Summer shooting.

[Ideation 8,216]

Before i start, this is not a dig at anyone in particular. But it seems that during the winter months, the number of hunting tales are few, and usually come from the same small group of people. Now that the summer is under way, we will see a massive rise in posts, mostly about shooting rabbit kits in the evening sun (easiest quarry there can be). I know that folk always defend it saying it's 'strictly pest control' and they need to remove all the problem rabbits etc. But knocking off a couple of bunnys a week, is hardly pest control. Is it just because most folk on here static shoot, and lying on the ground still, is not very pleasant on a cold day? Or are folk using other methods over winter and just using the air gun to mop up? Or is it just cos it's much easier?

[poacher3161 1,766]

Funny i was just thinking the same.Maybe their like some fishermen only fish in fine weather lol.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

I have been shooting quarry since middle of January. So I do not think I am a fairweather shooter! You can get over the lying on the ground thing quite easily by using one of those camping sleeping mats, put green side up and lay on it, stops cold and damp strike through! I shoot kits as I was allowed onto the permission to shoot vermin, but I leave the stoats alone as they are also doing this and my permission holder does not rear game birds for shootign!So I justify my hunting as a food source and pest control!

[Ideation 8,216]

I have been shooting quarry since middle of January. So I do not think I am a fairweather shooter! You can get over the lying on the ground thing quite easily by using one of those camping sleeping mats, put green side up and lay on it, stops cold and damp strike through! I shoot kits as I was allowed onto the permission to shoot vermin, but I leave the stoats alone as they are also doing this and my permission holder does not rear game birds for shootign!So I justify my hunting as a food source and pest control!

 

 

It wasn't a dig at anyone in particular, like i said. I just always find it odd that people consider knocking the odd bunny over 'pest control'. Obviously rabbits are a pest and so killing any rabbit is going part way to controlling the pests, but realisticly, at the rate they breed etc, ,using an air rifle, knocking the odd kit , or even bagging a number, throughout the spring/summer months, is not controlling the rabbits on a farm. It's amusing yourself with a bit of target practice and bumps the bag up.

 

This section always seems to flood with summertime posts of shot couple of week old kits, but there are no where near as many posts during the winter of folk dropping the adults and other game. Are they being 'controlled' through other means then? Or other people?

[77 si 21]

I have noticed that aswell , I tend to do a lot more walking around lamping over the winter as it goes darker a lot earlier, And tend to do a lot more static shooting in the warmer dryer months . But I am hunting all year round.

[Born Hunter 17,798]

Your right in what you say and all too often people use the excuse of 'pest control' to shoot in the summer months.

 

My situation is this, im out from late September to late Feburary ferreting and lamping, and I try to make as much of an impact as possible but as soon as the kits are about I call it for the season. Now then, already Ive had phone calls off of the shoot captain on one of my permissions asking for me to get some more ferreting done as the rabbits are showing in numbers! I wont ferret this time of year as I dont find it very productive and generally its a right ball ache, trying to catch half grown rabbits and getting stung to shit etc etc. Shooting is my only option and so to keep the shoot captains faith in me I have to make the effort year round. My permission is too large to get maximum results on my own solely in the winter months and they wont have anyone but me (and those I vouch for) rabbiting on there. I dont like orphaning kits or killing during the breeding season and every milky doe I shoot genuinely leaves me with a bitter taste on the walk back to my car.

 

If I had more freedom to control the rabbits at my own rate on my permissions all I would take this time of year would be a couple a week just to keep the ferrets in fresh meat, and that I do have a clear conscience about!

[secretagentmole 1,701]

There are kits all over the shop on my permission! I have been told to shoot all rabbits whatever the size, but I will not shoot kits when I see the stoats are ambushing them! Great fun watching that, stoat kit vs rabbit kit! WWE meets All Creatures Great and Small! Fantastic to see them!

[Lab 10,979]

Before i start, this is not a dig at anyone in particular. But it seems that during the winter months, the number of hunting tales are few, and usually come from the same small group of people. Now that the summer is under way, we will see a massive rise in posts, mostly about shooting rabbit kits in the evening sun (easiest quarry there can be). I know that folk always defend it saying it's 'strictly pest control' and they need to remove all the problem rabbits etc. But knocking off a couple of bunnys a week, is hardly pest control. Is it just because most folk on here static shoot, and lying on the ground still, is not very pleasant on a cold day? Or are folk using other methods over winter and just using the air gun to mop up? Or is it just cos it's much easier?

I hope your not going to be this grumpy tomorrow?...........

[Ideation 8,216]

Some very good points. For me it is as Born Hunter says - i ferret etc throughout the winter months very very intensivly - usually 4 full days a week, and then the rest a couple hours each day, and if a days ferreting is not possible its lamping (often as well rather than instead of). The only call for shooting is ti either cull the population in an area which cannot be targeted by other methods or to show a face and prescence and mop up a few visibly so that the land owner gets the impression that something is being done.

