Bunny Boppin at the cemy again

[Phantom 631]

I had planned on going down the graveyard this morning at first light

 

My alarm went off at 05:30 and I thought, hit the snooze and have another five mins then get up.

FIVE HOURS later I wake up with the sun shining, I'd hit the off instead of the snooze

 

So I thought bugger it I'll go up there this evening and see if I can bop some bunnies.

 

I arrived at the cemy at 17:00 ish. Had some very funny looks of a couple in the house across the road (I was in full DPM with a DPM gun slip!). I put up my sign on the gate warning people that I was there (should also help if the boys in the ARU show up!).

 

I went to the small secluded part and checked my zero at 30 paces, one shot pellet landed just in the 3/4inch black, made the adjustment and pellet took out the 10. Reloaded and put the pellet slap bang on the one in the centre of the 10 so I'm very happy with that

 

I took my tent poles in one hand and gun in other and made my way to the spot I had decided to make a small hide 35 yards away from a marker I had stuck in the ground yesterday. This not only markes the entrance to a warren but it also sits on top of a little mound of sandy soil that the bunnies seem to love to congregate before making their raids into the rest of the graveyard.

Almost all the run's eminate from this mound so I figure its got to be a good spot for sniping.

 

I got to the spot I was about to build my little hide and placed my gun on the floor and began to stick my tent poles in the ground. My DPM Poncho (my hide material) was in my lower leg pocket so I stood up and pulls the poncho out as I did, I caught a glips of a bunny happily digging away on the top of the mound, totally oblivious to my presance

 

I dropped my poncho on the ground and slowly got down on my knees, grabbed the S200 and lowered the pod legs. I had to move about 3 feet to the right to get a good clear line between the headstones. Once I had the view I settled and watched it scratching on the mound.

I placed the crosshair directly on the nappa behind its eye and slowly squeezed the trigger.

Phutt as the lead left the silencer, then instantainiously THWACK as the lead embeded itself in the bunnies head Ole bugs fell over kicked a couple of times then slowly his leg lowered.

I decided I would go recover bugs immediately. As I walked over two more over to the right hopped off into the hedgerow they didn't bolt when bunny went toes up and they were less than 3 yards away!

 

Next time I leave bunny where he falls and maybe pick off another one next time!

Anyhow, bunny back at my soon to be hide, I see the woodies taunting me, flying aound like they own the place, little featherd feckers, I'll get you one day!!

I get settled and begin my vigil.

The spot I chose has a good clear view up to the entrance to the warren and between headstones a fair amount of coverage towards the back of the cemy and to the right I have a fairly clear view to the other side of the yard so a decent all round view.

After a good 45 mins I saw a leaf move way past the marker I have laid out. I looked again and thought I saw the head of a bunny.

I moved the gun slightly and sure enough there's a young bunny Just the head, its ears were down and obscured by a headstone. The view I had of this head was a sliver of about 2 inches between the headstones but that was all that I needed

I drew the bolt back and slipped an AA field into the breach, slowly pushing the bolt home and locking it down. My finger found its way to the trigger as I placed the crosshairs a touch above the head of the young bunny. My finger squeazed the trigger gently and I saw the young un spring about a foot and a half in the air, landing nicely on rump then roling down the little mound, out of sight.

I looked around, there was no signs of any more bunnies so I went to recover it.

Got myself settled again and it got very dark very quickly due to clouds, it began to spit with rain and I got very, very cold so I decided to put my poncho on as I had a feeling it may hammer it down with rain. Much later I decides I'd go for a wander over to the part of the yard I did'nt have a clear view of due to a bush and the headstones. I couldn't believe it, there was at least 8 bunnies that I could see

I shouldered my S200 for a standing 25 yarder when all but one very young bunny decided something aint right and vanished like greased lightning

I quickly moved the crosshair over to the young un and squeezed, the kit dropped like a lead balloon and rolled over onto its side a couple of twitches and then I found out why the others hightailed it out so fast.

