First Ever Permision To Shoot Quarry. Very Happy ! Any Tips ?

[Hughie 0]

Hi all, joined this forum ages ago and thought i would start posting ! Ive recently aquired permision to shoot on a farmers land after trying to find a shoot for roughly 4 years . I shoot with a BSA lightening .177 and my father who shoots with me shoots a Wierauch 99s .22 . We are very happy to get this chance to do some hunting however we are both very new to it with very little experience between us.

We are both accurate at 30 yards so thats not the issue but we would both like some general hunting tips - if that makes any sense !. We have the chance to shoot pigeons , rabbits , squirrels , crows ... just about every type of quarry possible with a 12ft/lb air rifle.

 

Could someone also clear up whether the chest shot is an accetable kill zone on a rabbit using a 12ft/lb air rifle. From what ive read it is debated and people seem to give a slightly confusing description to as where exactly this kill zone is.

 

Is full camo that necessary ?

 

Faveourite method for shooting bunnies ?

 

I realise this is quite a big question but any advice would be great

Hughie

[darkdd81 36]

Hey buddy,

 

Congratulations on the permission.

 

First thing I would do in your shoes is get on to amazon and order a copy of 'the hunter' by John Darling. The auther is sadly long since deceased, but this book will have serve you well.

 

All the best

[Hughie 0]

Thanks i will try pick a copy up

[chrisj1983 16]

It was about 4 years ago I got my first permission and I was mega excited, and that alone can cause problems. When you have the quarry in your sights try to be calm because its easy to miss or even worse wound.

I would stay clear of heart and lung shot all together when starting out, their is very little room for error and I still now don't use heart shots. You should only aim for head shots only, whatever the quarry.

Camo all depends on what type of shooting your going to be doing. In and around building not so much, out in the field then you will want more. The feather kind can spot the slightest bit of movement so cover hands and face.

I always stalk rabbits in summer and use ferrets in the winter.

This is only my opinion and am definitely no pro but hope this helps a little.

Atb Chris

[jandcguns 65]

A chest shot on pigeon,crow,squirrels,rats,magpies with a 177 or 22 will put it straight on the floor stone dead also check out verminhunterstv on you tube and huntersvermin on you tube all will help Also channels like CPTV,horne250s, fieldsportsbritain ect hope this helped

[Lewis Ste 245]

Stick to head shots, sensible ranges and wear old Dpm army gear. Iv got a army smock with elastic holes on the arms to stuff long grass through so it's like a DIY gillie suit when I want it to be. I had a bsa supersport in .177 and got good numbers through patience and sitting 25yards downwind away from active warrens.

[Craig Fosse 286]

Best thing to do is study the land first mate, dusk now is best and find out where the rabbits warrens are, then find a suitable location, buy a stealth ghost 4 or 5m camo net(ebay 20 ish squid) which will act as your hide, bamboo sticks for hide poles and lay up 30 yards away and wait for the bunnies to appear, first time you get a bunny in your sights before you shoot pretend to, you will see how much their head moves which means you need to be a second ahead, best is to pick a time when they are nibbling the same bit of grass, as your starting out, wait for a side on shot of the head which crates the biggest picture. Also, pick a day with no wind as it adds even more to the complication, get some lolly sticks from somewhere and plant them out when you have found the bunny warrens as practice targets. For the first few times you go down I would just walk around with your rifle and note bird droppins, rabbit warrens, you can do this all the night before you plan to shoot. Be prepared for long times of nothing and patience is the key. When you get into position it takes a MINIMUM of ten minutes (real time not thinking time) for the area to forget about the hunter. Camo clothing is a must, especially hands and face.

 

If there is an abundance of rabbits, these are the best to start on as they are a little more forgiving than the other quarry types in my opinion. If a rabbit stops grazing and looks up, stop and do not move....don't try to kneel if your standing, just don't move, it will soon start grazing again, if your comfortable shooting at 30 yards, don't shoot any further. Learn your aim points for different ranges and remember shooting down and up hill (even gently) can be as much as half a mildot change.

