FRUSTRATING RABBITS

[millsy44 72]

Had a few hours spare today so decided on a trip out with the rifle, The farm i was at today is where i normally shoot pigeons and doves out of the barns, but its getting a bit tedious so i decided to venture over to the little spinny wood to have a go at some rabbits, I hardly ever walk this way but on the few times i have, ive never actually seen any of the bunnies, although from the first time i walked down here until now there has been a very large increase in signs of rabbit activity, i.e fresh diggings, foot prints in the snow, new holes and alot more runs, Ive sat here before (all day) without so much as a sighting of a rabbit, On the way to where i was planning on getting tucked in and waiting, i again saw fresh holes and large piles of droppings, got myself into the hedge row and pulled on my real tree face mask, From the first warren the distance is 30yards and from the second the distance is 37 yards, Quick few shots to check my holdover is right (spot on) right lets be patient,

Signs of activity

Two hours pass and still no sign, 3 hours 4 hours 5 hours and now im cold and its getting dark, I pack my things away frustrated As i get back to the farm i have a quick pop into the barns and fire my first shot of the day after 8 or so hours into a feral, closely followed by a second feral, Walking back to the car the bravest crow ive ever seen sits on the barn roof just looking at me from about 25yards away, so he bit the dust aswell with a fine placed head shot.

Call into the farm to see les, i asked him if the rabbits had been hammered over the years and if thats why they were shy, he told me im the first to have shooting permission on the land and they have never seen or heard a gun before, which makes things even worse!!

Here is a picture of my view from my hide to the warrens, first picture is 37 yards to the large trees, which has the main warren underneath it, second picture is 32 yards from me to the closer warren.

What can i be doing wrong!! lol im not to close, the wind was taking my scent away from them, i sit motionless, i dont use deodrant on my hunting clothes????

[psm 43]

Had a few hours spare today so decided on a trip out with the rifle, The farm i was at today is where i normally shoot pigeons and doves out of the barns, but its getting a bit tedious so i decided to venture over to the little spinny wood to have a go at some rabbits, I hardly ever walk this way but on the few times i have, ive never actually seen any of the bunnies, although from the first time i walked down here until now there has been a very large increase in signs of rabbit activity, i.e fresh diggings, foot prints in the snow, new holes and alot more runs, Ive sat here before (all day) without so much as a sighting of a rabbit, On the way to where i was planning on getting tucked in and waiting, i again saw fresh holes and large piles of droppings, got myself into the hedge row and pulled on my real tree face mask, From the first warren the distance is 30yards and from the second the distance is 37 yards, Quick few shots to check my holdover is right (spot on) right lets be patient,

Signs of activity

Two hours pass and still no sign, 3 hours 4 hours 5 hours and now im cold and its getting dark, I pack my things away frustrated As i get back to the farm i have a quick pop into the barns and fire my first shot of the day after 8 or so hours into a feral, closely followed by a second feral, Walking back to the car the bravest crow ive ever seen sits on the barn roof just looking at me from about 25yards away, so he bit the dust aswell with a fine placed head shot.

Call into the farm to see les, i asked him if the rabbits had been hammered over the years and if thats why they were shy, he told me im the first to have shooting permission on the land and they have never seen or heard a gun before, which makes things even worse!!

Here is a picture of my view from my hide to the warrens, first picture is 37 yards to the large trees, which has the main warren underneath it, second picture is 32 yards from me to the closer warren.

What can i be doing wrong!! lol im not to close, the wind was taking my scent away from them, i sit motionless, i dont use deodrant on my hunting clothes????

its too cold mate all the vegetation is frozen and they will be feeding right under the edges were its protected from cold and food as a better chance of not being as frozen as its sheltered, thats when they start eating the bark in the hedges coz theres not alot around to eat

[millsy44 72]

Never seen them before the snow and frosts started tho bud, august through untill now ive had the permission.

[fry 209]

when it was warm i would shoot at dusk but since the nights drew in it is lamping in the dark or blanking. dont know why but that is just how it panned out.

