Accip74 7,112 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Rabbit numbers have decreased dramatically on my permissions. Used to be moving with them now I'm lucky to see one or two on a walk round. Yes and all in a few short years, two or three, this does seam like a worrying trend, I have some ground that still has lots, but everytime I visit my heart is in my mouth, hoping the dreaded myxy does not strike, but as said rabbits are the ultimate survivor, and their fecundity is such that I expect they will bounce back, one farm I have been shooting on for 30 years or more used to have a decent amount, and come october there were some lovely little three/four hole sets to train the young ferrets, that always held a bunny or three, but now everyone is a fu*king badger set My mates back home have more badgers than rabbits on there land.....they are seeing less with each year..... Hopefully it won't become like belgium......it was months before I spotted a rabbit! lol....I see better populations in public parks than on farm land here.... Same over here in Holland,barren land concerning the rabbit population. We had good numbers in the past, all gone now. I was in holland on Saturday & I did see 1 rabbit :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bunny tickler 876 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Rabbit numbers have decreased dramatically on my permissions. Used to be moving with them now I'm lucky to see one or two on a walk round.Yes and all in a few short years, two or three, this does seam like a worrying trend, I have some ground that still has lots, but everytime I visit my heart is in my mouth, hoping the dreaded myxy does not strike, but as said rabbits are the ultimate survivor, and their fecundity is such that I expect they will bounce back, one farm I have been shooting on for 30 years or more used to have a decent amount, and come october there were some lovely little three/four hole sets to train the young ferrets, that always held a bunny or three, but now everyone is a fu*king badger set My mates back home have more badgers than rabbits on there land.....they are seeing less with each year..... Hopefully it won't become like belgium......it was months before I spotted a rabbit! lol....I see better populations in public parks than on farm land here.... Same over here in Holland,barren land concerning the rabbit population. We had good numbers in the past, all gone now. I was in holland on Saturday & I did see 1 rabbit :-) was it rampant 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Accip74 7,112 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Rabbit numbers have decreased dramatically on my permissions. Used to be moving with them now I'm lucky to see one or two on a walk round. Yes and all in a few short years, two or three, this does seam like a worrying trend, I have some ground that still has lots, but everytime I visit my heart is in my mouth, hoping the dreaded myxy does not strike, but as said rabbits are the ultimate survivor, and their fecundity is such that I expect they will bounce back, one farm I have been shooting on for 30 years or more used to have a decent amount, and come october there were some lovely little three/four hole sets to train the young ferrets, that always held a bunny or three, but now everyone is a fu*king badger set My mates back home have more badgers than rabbits on there land.....they are seeing less with each year..... Hopefully it won't become like belgium......it was months before I spotted a rabbit! lol....I see better populations in public parks than on farm land here.... Same over here in Holland,barren land concerning the rabbit population. We had good numbers in the past, all gone now. I was in holland on Saturday & I did see 1 rabbit :-) was it rampant It was working its way through some bush.....lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skull Hooker 185 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Strikes me its got to be something to do with Buzzards. Theres bloody hundreds of them here. Badgers don't help either. The natural balance has been disturbed by long periods of protection, homo sapiens isn't being allowed to play his part. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rabbit demon 302 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Think your right there S.H every animal has its part in nature even humans. Very easy to upset the balance. You take away the rabbit and the foxes and other predators start eating more lambs and game birds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jok 3,266 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Evening guys. The last thing we want to hear is the dreaded Myxy. Luckily we have not encountered one case. Whilst being, in the main, Sunday rabbiters, we have had some comfortable bags. 15/18/19/16/21/4 and horrible' the blank. It must be said however, I was complaining to anyone who would listen, about the lack of rabbit, including activity. It seemed as though all my previously productive land was now derelict. No farmers or keepers giving me grief. Bad sign. Anyway. Perseverance and a bit of luck we came through it. Together with some lovely little companions, a lab who had never seen a rabbit and the Hipflask we came through it all. Next season can't possibly come quick enough. Look forward to hearing about your exploits. Jok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CushtyJook 1,097 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Exactly why I gave up my ferrets around four years ago there simply wasn't enough rabbits to catch and a good days ferreting around here was three and that's after you've cut your self to pieces as every warren was thick bramble or blackthorn hedge it just wasn't worth the time wasted for so little rabbits Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithie 2,443 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 there was a time when i used to see many a dead rabbit int the road when driving through the dales. now i can do mile after mile and see nothing in the road or even in the fields, but i can also show you spots that still hold a good few maybe you who have none should relocate rabbits to wear you cant run a dog or easily ferret and let them prosper ... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Truther 1,579 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Looks like everyone will end up up the dales soon enought A big area of the dales has hardly any rabbits.....even there the rabbits have been getting less and less. Sure, there's pockets of them where there's loads, but i think we'll see even these contract and vanish over the next decade... The Dales rabbits took a hammering from myxi/VHD and 100 bags a day/night for years and managed to keep their numbers up, but the two consecutive bad winters a few years back finished them off. A mate told me rabbits were running round in their village after coming down from the higher ground during the heavy prolonged snow, just nothing for them to eat, one step to far they couldn't survive in numbers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 6,484 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I wonder if the places in the dales where there's no rabbits will be the places with loads in a few years now that nobody goes there and the popular spots will become barren? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Truther 1,579 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I wonder if the places in the dales where there's no rabbits will be the places with loads in a few years now that nobody goes there and the popular spots will become barren? The thing is it decimated the Dales so not many left in a lot of areas to repopulate, but that should only be a matter of time, in the long run i think they will come back with a vengeance, any carrying VHD would be the first to die, and deserted burrows should mean less fleas to spread myxi, the survivors should be good stock animals? Lets hope so anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bunny tickler 876 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 in the bad winters a couple of years ago you could drive over the tops of the walls it was that bad poor bunnies starved to death when the snow melted there was dead rabbits in the entrances of lots of burries you have to feel sorry for the poor creatures ,1000s dead they came back as they do but never in the numbers as before , i remember lads shooting 300+ and throwing them in the stink pits ,them days are gone ,in less than a decade they are down by 75 pr cent with modern keepering ,box traps & nv its the begging of the end ,,it will be a sad day when that happens 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cocpops 19 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) Way to many Airgunners out killing rabbits throughout the summer months when the weather is nice. Fairweather lampers , a few months later asking where's all the rabbits. It's not maxi, not buzzards or foxes it's over shooting ! Edited March 2, 2015 by cocpops Quote Link to post Share on other sites
haymin 2,465 Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I drive down to England : Wales for the fishing comp always leave a few days early and have a wee look Iv not seen hardly any rabbits had 2/3 I usually get a couple of runs at the service stations ) , must be shite trying to get a couple of runs for the dogs down that way ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.