Lamping rabbits

[liongeorge 7]

What weather conditions do you guys find to get best results lamping rabbits. Am going over a new permision witha mates Mule taking the .22 and the.243 incase we see charly but the main aim is to get the rabbits down. Want to go anytime in the next week and with clear evenings as well as light rain/cloud forcast didn't know whether it was best to go when it was cloudy/wet or clear.

Any advice appretiated.

 

cheers George

 

PS Is it best to go just after dark or later in the night?

Edited September 8, 2010 by liongeorge

[IanB 0]

Let them settle a few hours after dark, a nice dark, windy night with a little drizzle or rain is ideal conditions...

[dave1372 83]

Sounds good to me

[The one 8,530]

I think it depends what the days been like if its a good day and wet at night we dont seem to see a lot

[Colster 1]

Weather can play a part but if there's rabbits there you'd be unlikely to come back empty handed. Ideal conditions would be early moon (i.e. not full), dense cloud (keep it as dark as possible) and a light wind (enough to disrupt their hearing but not enough to start making the bullets wander).

 

More important is having a lamp man who know's what he's doing. Some will like to turn the light off while you get out to shoot (if you're in the passenger seat rather than standing on the back), this works fine unless you're silhouetted when you get out, then the best option is to keep the light on as the rabbit can't see past it.

 

If you're on foot then I'd pretty much always say leave the light on once you've spotted one as he will probably hear you coming but it won't spook him enough to run as long as he can't see you.

 

I only find rain makes a difference in the height of winter, rabbits will avoid getting wet when it's very cold as it takes them a long time to get warm again when they're soaked. They'll even starve themselves for an evening or two to avoid it. If it's been raining for a few days straight and then you get a clear day, you'll often see them out in the middle of the day in the winter.

[kingnewport 19]

i find it doesnt matter what the conditions are

[liongeorge 7]

Cheers guys. Tomorow night looks good with cloud ,possible light rain.

We've taken the windsceen out of the mule and put a bar across so we can shoot straight out the front. We've got my mates land and the next door farm which is my permision to do. Its nearly all to stubble and about 800 acres in all.Will be a late one.

Will let you know how it goes.