Rabbitting

[Sol]

Perversely, I've got as much deer stalking as I want, yet no chance at rabbits. Weird, isn't it?

Unsure of others views but when I have the chance at deer I take it over everything else regarding field sports and fishing, and my main species being roe then reds later into the year Its a bit tedious! there's never really a free day besides honestly April but I'd still rather shoot some velvet meat bucks most days.

We have the ability too fish, shoot rabbits, hares, crows, pigeons, pheasant, geese, and maybe wiggle a day for mallard shooting but Its hard too justify.

TBF I dont think I can legally shoot estuary without a shotgun certificate last I researched so it would be a sit and watch experience regardless.

 

[Nickb]

I will get work harder!

Out of interest im keen to known what sort of ranges others shoot at on there rabbit permissions.

This paddock is good in the sense that the rabbits are used to noise and movement for the horses so I can disengage stealth mode and just flaunt around as I please.

Closest shots were two at 11 yrds and on this occasion the longest was 66yrds with the .22lr

Other permissions I have to shoot them with a centerfire as they are very wary now after years of shooting them.

Here is a Pic of one of the hedgerows they have dug into to.
View attachment 471983

I only use the HMR these days , my .22lr is now redundant.

I would say most shots are around the 80 yd mark but obviously some closer and sometimes knock a few over around 120 yds mark. Don't need to use a centrefire thank God.

 

[Brittany boy]

Out tonight knocked over 9 in three hours, plenty to be seen but there was no wind. Range was 31 - 82 yards. Not as many as this time last year but hopefully things will get going.

 

[Nickb]

Haven't been out on the bunnies since I started this thread so thought I better make an effort.

Tonight saw me visiting my old mate who owns a few fields and his neighbours own a few which have a few rabbits about and want them gone.

I was armed with my HMR and my mate had his .22lr

We popped out before dark and shot 11 with me taking one at 143 yds off sticks.

When darkness landed I knew there wouldn't be much about with the full moon and no wind at all.

Ended on 20 with 1 not picked which kicked itself down a hole.

My mate shot a rabbit at 101 yds with the. 22lr so chuffed with that.

Enjoyable evening

 

[desperate dan]

No pics from thos afternoons disaster, checked zero and went for a wander, and promptly missed the first 2 shots over the top, over estimated range i thought, back to the truck fudge about for the range finder, back off, missed the next over the top, not good! Back to the make shift range, struggling to even get a decent group at 50 yds, gave up and came home, not sure what's happened, more investigation required

 

[finbar]

Last nights efforts no many big ones about plenty of lil grass eaters
17 hornet home loads 20 grain hollow point bit messy but this culling
Nothing wasted call birds & ferrets fed with what a shoot

 

[WalkedUp]

Lovely. I was out last night after foxes. None showed so by 0100 temptation got in the way and so I thinned a few more rabbits. There were plenty out. I stalked into a hare in the ancient woodland and then watched a little owl hunting voles in the uncut silage which was another highlight of a nice evening under the stars (once the cloud cleared).

 

[Sol]

I dont know what happened but last night I must of seen upwards of 10 rabbits instead of the usual 50 hares, a really nice sight!

 

[Storcky]

Couple of hours this afternoon in the sunshine, small ones as shown by size of the 10 shot magazine, all taken at 65/85 yards with two MIA.

 

[WalkedUp]

Went to check zero on my .308” ahead of a midweek stalk and thought I’d quickly knock off a few rabbits afterwards as it didn’t need fettling. Blew my chance on the best field trying to get onto a ghost fox… vanished. Finished with four, could have been more. Nice evening nonetheless, forgot my rabbit carrier so ended up covered in blood… I had a shower before I went shooting as I’d been in the hot sun all day. Will need a third before bed now ffs.

 

[Storcky]

You think you've been doing well.....and along comes......🫪

 

[finbar]

My efforts last Sunday did shoot a good few very few small ones but left for the wild life
In my part of the world looks like the humble rabbit doing well

 

[shakey jake]

Whats happened to nick?

 

[Dave-G]

4WD rabbit "stalking" Hope for other disabled maybe.

 

[k760]

Where are all the rabbits hiding in West Sussex? I shot my permission in Herefordshire a couple of months ago and the place is still riddled. You find squished rabbits all over the roads. Yet around here the only thing you find on the road being pecked at are pheasants. In fact, the lack of small mammals, save for the badger, is very surprising. Is it mixi, some other virus (I forget the latest one that seems to wipe them out in an instance)? I do occasionally see some on the south downs way but other than that, it's a mystery!