 

Head shots only for the time being if I was you, all be it I shoot woodies in the chest or neck now or under the wing but rabbits are a no go.

 

Do you guys have any camo at all? I have just left the armed forces and have some up in the loft, not saying it will fit but it might be something to get you on your way..

 

Most of all...enjoy it, be prepad for failure early on, but that's half the fun, if we all came away with 100 rabbits a day the sport would get very boring, well for me anyway.

 

Don't forget to post pictures of your first kill.

 

Best of luck, if you ever need any help drop me a message

 

Regards

 

Craig

[Hughie 0]

Thanks to everyone , all this advice is great .

 

I'll stick to the head shots and study the land when i first get there. The owners son has said he will show us round and point out any dangers when we first go. Craig we do have a camo jacket and gloves however i think im going to go get something to cover my face. Unfortunatly it could be a while before i get to do some hunting myself as im setting back of to uni this weekend but hopefully i will get the chance soon and i will put up my first kill pics.

[jw74 27]

with the term headshots its actually brain shots you need.if you hit the rabbit between the eye and the ears then its going to be an instant kill.for me if the rabbits side on i aim just closer to the ear,i tend to leave head on shots and wait for a side shot as ive seen a mate hit a few rabbits between the eyes and it deflected the pellet upwards and theyve run off and died in pain(not good)

[jandcguns 65]

with the term headshots its actually brain shots you need.if you hit the rabbit between the eye and the ears then its going to be an instant kill.for me if the rabbits side on i aim just closer to the ear,i tend to leave head on shots and wait for a side shot as ive seen a mate hit a few rabbits between the eyes and it deflected the pellet upwards and theyve run off and died in pain(not good)

Ive hit one straight in between the eyes and it fell stone dead although i hear people say dont do it

[Craig Fosse 286]

Thanks to everyone , all this advice is great .

 

I'll stick to the head shots and study the land when i first get there. The owners son has said he will show us round and point out any dangers when we first go. Craig we do have a camo jacket and gloves however i think im going to go get something to cover my face. Unfortunatly it could be a while before i get to do some hunting myself as im setting back of to uni this weekend but hopefully i will get the chance soon and i will put up my first kill pics.

Some advice on something to cover your face, there are two types really, the leaf jack pyke one which is quite loose fitting and has two bits of cotton which you tie around your head so it sits good and a balaclava type one, in my personal preference I prefer the looser fitting one, not because its more comfy, but if your heart is pumping after a stalk and your breathing heavily, with the balaclava when you breah the only exit is up even if you try and exhale down, this can quite often steam up your scope lense, which is a big pain. Especially if its a cold morning.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jack-Pyke-3D-Leafy-Light-Leaf-Screen-Camo-Camouflage-Balaclava-and-Face-Veil-/110761496001?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sports_Clothing_LE&hash=item19c9e64dc1

 

These are just two examples

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REALTREE-CAMO-BALACLAVA-FACE-VEIL-SPANDEX-CAMOUFLAGUE-HEAD-MASK-NET-BREATHABLE-/190680748055?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sports_Clothing_LE&hash=item2c65755017

[Craig Fosse 286]

P.s a farmers knowledge is a god send, be as much info as you can

[jw74 27]

it was with his hw98 that is putting out 11.8 ft lb so it wasnt a power issue,to be fair they wasnt exactly long shots so the only thing i could put it down to was that the pellets struck high,but all the same its put me off taking head on shots.ive also heard of other people having the same thing happen so id rather wait it out for a side shot

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

i used to get quite a few with the 4 supersports, 2 lightnings and the 2 hw99s's i used to have a few years ago.

great medium range guns upto about 35 yards .

 

well done to Craig for the great answers and tips

 

also i think side on brain shots are the best.

also camo is a good idea, if not then dull green/brown clothing.

 

best bet would be sitting 25-30 yds from a warren and getting a few 'under your belt' before you start learning fieldcraft and stalking techniques. get a lot more chances, especially with a makeshift hide.

 

good luck mate, happy hunting

[Craig Fosse 286]

Cheers mate