Millsy Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I`m probably going to get shot down in flames for asking this question, but is there a time of the year when you shouldn`t shoot rabbits, or a time when its frowned upon to shoot them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 there is no closed season but i personally don't shoot rabbits when you suspect they are milky Dow's or when they are carrying the young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larson Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 i will shoot alyear rpund as im expected to keep the numbers down, but i was ferreting today and dispatched 2/3 carring young. the ferreting wil soon have to stop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millsy Posted February 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Ok Larson & Russ, thanks for that. I take it rabbits only breed once a year then, & this is the time of year? Millsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davo Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 They don't stop at once a year!!! Hence the phrase breeding like Rabbits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaggyRS6 Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 I shoot all year round young and old alike. The numbers need to be kept down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits#Reproduction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salisburykeeper Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 the rabbits here have been breeding right the way through the winter, You can usually see signs that they are mating by tufts of fur out in the field this is from the bucks fighting for the females and its also from when the does get mounted where the buck sometimes holds on then spits a big clod of fur out and another sign is bedding being kicked out of burrows containing a lot of fur which the doe rabbit uses to line the nest from her belly fur and thins the fur out so the young can feed easier .I shoot them all year round but they get a bit of a break from the shots being fired at them this time of year as its no fun lying in wait with a rifle on a cold or wet day.(fine weather shooter) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerico Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 I shot a doe a couple of nights ago and she is carrying, the snake wont mind though! I supposed it depends if your shooting to protect the crops and eradicate them or if your shooting only for the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millsy Posted February 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 They don't stop at once a year!!! Hence the phrase breeding like Rabbits. Thats what I`ve always thought, but recently I started to doubt! Thanks for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnybasher07 Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 or to eat them ... i dont shoot them this time of year, mainly because there breeding GM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris simmo Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 i shoot all year round but slow down in spring and summer.you have to keep showing your face or lose permision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyjaimz Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 I supposed it depends if your shooting to protect the crops and eradicate them or if your shooting only for the sport. Exactly, as already stated, they pretty much breed all year round. If you want to maintain your future sport then give them a break now and then and dont shoot kittens or juniors. However, if you're doing crop protection for a farmer who wants to see results then the gloves have to come off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 We worked very hard on Sunday for a total of 12 scutails. 10 were bucks and the 2 does were carrying young and probably about to birth them. We would like to stop the season now as we have been seeing pregnant does for a few weeks but unfortunately we have obligations that need to be met or someone else will step into the breach LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipper Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 from my experiance, I find that now the weather is milder through the winter months the bunnys tend to breed prety mutch all year round, I dont enjoy shooting young or milky does but on some farms I would lose the permission if I did not, depends weather you are doing crop protection or casually controlling numbers. if you can leave them be to breed and supply you with some good numbers to controll after the main breeding season good luck kipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 under then guise of pest control we do take rabbits all year round at the moment. Lamping and ferreting stops very soon mind you...and once the crops get up...it becomes alot more harder.... If I only hunted for pleasure...then I would stop now until around november. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrelman Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 At what timne of the year is the rabbit population at its highest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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