ckbraider Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 Guys not really important but just something im interested in, how much does the weather affect rabbits ability to see hear smell people, for example where i shoot there is ususally a very strong wind blowing however it is near enough impossible to get within shooting range of a rabbit, however on sunday the wind was the normal but was pi$$ing down with rain unfortunatley we didnt take out the guns we just took the ferrets but we were honelstly walking to withing 10 yards of where the rabbits were and even when they did pick up on us they didnt seems to bolt they just casually hopped to safety, anyone else had this type of experience or can any one explain it regards ck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 Hi CK. Where I shoot the rabbits always act consistantly, irrespective of the Weather. During the summer months when there is a good deal of young about they appear to be very bold and will stand their ground until they almost know you are in range of a decent rifle shot. In the Winter they bolt like crazy the first sight of you. The Rabbits most potent defence is its uncanny hearing, followed by its sense of smell and eyesight. I try to move as quietly as possible when I am bunny hunting and always down wind, unless I am out with the dogs of course. I have known very hot weather make bunnies lethargic but not bad weather, and I have known rabbits to be very bold after rainstorms when they appear to feed freely. If you shoot a colony regulary or where there is public access for dog walking The rabbits will be quite bold but never venture too far from the bolt. I can walk round one of my shoots in the summer which is cattle pasture and the Jersey cows in the field will follow me around. They make great cover as the rabbits are used to them, sometimes I can get to within 15 yards of a bunny or less. Several times I have witnessed from a distance The rabbits reaction to a fox walking close by the warren The rabbits treat it with caution but they never seem to hot tail it. Its almost as if they know the fox by its conspicuousness is not in Hunting mode and they have nothing to fear. I wonder if they could detect that in Humans too??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckbraider Posted November 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 Cheers for the response FM, it was really strange as they are normally very alert it just seemed as if for some reason they were really lax. i could not think of any other factors that maybe affecting them except the fact it was very cold and wet, something was most certainly affecting their senses, at one point one moved from within a few feet and just casually hopped off to its hole, if i didnt know better i would have thought i could catch it with my hands!!!!! (really weird night) :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 When we dont take our guns with us it always happens, I'm sure they have a little laugh to themselves, and think you've got no chance without your gun mate. Take a gun and they are off like the clappers, do we underestimate their brain power sometimes I wounder? Or is evolution making them aware that if us humans are carrying a long thing in our hands then we are on the hunt, after all when a man has a long thing in his hand then he usually is hunting and has been for many thousands of years. I guess a little like when they know if the fox is on the hunt or not. oooo I starting to get a little deep there so i better go. The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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