Rabbits

[ShootingEgg]

I have just got some new ground, its full of rabbit.. I have been and looked round and have decided that air is the only safe option. My main concern is that it is an old chicken farm where the barns are now all lockups or work units, so there are gravel tracks everywhere.

 

I went down this evening and saw about 15 bunnies happily on one of the lawns between two units. Great I thought, bit of shooting to be had. Made my way to the corner of the unit. Got into place, lamp on.... Lawn empty. So I moved on round. But the gravel no matter how carefully i walked was noisey. I ended up getting one for the pot and then met a mate at the pub.

 

Any ideas on how i could get around the gravel issue, as need to get in range for a standard air rifle.

Edited December 14, 2016 by ShootingEgg

[happyshooter]

It sounds like this is a night vision ambush job ,get youself a nv scope from DaveG on here

then get in position just as darkness takes over i use a camping stool and tripod shooting sticks

and my nite site wolf nv on my fac ,.air ---.22 daystate airranger @37fpe,

you will have to do a lot of target shooting with the nv because ranging at night is difficult

unless you have nv laser range finder which are available on ebay

for bunnies on my small permissions i use my daystate huntsman .20 at 11.5 fpe which is good for out to

50 yds., .177 cal is good for nv shooting because of the flat trajectory .

atb brian

[ShootingEgg]

I have the ns200 and used it last night to good effect. But it was moon lit so quite light.

 

All good suggestions brian and i will try and do something along those lines at the weekend. Cheers.

[chrisjpainter]

I, like you have a noisy permission. Mine's not gravel, just very stony arable land, so moving softly is nigh on impossible. A thermos flask and an early pitch in an ambush site is about the best way to go. If you've got good relationships with the owners, they may tolerate semi-permanent hide positions going up. Build them out of stuff that's around so they can be removed quickly should the need develop; it also won't look out of place or like an eye-sore.

 

you might have to change shooting positions every few weeks as the survivors will learn where the threat is coming from!

atb

Chris

Edited December 15, 2016 by chrisjpainter

[timmytree]

Industrial units? The rabbits will be used to vehicles so drive around and shoot from the car.

[ShootingEgg]

Industrial units? The rabbits will be used to vehicles so drive around and shoot from the car.

You would think that but nope, first night I drove in I spooked the lot driving at about 5mph, let the truck practically drive itself in first.

[bumpy22]

something small that pushes them into nets

[ShootingEgg]

something small that pushes them into nets

Hahaha now where woukd I find them ha

[happyshooter]

I have the ns200 and used it last night to good effect. But it was moon lit so quite light.

 

All good suggestions brian and i will try and do something along those lines at the weekend. Cheers.

That's the way to go Shootingegg, I do most of my rabbit shooting at night

I was out last night with my hmr.17 rimfire with my NS-wolf on it in bright moonlight,

in a good ambush position near to a hedge in shadow so bagged x6, easy

shots out to 150 yds bunnies are mostly nocturnal feeders because its much safer

for them less predators around, apart from crafty humans with night vision gear!!!!

yes nv is the way to go ,so much fun as well!!!!

atb brian

ps, let us know how you get on!!1

[Mice!]

Hi, have you thought about using cage traps? Having a few in the traps could even encourage the others to come back out when you drive up, have a brew in the motor couple of shots empty the traps and away you go?

 

Mice 😁

[ShootingEgg]

Hi, have you thought about using cage traps? Having a few in the traps could even encourage the others to come back out when you drive up, have a brew in the motor couple of shots empty the traps and away you go?

 

Mice 😁

Never had much luck with traps.. May put one down see what happens.

[ShootingEgg]

Went out tonight, took the 17 instead of the air as had gone and walked the ground properly in the daytime. Was able to find two firing points that were safe. Bagged 9 in about 30 minutes so left the rest for another day.

[happyshooter]

Well Done SE, keep up the good work!!!!

atb brian