SurreySquireler Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 I have recently been seeing loads of bunnies out on one of my permissions were before we saw very few. I was wondering if there is a sustainable take rate per year from an area of X number of rabbits to ensure their survival; as on most of the permission we only shoot them for the pot. Also is there any way of assessing the size of a colony of rabbits to aid the calculation of the take rate? I do like having the rabbits around and they taste delicious but there is no need, and I don't want, to wipe them out totally otherwise there wont be any for the pot in years to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 If you are clearing them because of crop damage you have to clear them. If you are just shooting a few for the pot then you won't have much effect. Don't forget that at this time of year the larger ones will be either be tough stinky old bucks or milky does feeding young or pregnant with young. The smaller young starters are good tender eating. Fryed in the pan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Can you get hold of a thermal camera at all? Having a look at night normally gives you a better idea of how many are about. If your only taking a few for the pot so long as you don't shoot all the breeding does you should have plenty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurreySquireler Posted May 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 (edited) How do you tell between bucks and does? And no I am afraid I don't have access to a thermal camera although I am looking at getting into night vision in the near future Edited May 12, 2017 by SurreySquireler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Spend some time with binos watch the bucks chasing the does about, its not obvious but you will notice a difference, as fortune says if you've been asked to clear them that's what you try but if you can take what you want at leisure I would stick to half grown this time of year so you have plenty left for winter. You could just use a lamp but I mentioned the thermal from what I've seen on TV and people saying how great they are, plus no one knows your there 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurreySquireler Posted May 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 (edited) Ok thanks On most of this permission they do no harm really and we have not been asked to clear them as it is mature woodland, however on some of the arable fields then it is a bit different. I will try to spend so time just watching them, and will lay off them for a few weeks till the young ones are properly half grown- the other day I somehow manager to shoot 4 bucks (from different areas) by pure accident as I had no clue how to identify them at distance. Edited May 12, 2017 by SurreySquireler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 A good old lamp will give you a good idea of the numbers, as said if for the pot don't hammer them! atb 7diaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You could just use a lamp but I mentioned the thermal from what I've seen on TV and people saying how great they are, plus no one knows your there 😉 Someone I stalk with uses a thermal spotter, one good way to see what is about that binos dont see in some conditions, also he found it handy when he saw a buck, thermal scan also showed a group of walkers in the woodland behind it, so no shot taken. Normal binos did not pick up the group of people... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurreySquireler Posted May 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Ok thanks for the advice Is there any particular time of year when shooting them should be avoided? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Dont think there is, think that is purely down to your own preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 When we see a population get to a decent size myxi sets in and takes them out. If you have it anywhere where you are it might be good idea to take them whilst you can. Even a few left will provide some for the pot on a casual basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurreySquireler Posted May 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 yeah we had mexy a few years ago so I deliberately left any healthy rabbits I saw to help them re-establish, so mexy is definitely around. I thought the ones left would be resistant to it though, as otherwise they would have died. Well I was hoping that this would been a return to the big numbers seen previously as that really would provide lots of fun evenings out and many for the pot but is that not so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Does not seem to be around here Every time I see big numbers start to come they get knocked back again. Always a few seem to make it through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Someone I stalk with uses a thermal spotter, one good way to see what is about that binos dont see in some conditions, also he found it handy when he saw a buck, thermal scan also showed a group of walkers in the woodland behind it, so no shot taken. Normal binos did not pick up the group of people... We'll that's another good reason to get one, when the feo comes round another safety feature to mention, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 (edited) You don't need thermal cameras or night vision or any other sort of exotic and expensive stuff just have a mooch round and knock a few of the smaller medium sized ones over. There is a bit of a thing about rabbiting when there is an R in the month. the season for rabbits is the months which do contain R's in them. In the other months take young rabbits and not shoot the parents unless it is a clearance job. Edited re; Months/ do. Thanks to mice for correction promt. I think that it is correct now. Edited May 12, 2017 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You mean do have Rs in them, always used to say only ferret when there is an R in the month otherwise you'll be digging all day when the ferret lies up with the young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenj Posted May 13, 2017 Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 I usually shoot with a Magtech semi auto .22 rimfire, or a CZ HMR, but got a new permission on a large recreational park with rugby, cricket, archery and tennis courts, which meant that the Career 707 .22 PCP rifle had to come out of retirement, due to 24 hour public access. All these functions have wooden clubhouses, which provide the perfect refuge for the bunnies, that are ripping up the pitches. What with shooting, ferreting and mixy last year, I thought that we had seen the last of them, but blow me they are back again. So answering the OP, I'd say just keep popping away, you'll never get them all. My blog http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/shin-sung-career-707-22-rabbit-control/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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