A fox emerged, grabbed the still twitching corpse and ran off into my verbal permission! Thieving little tw*t!! The cheek of it Still I don't mind! It was a lovely looking young fox. I just wish it had hung around for a portrait with the bunny in its mouth, that would have been very nice.

 

If the fox is there on a regular basis, it will help keep the bunnies out of the cemy, making my job much easier (or harder depending on how you look at it when it comes to the numbers).

If it helps keep em out of the cemy, then it will earn me good brownie points for the GC

 

I decided that as it was so cold and damp, I'd call it a night and walk home.

 

 

Phantom

[stealthy1 3,964]

Hey! A double murder tonight, well done

[Guest Scuba1]

Nice one Phantom and a great write up to boot.

 

Keep at em

 

Michael

[gazguildford 0]

This not only markes the entrance to a warren but it also sits on top of a little mound of sandy soil that the bunnies seem to love to congregate before making their raids into the rest of the graveyard.

 

i wonder whats under that mound? lol

 

when i make a hide i find if bunnies dont know your there neither do foxes leaving ur kill in place has proved best for me but the fox is always a risk but hey doesnt happen often

 

great pics and write up

[bedrock 16]

Nice one buddy good read

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

good shooting phant!

 

GET YOURSELF A WOODY, AND THATS A ORDER!

[Phantom 631]

Cheers guy's

 

Aaron, My remit aint for woodies but lets face it my permission slip DOES say PEST & VERMIN

 

But seriously, I dont want to risk losing it (its on a trial 3 months)

If I can knobble 2 bunnies a day then thats the future populus down by a possible 1,000,000 bunnies in a years time for each mating pair I've just come back from a boring Business seminar that lasted three hours so I'm not even gonna think of the math for 3 months!!

 

Phantom

[SEAN3513 7]

nice one phantom

 

just got myself a new "cemetry" permission aswell..............going to have look over the weekend !!!!!!

 

they demand "air rifles" and "trapping only".....as not to damaage any headstones !!!

 

so a drop box and pcp.....on the way!!

 

cheers

 

sean

[Phantom 631]

nice one phantom

they demand "air rifles" and "trapping only".....as not to damage any headstones !!!

 

so a drop box and pcp.....on the way!!

 

cheers

 

sean

 

 

Hey Sean congrats on the cemy, bet its at least 100% larger than mine

 

I told the guy from the Church I have some snares, we both agreed that they are not to be used though.

I am thinking about making some form of trap that I can leave overnight, but not sure how to go about it. I have a book somewhare (Modern Vermin Control) think there are some plans or diagrams in it. I dont have the cash to buy any traps.

I understand that they have to be checked at least once every 24 hours, but realistically I would be doing it at least every 12 hours.

What sort of trap do you use?

 

Phantom

[SEAN3513 7]

the cemy is about 15 acres !!!

 

i use a home made drop box

 

as the rabbits live in an adjacent field/hedge so i can set the trap in the run between cemy and field.

 

in the right place you can catch alot of rabbits in a short time.

 

the "law says to check traps at least once every 24 hours, but, like you, i think its good practice to check on a more regular basis.

 

have a look in the trapping section..."john b" has a book on trap making....and its excellent £15 posted (i think) a fraction of the cost of a trap and has step by step plans to make several designs....well worth it in my opinion.

 

hope that helps tony, pm if you need any help/advice........i hope i can help ????

 

cheers

 

sean

[zini 1,939]

Nice shooting Phantom. Thats 2 bunnies that wont be grave robbing tonight

[ferretville 69]

Good on ya phant keep at them FV.

[wuzzy 0]

very nice shooting and writeup there fella

[zak-s410 0]

nice shooting mate. like the look of tha s200

 

atb zak.

[Phantom 631]

nice shooting mate. like the look of tha s200

 

atb zak.

 

 

Hi Zak,

The S200 is as one person described it as a MARMITE gun, you either love it or hate it!

 

I have grown to love it but I still think its butt ugly especially the rear part of the stock!

 

Cheers

 

Phantom