[bunnyboiler 1,053]

ive got permissions where you only see them in the day and others where you only see them at night do some reckying pop over different times off the day and night

[millsy44 72]

ive got permissions where you only see them in the day and others where you only see them at night do some reckying pop over different times off the day and night

The permission is 45 miles away lol hardly popping over haha ill just have to have a night time outing

[rossi_j 99]

Hey millsy good shooting with our featherd friends, unlucky with bugs and co.

I know shooting is your sport, but, have you considerd taking a mate with a ferret?, even if you only try one warren just to see if bugz is home, just a thaught, also it is a bit of fun

 

I personaly thoroughly enjoy hunting by any means (legaly ofcourse ).

 

Good write up mate, always nice to hear about what others are getting up to and seeing pics also.

I think a midnight mooch may come up trumps

.atb. .ste.

[millsy44 72]

Hey millsy good shooting with our featherd friends, unlucky with bugs and co.

I know shooting is your sport, but, have you considerd taking a mate with a ferret?, even if you only try one warren just to see if bugz is home, just a thaught, also it is a bit of fun

 

I personaly thoroughly enjoy hunting by any means (legaly ofcourse ).

 

Good write up mate, always nice to hear about what others are getting up to and seeing pics also.

I think a midnight mooch may come up trumps

.atb. .ste.

I have ferrets myself ste, i know the rabbits are living there, coz theres new holes every time i go up bud, It would be easy for me to take the ferrets and the shotgun and just bolt them and blast them, but i wanted a bit of a challenge lol

[rossi_j 99]

Hey millsy good shooting with our featherd friends, unlucky with bugs and co.

I know shooting is your sport, but, have you considerd taking a mate with a ferret?, even if you only try one warren just to see if bugz is home, just a thaught, also it is a bit of fun

 

I personaly thoroughly enjoy hunting by any means (legaly ofcourse ).

 

Good write up mate, always nice to hear about what others are getting up to and seeing pics also.

I think a midnight mooch may come up trumps

.atb. .ste.

I have ferrets myself ste, i know the rabbits are living there, coz theres new holes every time i go up bud, It would be easy for me to take the ferrets and the shotgun and just bolt them and blast them, but i wanted a bit of a challenge lol

 

Looks like you got yourself a challenge then millsy, best of luck with it, dont forget to let us know how you get on with them.

i think A lamp one nite is on the cards .

.atb. .ste.

Edited December 27, 2010 by rossi_j

[psm 43]

Hey millsy good shooting with our featherd friends, unlucky with bugs and co.

I know shooting is your sport, but, have you considerd taking a mate with a ferret?, even if you only try one warren just to see if bugz is home, just a thaught, also it is a bit of fun

 

I personaly thoroughly enjoy hunting by any means (legaly ofcourse ).

 

Good write up mate, always nice to hear about what others are getting up to and seeing pics also.

I think a midnight mooch may come up trumps

.atb. .ste.

I have ferrets myself ste, i know the rabbits are living there, coz theres new holes every time i go up bud, It would be easy for me to take the ferrets and the shotgun and just bolt them and blast them, but i wanted a bit of a challenge lol

 

Looks like you got yourself a challenge then millsy, best of luck with it, dont forget to let us know how you get on with them.

i think A lamp one nite is on the cards .

.atb. .ste.

they will come out into the field and dig for fresh shoots even in snow or frozen ground,but most will be under the edges feeding and wont venture out so makes it hard for shooting.when weathers better ill usually lay 30 yrds away from warren shoot 2-3 rabbits then move on to next warren and so on,,,you can get them as close up as a foot if you keep still

[davyt63 1,845]

hi buddy

if you havent already,try getting there about 2:30pm and get in to ya hide and wait. don't forget ya lamp at least this way you will only have a couple of hours to wait till dusk

 

they will be out when it gets dark,less threat to em

and they will be out in the field digging for shoots.in my experiance the only difference is you see less in the colder months,as they like to keep warm,cant blame em

but they have to come out to EAT!! & TOILET!! this is when ya strike!!

 

good luck buddy

 

regards

 

davy