fry 209 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 No-one said it was meant to be easy, if it was then it wouldn't be any fun! The fieldcraft to stalk up to a rabbit takes a lot of effort and trial and error to acquire. You can't just expect to pick up a gun, wander into a field and shoot a load of bunnies (unless you're very lucky and find a place where they've not seen much human interaction). For a beginner, the best bet is to find a place near a known warren, downwind, and lie up before the time that they will normally come out. Bunnies in general are crepuscular (meaning they prefer twilight at both ends of the day to come out and feed) so getting there very early in the morning and being ready and waiting at sun up, or late in the afternoon and waiting for dusk, often pay dividends. You still need to pay attention to how you get into position, so you don't leave a smear of your scent over the area that can cause them to go heads down. Cammo isn't the be all and end all, if you use natural cover properly and keep your movements slow and natural, then bunny doesn't care if you're wearing the latest all singing all dancing realtree all in one suit or a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I've used both and had good, and bad days with both. The most important thing is to run several tins of pellets through the rifle. Confidence that when a shot finaly does arise (and it will) you will be able to make it will help you with everything else, and will ensure a good clean kill. Lamping is an option, but it brings with it a whole new set of challenges. Not least, with an air rifle, the challenge of range estimation at night. If you can set up with the lamp so that buggs will appear at a known distance then you make your job far easier. If not, then a laser range finder can be of use, or just spend a few nights going out and estimating ranges until you can get it fairly accurate. Good luck, and don't give up! yeah what he said they dont see you if you dont move lie down as far away from where they appear as your zero distance and just wait. Quote Link to post
vizlauk 1,568 Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Thanks for the replys, some good tips coming my way, im thinking an early morning, before sunrise, laying & waiting on the clever sods, I will let you all know how I get on, on my next ventre out, it does knock your neck in when you go out expecting a good night & wander around all night looking for a shot, a least im managing to shoot a few woodies to keep my intrest, I will just have to keep trying, keep the tips coming, cheers Viz Quote Link to post
matt_hooks 188 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 wander around all night looking for a shot There's your problem! Find a good spot, get nice and warm and comfy and then stay there. 45 minutes isn't that long, I've sat and waited for two and three hours before, it often pays off and if not you get to see the countryside in a completely different light, especially in the early mornings as the world wakes up around you. Quote Link to post
Marksman 934 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Take me with you and I'll see if I can give you some pointers.... we live in the same place Darryl Edited July 19, 2011 by Marksman Quote Link to post
RatSniper 19 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Or get your self a rimfire.... Quote Link to post
vizlauk 1,568 Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Take me with you and I'll see if I can give you some pointers.... we live in the same place Darryl Pm sent mate, I'm up for a look up there or anywhere else you might want to go, I need to get some rabbits bagged mate, you must have a freezer full now ! Quote Link to post
Marksman 934 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Take me with you and I'll see if I can give you some pointers.... we live in the same place Darryl Pm sent mate, I'm up for a look up there or anywhere else you might want to go, I need to get some rabbits bagged mate, you must have a freezer full now ! Not quite mate....still room for a few more yet ;) Darryl Edited July 19, 2011 by Marksman Quote Link to post
The Duncan 802 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Anyone got any tip's on shy rabbits, On my permission you can not get within 120 yards of a rabbit, as soon as you lay eyes on 1, that's it they go to ground, I have on many occasions found good hiding places to wait on them to come back out into the open, but they must be aware that im around, As they dont seem to come back out, even after 30 - 45 minutes, it's getting to the stage that im thinking of packing in, or at the very least wait until the crops are cut, as it seems a waste of time going out, the other option im thinking about is setting some snares, but thats taking away the reason for having the s410 ! Each time I go onto my permission the rabbit are about, There some that are very good sizes, I just need some advive on getting a good shot at them ! What time of day are you going out matey? Good tips already given though - a shame you're not a couple of hundred miles closer! Cheers Duncan Quote Link to post
The Duncan 802 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Take me with you and I'll see if I can give you some pointers.... we live in the same place Darryl Pm sent mate, I'm up for a look up there or anywhere else you might want to go, I need to get some rabbits bagged mate, you must have a freezer full now ! Not quite mate....still room for a few more yet ;) Darryl Don't you butcher them lol? Quote Link to post
vizlauk 1,568 Posted July 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Anyone got any tip's on shy rabbits, On my permission you can not get within 120 yards of a rabbit, as soon as you lay eyes on 1, that's it they go to ground, I have on many occasions found good hiding places to wait on them to come back out into the open, but they must be aware that im around, As they dont seem to come back out, even after 30 - 45 minutes, it's getting to the stage that im thinking of packing in, or at the very least wait until the crops are cut, as it seems a waste of time going out, the other option im thinking about is setting some snares, but thats taking away the reason for having the s410 ! Each time I go onto my permission the rabbit are about, There some that are very good sizes, I just need some advive on getting a good shot at them ! What time of day are you going out matey? Good tips already given though - a shame you're not a couple of hundred miles closer! Cheers Duncan Hi, time varys for going out, normally go out about 7.30 - 8.00 pm, and have a look around, stay out until dark, 11 ish, got a lamp now so going try pure darkness / first light etc. Quote Link to post
sambo123 593 Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 Sell your gun and buy a ferret! Quote Link to post
vizlauk 1,568 Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Sell your gun and buy a ferret! I have thought about it mate, the time might come yet ! Quote Link to post
The Duncan 802 Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 By all means, get ferrets, but don't sell the gun! I've found circumstances for ferrets and nets, for air rifles and ferrets and shotguns. Cover all bases ! Quote Link to post
deanothehunter 34 Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I recently got a place I metal detect on but with thousands of rabbits too and if you dressed in cammo with a gun their gone in seconds but in ordinary clothes or armed with a metal detector they are litterally running round you in circles 20 ft away chasing each other as they are used to seeing people on horses, feeding horses and generally working on the land daily, I used this trick by having gun too and when I bend down to dig a target from detector I wait till one shows as their warren streches out from woods to open field too then when they think its ok he's digging more rubbish whack....over they go. This one was no more than 15 ft away whilst I walked with my metal detector and did'nt run even whilst I fumbled to get my phone out to take pic...It was only till I could of been 5 ft away then it only ran a few paces then stopped to carry on munching a few yards on they re mad here but sometimes to easy for a challenge Quote Link to post
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