Is it worth going rabbit shooting in the rain?

[Musketeer]

It rains everyday and I'm not getting out. Is it worth trying to shoot rabbits in the rain or do they hate rain too?

I can put on wet weather gear and I can dry and oil the rifle on my return, but what about the rabbits? Will they be about?

 

[Miki]

Not like on a sunny evening but they do get out and eat, around here they shelter in the hedgerow, early mornings are best at this time of year (I find).

 

[Musketeer]

Not like on a sunny evening but they do get out and eat, around here they shelter in the hedgerow, early mornings are best at this time of year (I find).

I was considering early morning, maybe that's the way forward...

Thanks for that.

 

[FISH BOY]

Ive found its quite slow in the rain in the PM.

Cant do AM with the HMR for annoying the locals.

 

[Musketeer]

Ive found its quite slow in the rain in the PM.

Cant do AM with the HMR for annoying the locals.

I use hmr as well, but I have no had any complaints over the noise. When I used it in the orchard, just outside the front room window, the landowner never heard it.

 

[paul o']

if you were a bunny would you go out and apart from having to nip out for a quick bite ,I would't ?? and thats what I have found they do but as soon as it stops they come up and good sport can be had . Its up to you at the end of the day as there be there when it dry's up next week lol

 

[Tim.243]

Ive found its quite slow in the rain in the PM.

Cant do AM with the HMR for annoying the locals.

Move.....








the locals lol


Tim.243

 

[Swedish]

I was given a piece of advice from a Cumbrian farmer over 30 years ago "If thou wants rabbits, thou wants a p!ssin' wet neet". His advice always held well!
They don't like wind though.

 

[FISH BOY]

I use hmr as well, but I have no had any complaints over the noise. When I used it in the orchard, just outside the front room window, the landowner never heard it.

Maybe im just paranoid but on 40 acres of open sports fields seems really loud...

 

[Miki]

17MHR is loud, the round is travelling faster than sound (supersonic) and the noise heard is mainly the travelling shockwave. The advantage is that you can shoot Mr and Mrs Wabbit from 150 to 200M away, I say 'you' as I still tend to creep up on them and have recently changed to a subsonic .22LR. Accurate and deadly at around 80M, 65 is better (and my zero) although it can still be humane @ longer ranges, my accuracy starts to wander over 100M so inside that is spot on. The main advantage is the lack of noise, as quiet as an air rifle, although I have gone a bit overboard with my moderator, currently using a DPT with vertex chamber and 2 additional baffles (which normally sits on my .22-250 chambered T3).

 

[Tim.243]

Maybe im just paranoid but on 40 acres of open sports fields seems really loud...

Yes.........

Tim.243

 

[FISH BOY]

17MHR is loud, the round is travelling faster than sound (supersonic) and the noise heard is mainly the travelling shockwave. The advantage is that you can shoot Mr and Mrs Wabbit from 150 to 200M away, I say 'you' as I still tend to creep up on them and have recently changed to a subsonic .22LR. Accurate and deadly at around 80M, 65 is better (and my zero) although it can still be humane @ longer ranges, my accuracy starts to wander over 100M so inside that is spot on. The main advantage is the lack of noise, as quiet as an air rifle, although I have gone a bit overboard with my moderator, currently using a DPT with vertex chamber and 2 additional baffles (which normally sits on my .22-250 chambered T3).

Agreed .22 is ace subsonic ( and I have one) but ground being sports fields is flatter than a pancake so just cannot be used unfortunately.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Is it worth trying to shoot rabbits in the rain or do they hate rain too?

I can't tell you how many more you might shoot in fine weather but I can assure you the only guarantee of not shooting any is if you opt to sit at home watching Strictly Come Dancing.

K

 

[scoby270]

Hi Musketeer,

Shot 4 on Wednesday morning, absolutely bucketing it down, all close to the laurel hedges, shot quite a lot after night time/ early morning rain, all on a golf course with 22 lr and cci subs up to 80 ish yards.

Regards scobydog

 

[Stevie/P]

22lr is a great rabbit rifle in the rite place and time perfect when the ground is nice and soft like now I’ve had some very scary moment when they hit something hard and go wizzing of into the unknown.

 

[Musketeer]

I can't tell you how many more you might shoot in fine weather but I can assure you the only guarantee of not shooting any is if you opt to sit at home watching Strictly Come Dancing.

K

I didn't stay home and watch Strictly Come Dancing, I did in fact go out for an hour. They were out!

It was steady rain but, I took thirteen shots and had thirteen bunnies in the bag. I will not shy away from rain again.

..................Now I have to dry the rifle

But I enjoyed the session and even the wife said I came home smiling.

 

[hedge hunter]

I lamp in the Yorkshire Dale's and the rain certainly doesn't put em of.but the little beggars wont bolt in the wind when ferreting. But I dont mind.get out an have a look

 

[foxhunter]

Had some of my best nights when it's been raining, rabbits dont mind too much.

 

[User00025]

Rain and wind pushes Wilfreds further out at night. Staying close to cover in wind and rain allows predators to stalk them.

 

[Musketeer]

Rain and wind pushes Wilfreds further out at night. Staying close to cover in wind and rain allows predators to stalk them.

Interesting, they were sat well out into the fields. I used a red torch to spot and was surprised how far out they were.