Bunnies with the shotgun

kowloon

So how do the pros get the bunnies? What tips and tricks do you have for someone with a shotgun and an empty belly?

whitser

if you've no dog, head out at dawn or dusk stay quite and stick close to the hedge and you'll get close for a shot, no bother.

kowloon

I used to get them along a track they took between two lots of fields, they seem to have copped on to it. That along with cows moved onto my favorite fields and crops on most of the rest have presented me with the need to become good at hunting, I can't rely on good grounds anymore.
The feckers zip out of the hedgerow and straight back in again quicker than I can get them.

whitser

a good terrier or spaniel will push them out of the cover for you.

J.R.

whitser wrote: »

if you've no dog, head out at dawn or dusk stay quite and stick close to the hedge and you'll get close for a shot, no bother.

Exactly...when sneaking up stop every time the rabbit stops & pricks its ears....don't move again until it begins feeding again.. proceed in this manner until within range.

Practice range estimation so you are sure rabbit is in range for a shot.

When walking along a field guess what bush is 30 metres away - then step it out to see how close you were. Practice this until you are good at range estimation ....you'd be surprised how near 35 metres looks!

Nothing more frustrating than having stalked a rabbit and then firing when it's still out of killing range to see it drag itself wounded to a burrow before you can reach it.

kowloon

whitser wrote: »

a good terrier or spaniel will push them out of the cover for you.

Would love a hunting dog, I miss having a dog. Don't have the time for one with all the other animals though.

cavan shooter

whitser wrote: »

a good terrier or spaniel will push them out of the cover for you.

Sounds silly but be careful of the dog as the rabbits bolt, neighbour of mine shot his dog two years ago out after the rabbit turned, the dog turned, sad story:( you get the picture

whitser

that goes without saying.

sniper83

get urself a ferret to flush them from the borrows, bolting rabbits provide great sport;)

dwighet

A good windy day helps..Stay down wind off them which makes it harder for them to hear you..You may of noticeed that when the wind is up the bunnies keep low to the ground to keep out of the wind rather than sitting sitting up alert.
Apart from that a ferret is easy to keep.Doesnt take up much room and easy on the wallet...

stevoman

sniper83 wrote: »

get urself a ferret to flush them from the borrows, bolting rabbits provide great sport;)

+1 - if you really enjoy hunting rabbits a couple of these little crittters is fantastic sport. i have two and swear by them.

eoinkildare

I went out last night with the shotgun. It was my first time after rabbits that I haven't used the .22. I found it great fun. Got seven and took four home. Only thing was, when I got them home and cleaned them out I found that the pellets had burst the guts of three of them and so I was weary of the meat. I ended up only keeping two out of the four I brought home. At least with the rifle I could take headshots and not worry about that.
Maybe I was using too heavy a shot? I had just thrown the contents of a box of eley number 4 shot into my pocket on the way out the door. Mind you, this cartridge put them down well even at distance. Also, it was all small rabbits that ihad chosen for the pot,so I'm sure if I had gone with the older tougher ones the problem wouldn't have been as apparent.
Any thoughts?

Eoin

stevoman

eoinkildare wrote: »

I went out last night with the shotgun. It was my first time after rabbits that I haven't used the .22. I found it great fun. Got seven and took four home. Only thing was, when I got them home and cleaned them out I found that the pellets had burst the guts of three of them and so I was weary of the meat. I ended up only keeping two out of the four I brought home. At least with the rifle I could take headshots and not worry about that.
Maybe I was using too heavy a shot? I had just thrown the contents of a box of eley number 4 shot into my pocket on the way out the door. Mind you, this cartridge put them down well even at distance. Also, it was all small rabbits that ihad chosen for the pot,so I'm sure if I had gone with the older tougher ones the problem wouldn't have been as apparent.
Any thoughts?

Eoin

yeah the number fours are a bit of a thumper for the bunnies. try a 6 and you shouldnt be too bad eoin.

Red Renard

stevoman wrote: »

yeah the number fours are a bit of a thumper for the bunnies. try a 6 and you shouldnt be too bad eoin.

I'am not a fan of using the shotgun on rabbit, especially on the young ones. Would it be humane to use bean bag shot on small rabbits if you
could ever buy this cartridge here for civilian use? Just a taught would the rabbit end up stunned.

stevoman

Red Renard wrote: »

I'am not a fan of using the shotgun on rabbit, especially on the young ones. Would it be humane to use bean bag shot on small rabbits if you
could ever buy this cartridge here for civilian use? Just a taught would the rabbit end up stunned.

i dont realy think that would be humane at all to be honest. firstly the rabbit would most likely crawl into its burrow for a slow death and secondly the meat would be badly bruised. your far better with a real cartrisge or bullet.

riflehunter77

Maybe I was using too heavy a shot? I had just thrown the contents of a box of eley number 4 shot into my pocket on the way out the door. Mind you, this cartridge put them down well even at distance. Also, it was all small rabbits that ihad chosen for the pot,so I'm sure if I had gone with the older tougher ones the problem wouldn't have been as apparent.
Any thoughts?

Eoin[/quote]

Id try some no 6`s or 7 `s eoin number 4`s are a bit overkill on the young fellas. You will be eating more shot than rabbit :D

gameshotpro

If its just after one for the pot I use a 71/2 shot. Take youre time and you will get close enough to them to take youre choice of rabbit. If you take a decent size rabbit with the 71/2 you wont do too much damage on the guts.

kowloon

I use number 5 32/34g shells but the pellets go very deep.
Not many rabbits here anyway, haven't even seen one in 3 nights.

dwighet

I use eley pigeon 6 1/2.. They work well for me with 1/2 and 3/4 choke with 1/2 choke in the first barrel.

Trojan911

kowloon wrote: »

So how do the pros get the bunnies? What tips and tricks do you have for someone with a shotgun and an empty belly?

I get to know the land I walk, and then note where the bunnies hang out. So, the next time I'm around, I know where to creep up to unleash a #4.

Tommy_NDX

gameshotpro wrote: »

If its just after one for the pot I use a 71/2 shot. Take youre time and you will get close enough to them to take youre choice of rabbit. If you take a decent size rabbit with the 71/2 you wont do too much damage on the guts.

I use 71/2 too. Just be patient and quiet and you will get close enough.