 

At the end of the day however, if you have any kind of rabbit problem in an area, trying to control those rabbits properly using solely or mainly daytime air rifle hunting is a bit of a joke and about as effective as pissing into the wind. This goes for controlling ANY kind of pest.

 

Also when farmers get arsey in the spring / summer because they 'say' there are rabbits suddenly everywhere, it is usually only because the weather is a bit warmer, and so rabbits are beginning to sit out in the eve rather than skulking about cover, and the kits are too dumb to run.. . . .. . .orrrrrrrr it's cos someone did a piss poor job during the winter! Your never going to get rid of ALL the rabbits, but if the job was done well in winter, come spring / summer, it should be VERY noticable how well a job has been done.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

I do agree that one location prone position shooting is a blasted site easier than stalking, but not as much fun! I had an epic stalk for my last bun! The rabbits are not ferretable on my permission, as most of the warren entrances are in about 5 foot of brambles, which are armed to the teeth with ruddy spines. Some muppet has had a go with home made snares/traps (photo on my post). Do not think they were over effective, look at the design!

Edited March 28, 2011 by secretagentmole

[Ideation 8,216]

Before i start, this is not a dig at anyone in particular. But it seems that during the winter months, the number of hunting tales are few, and usually come from the same small group of people. Now that the summer is under way, we will see a massive rise in posts, mostly about shooting rabbit kits in the evening sun (easiest quarry there can be). I know that folk always defend it saying it's 'strictly pest control' and they need to remove all the problem rabbits etc. But knocking off a couple of bunnys a week, is hardly pest control. Is it just because most folk on here static shoot, and lying on the ground still, is not very pleasant on a cold day? Or are folk using other methods over winter and just using the air gun to mop up? Or is it just cos it's much easier?

I hope your not going to be this grumpy tomorrow?...........

 

 

How'd you know bout tomo? Moi, grumpy ?

[Lab 10,979]

Before i start, this is not a dig at anyone in particular. But it seems that during the winter months, the number of hunting tales are few, and usually come from the same small group of people. Now that the summer is under way, we will see a massive rise in posts, mostly about shooting rabbit kits in the evening sun (easiest quarry there can be). I know that folk always defend it saying it's 'strictly pest control' and they need to remove all the problem rabbits etc. But knocking off a couple of bunnys a week, is hardly pest control. Is it just because most folk on here static shoot, and lying on the ground still, is not very pleasant on a cold day? Or are folk using other methods over winter and just using the air gun to mop up? Or is it just cos it's much easier?

I hope your not going to be this grumpy tomorrow?...........

 

 

How'd you know bout tomo? Moi, grumpy ?

When your bored you look for things to do........... I think the number of years on the planet has been altered though, either that you will be getting your telegram from the queen........

[Born Hunter 17,798]

Some very good points. For me it is as Born Hunter says - i ferret etc throughout the winter months very very intensivly - usually 4 full days a week, and then the rest a couple hours each day, and if a days ferreting is not possible its lamping (often as well rather than instead of). The only call for shooting is ti either cull the population in an area which cannot be targeted by other methods or to show a face and prescence and mop up a few visibly so that the land owner gets the impression that something is being done.

 

At the end of the day however, if you have any kind of rabbit problem in an area, trying to control those rabbits properly using solely or mainly daytime air rifle hunting is a bit of a joke and about as effective as pissing into the wind. This goes for controlling ANY kind of pest.

 

Also when farmers get arsey in the spring / summer because they 'say' there are rabbits suddenly everywhere, it is usually only because the weather is a bit warmer, and so rabbits are beginning to sit out in the eve rather than skulking about cover, and the kits are too dumb to run.. . . .. . .orrrrrrrr it's cos someone did a piss poor job during the winter! Your never going to get rid of ALL the rabbits, but if the job was done well in winter, come spring / summer, it should be VERY noticable how well a job has been done.

 

Agree entirely

[pianoman 3,587]

I am an enthusiastic air rifle shooter and hunter who hunts rabbits, among other vermin. I shoot as often as I can which is not often enough!

 

I am not a pest controller nor would I ever regard myself as such.

 

 

But I just love the hunt. The precise kill. The well-placed accurate shot, The humane, instant despatch. That's what I'm out for.

 

I want to see healthy rabbits in numbers and other vermin on my shoot. Not a landscape cleared and void of them! So I will happily shoot foxes, stoats, weazles, mink or anything else that takes them as a bonus. If I find poachers traps or snares, as in the past, I destroy them. I do not shoot the babies or kitts because I want them nicely grown and in my reticle in the autumn.

 

I shoot huge numbers in the course of a year and my landowner mate is more than happy with what I do and that's how I do it. Whether I am out in rain or shine, dusk or dawn is neither here nor there.

 

As long as they are where I am, where they are

 

 

Simon

Edited March 28, 2011 by pianoman

[stealthy1 3,964]

I'll be back on here in the Summer