ElvisThePelvis Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 I'm hoping for some advice. This evening we will be shooting rabbits with .22LR however work commitments mean that daylight time will be limited. I would appreciate some hints on camping (we have walked the ground earlier and looked for back stops etc) as we haven't done this before the intention is that one person will hold the maglight and the other will shoot, we haven't bought specialist lamps. This is new ground to be and is quite a way from home but in understand that the Rabbits haven't been pressure and certainly not camped before. We will also have shotgun for bolting rabbits. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Once you pick up the eye shine, don't put the lamp directly on the rabbit, just close enough so that you can see it through the scope. Make really sure you are confident of your quarry ID and of your backstop. If you want to pick up the rabbits after shooting, do it sooner rather than later or you'll lose them - judging distances at night is quite difficult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Unless you just want the one, leave the shotgun in the vehicle - unless you're mobile and shooting from it - not recommended for beginners. This is not easy so expect your learning curve to be fairly flat to start with. With two, one lamping and one shooting, it's worth noting that very often the one with the torch can see what it's aiming at but because he's looking at a different angle, often the shooter can't. What is said about practice applies here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisThePelvis Posted January 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 ensure your mate only shines the light in the direction you can shoot. I have a mate who insists on shining the lamp all over the place, including his side of the vehicle, looking for rabbits. You can guarantee by the time he's said 'there's one over there mate', and steered into a position I can shoot from, it's gone. If you're shooting from the passenger seat, make sure the light is only shone on your side. Lamping for foxes is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Unless you just want the one, leave the shotgun in the vehicle - unless you're mobile and shooting from it - not recommended for beginners. This is not easy so expect your learning curve to be fairly flat to start with. With two, one lamping and one shooting, it's worth noting that very often the one with the torch can see what it's aiming at but because he's looking at a different angle, often the shooter can't. What is said about practice applies here. ensure your mate only shines the light in the direction you can shoot. I have a mate who insists on shining the lamp all over the place, including his side of the vehicle, looking for rabbits. You can guarantee by the time he's said 'there's one over there mate', and steered into a position I can shoot from, it's gone. If you're shooting from the passenger seat, make sure the light is only shone on your side. Lamping for foxes is different. Good advise from blokes that have done it. Many times we have had a situation where one person can see the target and the others can't. this is caused by the reflection of the light from minute water droplets in the air. a bit like fog. one time daughter was in the hilux cab and I was up on the back with the lamper and she said "why didn't you shoot. we could see it like daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 ensure your mate only shines the light in the direction you can shoot. I have a mate who insists on shining the lamp all over the place, including his side of the vehicle, looking for rabbits. You can guarantee by the time he's said 'there's one over there mate', and steered into a position I can shoot from, it's gone. If you're shooting from the passenger seat, make sure the light is only shone on your side. Lamping for foxes is different. Excellent advice, my buddy does exactly the same, winds me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 (edited) First get yourself a decent tent. Sorry lol. Pick a night when there's a gentle breeze and even a little drizzle, Rabbits love moist grass. Don't forget they don't drink from water bowls, ;-) Another tip, just to give you an idea of a rabbits eye view, lie on the ground and have a look around from a rabbits level. You'll see that everything in the sky line sticks out like a sore thumb, move and you may as well put a flashing lights on it. So think about your approach. Edited January 20, 2017 by Dougy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 (edited) It's always good advise to go out with someone experienced in lamping.If you don't know your ground inside out then I'd avoid lamping until you do.Its a whole diff ball game in the dark.As said before a good lamp man is just as important as the man behind the trigger,pulling the triggers the easy part.Your lamp man is critical,mine was brill just keeping rabbits and foxes in the outer ring of the lamp.He would spot them and them move the lamp to the left or right of the quarry and slowly filter in just so the quarry came into light and then gave me the nod.He never put the full beam on the quarry,just enough to identify for the shot. We never ever shot new ground without walking it in daylight first and sticking out reflective tape canes (just identifying areas of concern).We would then lamp over it a couple of nights (not shooting) just to see what activity we had. After a few reccies we would shoot it.It may seem like a lot of work but it's the difference between a couple of rabbits and a Ton. Lamping is great for big bags and we used to make the most come harvest covering loads of ground in the 4x4.You will soon move on to NV if your serious about doing a good job,but if in any doubt don't shoot it's very easy to become over competent.There have been times when we've been into a dozen foxes but only pulled the trigger on a couple.Easy shots all of them but only a couple where safe.Remember if you let one go one night it will only be a matter of time before you meet him again with a decent backstop.Be Safe and enjoy. Edited January 20, 2017 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisThePelvis Posted January 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Thanks Guys We will be on foot rather than in a vehicle and have taken the time to walk the ground a few times to know where back stops are etc, to be honest i think two sides of the ground will be shotgun only (vs .22RF) Some great advice here, off to put out some reflective tape out shortly Im not sure what to expect but the landowner called this morning mentioning the rabbit damage, even simply demonstrating willing is a 'win' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 (edited) Something that you will find out is that distance looks very different at night. It is a good idea to pace out how far it is from this gate to that gate ect so that you don't start taking outrange shots or more likely not to take shots that are well within range. The thing about standing out against the skyline is a very valid point. If you are walking start on the low ground and walk uphill.