minghis Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Went out last night to a permission for my usual wander around but saw just a handful of rabbits and ended up with just 3 - usually it would be at least a dozen. It was warm, just about to get dark and it was almost like they were all staying in as it was too hot outside. I wondered if someone had been out dog walking or similar and I arrived just after they had gone, but it is unusual to see anyone there as it's quite remote and the landowner has put all manner of signs and gates up. Question is - where were they? Too hot? Spooked already? Just a bad night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 hello, am finding same thing, no public to scare them just no rabbits yet last year were plenty. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Maybe its the usual dozen? I usually take just a couple or if there are some for the farmers a max of 6. On my perms I have to manage the harvest and spread the shooting about to maintain numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footu Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 I've not taken any in last 3 outings to my perm, last april2015 had 21 in an hour and a half. Breeding cycle, virus and foxes being the culprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Not to mention shooting them by the dozen in their breeding season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 RHD There is now a Stage Two of this which is killing dozens of tame rabbits down in the south of the country. When RHD first appeared some 15yrs ago, I could have guaranteed at least 40 to 50 in the basket on the ATV after a night out. Overnight they vanished, all but a few young but apparently this new mutation kills the lot, young and old. They die underground so bodies are rarely found. I was asked by a researcher in Cambridge to try and recover bodies from the original outbreak and ship them to him but I could not find any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Not to mention shooting them by the dozen in their breeding season. Get the same thing every year, people shooting rabbits throughout the summer and then wonder why there are no rabbits left.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 have to agree that when some people get carried away and shoot every rabbit they see due to being trigger happy , then what do you expect,, please note, its called PEST CONTROL !!!!!, yes its ok to take a couple but shooting everyone you see is only gonna cause one thing,,,and that is no rabbits left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 A bit early yet for shipyard fortnight. Maybe they got a cheap week away camping using the vouchers printed in the Sun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Went out last night with the conditions the same as Sunday. Nothing at all was moving. Chatted to the farmer on the way out and we put it down to the heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minghis Posted July 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) Some of you all think a dozen rabbits is too many, without knowing how many acres it is, how often I go there and how much of a problem the rabbits are causing. I had no idea there were so many clairvoyants here but you learn something every day. Let me know when I'm going there next and if it will be worth it, I'll then know how late home I'll be. ;-) Edited July 19, 2016 by minghis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 If this hot spell keeps up for any length of time we'll probably see some myxy come the autumn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Just my opinion but VHD, VHD1? I , along with the farmers would be happy not to see rabbits on some of the ground I shoot due to the massive amount of damage they cause. Despite Myxi I shot in excess of 300 in 6 outings on one farm (circa 400 acres) and there are still loads more, just lacking in time at the moment due to other shooting and work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Full moon. Predators, like owls, taking full advantage of it 24/7 because they have young to feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Went out last night to a permission for my usual wander around but saw just a handful of rabbits and ended up with just 3 - usually it would be at least a dozen. It was warm, just about to get dark and it was almost like they were all staying in as it was too hot outside. I wondered if someone had been out dog walking or similar and I arrived just after they had gone, but it is unusual to see anyone there as it's quite remote and the landowner has put all manner of signs and gates up. Question is - where were they? Too hot? Spooked already? Just a bad night? One of my fav spots dried up 12 months back gutted wish they would return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Full moons are a pain for me. Even if there is cloud, they don't come out. Foxes don't seem to bother coming out to play either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Full moons are a pain for me. Even if there is cloud, they don't come out. Foxes don't seem to bother coming out to play either. I have had some good nights on the foxes with a full moon out and not a cloud in the sky. Just need to keep movement to a minimum if they are close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 I have had some good nights on the foxes with a full moon out and not a cloud in the sky. Just need to keep movement to a minimum if they are close. Can I come out with you then? I have more luck moving (walking), rather than sitting. Always ready to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 We used to have a significant problem on both our farms, I've found over the last two years HD disease has all but wipe out the population. Odd adults and a few young that soon just seem to vanish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Can I come out with you then? I have more luck moving (walking), rather than sitting. Always ready to learn. Of course you can come out with me mate but I am not sure if mid wales will let you in or not being from down south Not sure if my response was clear. 95% of my shooting involves walking as well. The comment about staying still was if I have spotted a fox when its a full moon. Given how light it is you have to be a bit more careful getting ready to take the shot or close the distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Of course you can come out with me mate but I am not sure if mid wales will let you in or not being from down south Not sure if my response was clear. 95% of my shooting involves walking as well. The comment about staying still was if I have spotted a fox when its a full moon. Given how light it is you have to be a bit more careful getting ready to take the shot or close the distance. Ah, no time for foreigners then? Will me being a Jock be a bigger issue then? Actually I think I get less grief than folks 50 miles apart give each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 It will be OK as long as you don't wear a skirt....oops I mean kilt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted August 1, 2016 Report Share Posted August 1, 2016 I had the same thing maybe 8 years ago, rabbits vanished over a period of a few weeks. Not shot a single rabbit myself in 2 years. VHD is the main cause any survivirs being picked off by Buzzards and Kites. A drive a lot at night, maybe 3 /4 evenings a week over a 70 miles radius, to see a dead rabbit on the road these days is rarer than dead foxes. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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