mr lee Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 We (shooting mate and me) had a call on saturday morning from the farmer on one of our shoots to ask if we knew anything about mixy as she had 2 rabbits that were slowly meandering round her garden and didn't look like they could see where they were going. Saturday afternoon we loaded up the van and headed over to the farm. We had literally pulled up outside her house and saw 1 rabbit stumbling past the barn doors very slowly. My mate jumped out and walked up to it and nodded at me with a grim look on his face. 30 seconds later it was put out of it's misery. We had a brief chat with the farmer and then got all geared up. It was about 5.30pm by now so we had little light initially to work with. Again, in minutes we came across our second rabbit with mixy and again walked right up to it and put it out of it's misery. We were informed most of the rabbits they had seen suffering were round the actual farm buildings but as yet they hadn't checked the fields. About an hour later we had scouted the farm outbuildings and started to make our way out onto the fields. We already had 3 laid to rest in the yard so were duly concerned as to what we would find in the field. We didn't have to wait too long as we instantly went to where we knew of 4 very active burrows. The whole area was very quiet. Something wasn't quite right. We slowly approached one of the burrows and saw 2 dead rabbits quite close to the entrance to the hole. Both had mixy. At the second area we saw nothing. Nothing at all. No fresh marks round the entrance or anything. The third and fourth had 5 and 9 rabbits all sat with little movement and when they did it was a clumsy short hop. We walked in and did what we had to to all those we saw. It didn't take much skill to put them out of their misery. No steady 'out at range' positive headshots. Just walk up and put the rifle to it and finish it. We had to head back to the van now for the lamp and an extra jacket as it was getting cold and dark. Lamp on and off we went again. We walked round the fields for over 4 hours and saw nothing at all! Back to the van. When we shoot at the farm we normally sleep over in the van and did so this time. A fire was built and food cooked. Once done we nipped back out again for a quick tour round the out buildings again. We only saw one rabbit and it was as close to death as it could possibly be. One pellet later it was done. Earlier we had placed all the carcasses in a pile to collect later for disposal so headed down to go get them. The fire was fueled up and the bodies thrown on top. We had been told they were also having issues with rats in one of the outbuildings they stored feed for the sheep in so nipped in there to check it out. Some poison had been laid previously by the farmer and we added some cat food as bait. We took up our positions and waited. Red filter on the lamp and regular checks. We didn't see any rats and we were both getting tired so decided to call it a night. This morning we were up at 6am and headed back round to the barn to check on the rats. The bait was still all there so left there assuming the poison had done the trick. Another quick wander round the farm looking for more rabbits only turned up one more kill. My mate had never actually seen the effects of mixy before and was quite saddened by how evil a disease it really was. Puffed up eyes, leaking white fluid from them, scabby blisters round the nose and eyes and total blindness. We spoke to the farmer prior to leaving and he thanked us for disposing of the carcasses and riding the mixy rabbits. Now I know we didn't get them all but we did have a decent impact on what we did see. This place is normally heaving with them. Now it was quiet. What I don't know is how long will it take for this disease to be fully rid and the rabbit population to be rebuilt. We do have fox shooting rights here so all is not lost from a shooters point of view. Pic below of one of the mixy'd rabbits. Also, for anybody who is curious, this area is just outside of Skipton. North Yorkshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted October 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 One of the others. Pretty sad to see them end life with this horrid disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weejohn Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 i have to agree with you mr lee, it is a terrible disease, the only good thing about it is when you are training up a lurcher pup they are great to start him off with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 Thats very kind of you to exert so much effort in euthanising suffering animals!! well done dudes!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted October 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 Thats very kind of you to exert so much effort in euthanising suffering animals!! well done dudes!!! It doesn't feel too good on my eyelids right now. Cream crackered now. We did it because we get on really well with the farmer and don't want to lose the shoot to someone else who will spend time to clear up any problems. Plus it's 'time out' from a hectic work and family schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 You have to preserve your permissions at all costs dude....good on ya!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyfox Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 its always worse at this time of year, but at least the rabbits population is growing by 2% each year because they getting immune to the disease. then every body can have rabbit stu again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted October 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 How long 'generally' does it take for mixy to clear and the rabbits to re-populate an area? I've never had it on my shoots before, just seen it on mates permissions. If it's a dumb commonly asked question then sorry but I am quite new to having to deal with mixamatosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyfox Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 I dont know I think if most of them die through the disease and predation the few that make it might be immune to it, and then their young will be immune. But i think its their to stay it will die down a bit later on but it will be back next year with the same affect. Its the bucks that spread it round thou, moving from warren to warren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted October 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 Cheers Dutyfox. Sounds like we may have a few late nights next year also. Got another late night coming up this coming weekend also. Back up there to see if there are any more and check on the rats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 A jog well done to you all. Very humane and hard job that was id say. Mxy is very bad this year, everywhere it seems, bad here too, i hate it. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robkmx Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 there was a lot of mixey around my end about 5 year ago but now the bunnys are growing strong agen but it did take a long time for them to recover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl50 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Well done mate,good job done, but IM surprised it with you so late in the season, I lost nearly all my bunny areas in Sept last year, they are still trying to recover but ill keep a look out now, you have posted on here Many thanks. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 on one of my farm's it is a fantastic rabbit shoot there is always more than enough rabbits to shoot but this year no sign of myxi but the rabbits have all but vanished there is pockets of rabbits but reluctant to take any as the numbers are so low .cant work out what has happend to them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 have you been overshooting them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted January 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 :blink: This has been dragged up. Seeing as it has i'll update though...we still have a very low number of rabbits about on that shoot. Probably only a dozen over the whole farm. Areas that were once awash with them is showing none at all still. The few rabbits that are still up there are in two new areas to where they used to be. Crows however are on there in force.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groach1234 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Had a similar problem with mixi on our farm in october as well its cleared now and the population is back on the increase and im on the harrogate side of york. George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groach1234 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) Double post sorry Edited January 5, 2010 by groach1234 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 We got mixy on our shoot, North East Lincolnshire, in October and it hasnt rcovered at all , lamping at night and theres nothing.... :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 we never over shoot them only take what is required and keep the numbers down in certain areas we never shoot more than we want .there fore leaveing plenty 14yrs shooting on this farm and this is the first time they have vanished to low numbers , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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