more of a look about and stalking and glassing achieves that goal better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longspoon Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) I have done many years ago...pure luck....he ran out of the hedge and my snap shot got him ! that was with a Beretta 302. Edited August 20, 2014 by longspoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 regularly, have a local permission so when the fancy takes me i pick up the gun and go for a walk usually when i need something for the ferrets. When they are out in the open its difficult as if you walk quickly towards them they will bolt far off and be too far for a shot, if you stalk in you will easily get to a sensible range but once you are there they often won't bolt or just hop slowly to the hedge, does not seem overly sporting. Always puts me in a bind.. don't want to shoot the sitting duck ( rabbit ), need the ferret food, if you have some good cover its amazing fun as they seem to bolt from underneath you where you don't even see them so you get a good fast rabbit that is not at a stupid range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Generally speaking, the rabbits around here feed all night and sit in the long tufty grass through the day which makes for some fantastic walked up rabbit shooting. There is no trees or hedges up here in Shetland and unless in sandy ground they don't have warrens they go to through the day. Here is max pointing a rabbit, if I have the .22 I will keep max on point till I shoot it and if I have the shotgun I will get him to bolt the rabbit so I can have a crack at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewisj Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 I often take the 12 out for a walk if I've got a spare hour and stalk close to the hotspots but it only ever yields 3 or 4 bunnies, more for fun than any pest control to be honest. A friend brings his spaniel x jack rus if we want a few hours fun and bolt the rabbits from the undergrowth. Truth be told only a lamp or a decent ferret ever gets larger numerbers whittled down for me, I enjoy anything aslong as I'm outside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Generally speaking, the rabbits around here feed all night and sit in the long tufty grass through the day which makes for some fantastic walked up rabbit shooting. There is no trees or hedges up here in Shetland and unless in sandy ground they don't have warrens they go to through the day. Here is max pointing a rabbit, if I have the .22 I will keep max on point till I shoot it and if I have the shotgun I will get him to bolt the rabbit so I can have a crack at it. That looks like here only with less rushes! About perfect for walking up bunnies that ground as you can see them when the dog bolts them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistolgrip Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Shooting rabbits in the daytime is far more fun than on the lamp yes you can possibly shoot more in the night with a shotgun (until they go lamp shy) but by shooting in the day you learn so much more warren location feeding routes etc plus you never really know whats going to jump up in front of you buy a good dog and welcome to the world of roughshooting enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 We walk with the combine during harvest and we also bolt and shoot warrens that are to hard to net during ferret season . Really good , but you have to use trusted guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wearborne Posted September 13, 2014 Report Share Posted September 13, 2014 I like to wander with the shottie and dogs one a morning or afternoon good fun, not about numbers for me just getting out on the fell. Mind bags of ten+ ain't unusual!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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