Catapult

[pie-eater 377]

Was out ferreting yesterday did a big warren partly covered in brambles I put a longnet right around it and cut the warren up with a couple of stop nets. Had a couple of rabbits come out in the brambles and sit tight before either getting caught in one of the nets or hopping into another hole. Ended up with 8 rabbit out of this sett.

 

Anyway I started wondering if a catapult would come in handy for shooting the hole hoppers. Anyone ever tried it?

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

A mate told me of a dvd with some irish blokes doing it, said they missed loads but they shot one on the run with it. Tried it myself and its bloody hard, no time to think about the shot at all, all luck and no skill

[potpoacher 27]

I use an air rifle. yeah, you miss loads but one time I intentionally didn't net up and just stood where the rabbits couldn't see, I shot one on the run. its great fun in brambles, ive been trying it recently as I have got fed up with trying to net up. clear sights are better than a scope though.

it could also be worth trying it with a bow.

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Try a shotgun? Designed for hitting stuff on the move and all that...

[pie-eater 377]

A shotgun would be out of the question on all the land I ferret at the moment. Anyway im thinking more about the rabbits that pop up and slowly hop from hole to hole than the ones running at full speed.

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Shotgun will still do the job. You would be surprised at the confined spaces you can use a .410. Have you ruled out purse nets or dogs?

[pie-eater 377]

Yeah its not a big problem I still emptied the warren apart from a kill I just wondered if Id shot the couple of hole hoppers I could have got it done a bit faster and it might be fun to. I use purse nets but dogs aren't allowed on most the land I ferret either due to the livestock.

 

I would like to try shooting over ferrets one day.

[potpoacher 27]

stuff a shotgun, its to easy! when your using an air rifle or catapult you have to chuck in a whole lot more skill and precision.

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

stuff a shotgun, its to easy! when your using an air rifle or catapult you have to chuck in a whole lot more skill and precision.

Not being funny mate but the amount of rabbits that will be injured as a result of using an air rifle will be massive, abit irresponsible if you ask me, especially shooting on the run

A catties not much better, but at least your using alot heavier ammo and even a bad shot can still bring it down

[smithie 2,443]

how about cutting back the brambles and use a good old fashioned purse net

[Jamie m 668]

More ferrets terrier

[pie-eater 377]

I got every rabbit out of the warren apart from one kill that I couldn't dig to so its not a big deal I was just curious if anyone ever used a catapult to knock over hole hoppers. I will try it some time.

 

Smithie I do use purse nets just not on this occasion as I would have lost a day cutting down brambles.

[pie-eater 377]

youcanthide bang I haven't used catapults for a while but the catapult and bandset I used shot an 11mm lead ball at about 19ftlb so I would think it would be powerful enough. Didn't do much hunting with it but the pheasant in my avatar was taken down with a chest shot at 16yds.

[The one 8,468]

Watch any warrener dvd hes pissing about with catapults makes him look a laughing stock though

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

An 11mm lead ball to anywhere other than the vitals just isnt gonna drop the rabbit, so i wouldn't even attempt to shoot them on the run, and i do quite a bit of catty shooting and hunting.

However if they are hole hoping and your confident in the shot then why not?

But just taking potshots is just plain irresponsibility