+ Look behind you and use hedges, woodland and contours of the land to conceal your movement bearing in mind the wind. If there is a Charlie about he will always work down the wind to scent you so by using the techniques you can close the distance down. I don't have the lamp on all of the time. I will stop, lamp then move 50 paces and then lamp again. This means that the battery lasts longer and there isn't so much disturbance. And it doesn't notice so much as to where you are going to. This is for the game and the odd nosey neighbour and the odd anti . You won't mis anything by doing this. Keep away from ditch and river banks because it is easy to get drawn close to the edge and loose your footing. Edited January 20, 2017 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 I almost feel like i was in the truck with some of these people,such good advice from guys who do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 20, 2017 Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Thanks Guys We will be on foot rather than in a vehicle and have taken the time to walk the ground a few times to know where back stops are etc, to be honest i think two sides of the ground will be shotgun only (vs .22RF) Some great advice here, off to put out some reflective tape out shortly Im not sure what to expect but the landowner called this morning mentioning the rabbit damage, even simply demonstrating willing is a 'win' Obviously, he's concerned. What will impress him even more than you being there is what you tell him regarding how many you've shot. I think the best tip so far is Dougy's ground level one. However, I hope this will help as well. Rabbits don't have too many 'cones' (which see colour) in their eyes but have a predominance of 'rods' which see movement. They can also sense vibrations. Therefore, keeping still has much going for it. Not to mention their hearing (ears by the way make a very handy range finding/hold over aid for long distance (with the 22 LR) work. If, as soon as is possible, you can locate a numbers hot spot and sit it out, possibly with a light-weight seat and bi/tripod, all being well, it shouldn't be too long before you can impress him with the numbers game. It really is a case of; softly, softly, catchee monkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisThePelvis Posted January 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2017 Excellent, thanks guys.. Not too many around although Very cold tonight, comments noted about distance and I see your point, it was difficult to get in range and covered a lot of ground. One unfortunate fox came well into shotgun range, but the rabbit score was only 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 Excellent, thanks guys.. Not too many around although Very cold tonight, comments noted about distance and I see your point, it was difficult to get in range and covered a lot of ground. One unfortunate fox came well into shotgun range, but the rabbit score was only 5 Nice one! Those 5 would have been 20+ by the summer. Last tip, - lights and bushels - tell the farmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) Not too good on frosty nights, it can get rather crunchy underfoot. I tend to use the long reach spanner for those nights. ;-) Edited January 21, 2017 by Dougy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 I always find rabbits are closer then you think on the lamp . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 Excellent, thanks guys.. Not too many around although Very cold tonight, comments noted about distance and I see your point, it was difficult to get in range and covered a lot of ground. One unfortunate fox came well into shotgun range, but the rabbit score was only 5 Good start there considering its so cold. Some experience in the bag too. With NV I like to put out markers to show the range and prefer to use air rifle rather than shotgun for those tricky spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 When I've gone lamping with a friend, one of us uses the lamp, and this is backed up by a scope mounted lamp. Once a target is picked up with the hand held lamp, the scope one is switched on and then the target (usually a Rabbit) is dispatched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 I always find rabbits are closer then you think on the lamp . Absolutely, it's a human physiological thing, we lose depth perception at night, as well as seeing in colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisThePelvis Posted January 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 Good start there considering its so cold. Some experience in the bag too. With NV I like to put out markers to show the range and prefer to use air rifle rather than shotgun for those tricky spots. Thanks, it was a still, clear .windless night and dipped to freezing or so when we packed up, would that be why we saw so few bunnies? Although I also took a quick look at first light this morning and saw nothing, I'm wondering whether this may be Oversold... it was still cold this morning though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 Obviously, he's concerned. What will impress him even more than you being there is what you tell him regarding how many you've shot. I think the best tip so far is Dougy's ground level one. However, I hope this will help as well. Rabbits don't have too many 'cones' (which see colour) in their eyes but have a predominance of 'rods' which see movement. They can also sense vibrations. Therefore, keeping still has much going for it. Not to mention their hearing (ears by the way make a very handy range finding/hold over aid for long distance (with the 22 LR) work. If, as soon as is possible, you can locate a numbers hot spot and sit it out, possibly with a light-weight seat and bi/tripod, all being well, it shouldn't be too long before you can impress him with the numbers game. It really is a case of; softly, softly, catchee monkey. Blimey, are they on general licence now too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 it is a learning curve mate just get out there and spend as much time as you can doing it. take in what you can by learning from your mistakes battery not charged, forgot ammo,too much noise, too much light etc etc. but most of all be safe and enjoy yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Heron Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Went on a farm on Friday night it was raining and sleeting this farm has loads of foxes we saw no foxes but loads of rabbits feeding in field wear we have never seen rabbits before I suppose the rule is there are no rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 One small tip in addition to the excellent ones above .. if it runs towards the hedge, play the beam in front of it and it is likely to stop rather than cross the beam, at least long enough for you to get the shot off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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