spandit Posted April 3, 2019 Report Share Posted April 3, 2019 Went for a wander with the little folding .410 just now. Took a shot at a running rabbit (warned him good!) but there was a baby rabbit obviously panicked that I could have shot at close range as it froze about 5m away. I let him be. I know shooting rabbits is about pest control but it just seemed wrong. Had I been out with a rifle I'd have had no qualms about blowing him to pieces with a CF, even though using an accurate scope equipped rifle at sub.50m range is hardly sporting either. What would you have done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason g Posted April 3, 2019 Report Share Posted April 3, 2019 Some may disagree but I'd of left it until later in the year at least hes bigger to eat 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted April 3, 2019 Report Share Posted April 3, 2019 I'd have left him. No sport in shooting kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted April 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2019 I suppose looking through a scope gives you a degree of separation. Glad I'm not alone in not pulling the trigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted April 3, 2019 Report Share Posted April 3, 2019 I leave em . Its just starting out it just seams so unfair . Besides it will be more sporting when he is bigger . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted April 5, 2019 Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 Depends. If there was a hundred in the field, breeding like mad, eating like horses, id of shot it. If only a few about, might sound daft and not right for the farmer, id of left it to breed or grow, for future sport. Which is wrong, but again, secures future shooting. I have no problem shooting young or old, if the problem is there ill deal with it, but also believe nature needs a balance and some to be left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted April 6, 2019 Report Share Posted April 6, 2019 Numbers seem to have picked up about round here in the last couple months, which is nice to see, I'd usually avoid the smaller ones but it seems if I don't shoot them the cat brings them home instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted April 10, 2019 Report Share Posted April 10, 2019 You did what you thought was right so no knocking you for that. One farm I shot on had hundreds in every field so anything that showed got shot regardless of size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted April 12, 2019 Report Share Posted April 12, 2019 A kit last week decided to keep me company for half and hour, was within 10 yards. I enjoyed his company and let him go after he became bored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossy410 Posted April 12, 2019 Report Share Posted April 12, 2019 If your shooting them for the land owner you probably should shoot it, I shoot all I come across as little ones soon become big ones and start digging up the paddocks that can cause our horses a lot of damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 12, 2019 Report Share Posted April 12, 2019 A woman who used to ask me to ferret and shoot rabbits on her land once told me she'd found a nest dug up by either a badger or fox or whatever, and there were two live small kittens in what remained of it. She confessed she'd taken them home to look after and was quite sad when they didn't survive the night! Once while out ferreting, one of my jills came to the surface with what I at first thought was a live mouse; it was the smallest rabbit I had ever seen in fur. It's a hard old world out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewluke Posted April 12, 2019 Report Share Posted April 12, 2019 On 03/04/2019 at 18:41, spandit said: Went for a wander with the little folding .410 just now. Took a shot at a running rabbit (warned him good!) but there was a baby rabbit obviously panicked that I could have shot at close range as it froze about 5m away. I let him be. I know shooting rabbits is about pest control but it just seemed wrong. Had I been out with a rifle I'd have had no qualms about blowing him to pieces with a CF, even though using an accurate scope equipped rifle at sub.50m range is hardly sporting either. What would you have done? follow your conscience and you will always feel happier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 13, 2019 Report Share Posted April 13, 2019 10 hours ago, andrewluke said: follow your conscience and you will always feel happier Yes. Whilst out shooting on our rough shoot many moons ago, I spied a little weasel lolling about the viaduct. As we had put down birds I fired a rushed shot and on closer inspection found it not to be dead but crippled, and as tiny as it was, defiantly snarling at my Border. I quickly finished it off but the guilt stayed with me for days. I'm not cut out to be a gamekeeper, although I kidded myself for a while I was. So it was with renewed horror that only last year or so I trapped in a Fenn ( what I was told was a rat problem ) the biggest polecat I have ever seen. That was to finish off also. I was distraught. Only last week the OH's mum gave me it's skull! She had put the carcass in her composting bin and found it a couple fo weeks ago. It is perfect apart from the hole left by the .22 pellet, thereby renewing my guilt! 🙁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted April 13, 2019 Report Share Posted April 13, 2019 (edited) I turned down a roe doe a couple of months back. I had just set off from the truck and turned the corner and there she was standing not more than 60m in front of me. I was there for deer but it would have been too easy. So I just watched as she did what she was doing then turned around and went somewhere else. Edited April 13, 2019 by oowee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 13, 2019 Report Share Posted April 13, 2019 (edited) A long time ago I was up at the crack and into one of our woods before the sun was up. I love being up and about when all others are still abed, and it is especially magical at this time of year and day, and I sat with my dog and my back against a tree and we listened to the wood wake up. It wasn't too long before I heard something moving slowly from my right, and in case it was a roe I didn't move my head but hoped whatever it was would slowly come into view, and after a while it did. Sure enough it was a buck, antlers bedraggled with velvet, and me and my Border just sat and watched. It was only about 50 yards away and knew something was there but couldn't make it out, and constantly bobbed its head as it tried to determine what we were. I was constantly expecting my Border to spook it but she didn't, she just sat there, and we both watched as it slowly grazed past us and out of view. When I looked at my dog she was shaking with adrenalin! 😀 I got up and slung my rifle and went on my way. Didn't shoot anything that morning. Edited April 13, 2019 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted April 13, 2019 Report Share Posted April 13, 2019 31 minutes ago, Scully said: A long time ago I was up at the crack and into one of our woods before the sun was up. I've being up and about when all others are still abed, and it is especially magical at this time of year and day, and I sat with my dog and my back against a tree and we listened to the wood wake up. It wasn't too long before I heard something moving slowly from my right, and in case it was a roe I didn't move my head but hoped whatever it was would slowly come into view, and after a while it did. Sure enough it was a buck, antlers bedraggled with velvet, and me and my Border just sat and watched. It was only about 50 yards away and knew something was there but couldn't make it out, and constantly bobbed its head as it tried to determine what we were. I was constantly expecting my Border to spook it but she didn't, she just sat there, and we both watched as it slowly grazed past us and out of view. When I looked at my dog she was shaking with adrenalin! 😀 I got up and slung my rifle and went on my way. Didn't shoot anything that morning. Magical. There is something special about hunting. Just the being there, the sight, the sound, the smell of the morning and being part of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewluke Posted April 13, 2019 Report Share Posted April 13, 2019 33 minutes ago, oowee said: Magical. There is something special about hunting. Just the being there, the sight, the sound, the smell of the morning and being part of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 13, 2019 Report Share Posted April 13, 2019 36 minutes ago, oowee said: Magical. There is something special about hunting. Just the being there, the sight, the sound, the smell of the morning and being part of life. Cheers. That should be ‘ I love being up and about....’! Bloody predictive text! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 14, 2019 Report Share Posted April 14, 2019 My clients are not interested in sentimentality, young or pregnant adults are a bonus. Pest control isn't about leaving anything to grow up and become a bigger pest. So called Sport shooting is down to the individual! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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