Shooting rabbits with a shotgun

Dusty87

Just wondering how many of ye bother doing it? Was out with a friend last summer he only got two. Is it even worth the while doing?

jwshooter

when i started shooting with my single barrel baikel 25 years ago i shot bolting rabbits every eve over the summer .never shot them stopped .there was a lot of rabbits back then .i walked the same ground sunday eve never seen a rabbit ,god dam shame.

rabbits were a plenty back then .

a 32 gr number 5 in a full choke ,had a dropper a lovely chocolate bitch called jess .

if you have the cover and the rabbits a finer sport you will be hard to find .

careless times .

It wasn't me!

It wouldn't be much of a method of serious vermin control, but walking the hedges and shooting bolting rabbits with a shotgun? You could do a lot worse in terms of sport, brilliant fun, and you could make a very decent bag in an evening.

dwighet

its some of the best craic one can have with a shotgun..
I use my springer/cocker(sprocker) to flush em out of the ditches..keeps him fit for the winters pheasant season.
Shot #5`s full and 3/4 choke......Does the job nicely

The_Conductor

Its far more sporting to use a rifle- if it gets away, it gets away.....

cavan shooter

smccarrick wrote: »

Its far more sporting to use a rifle- if it gets away, it gets away.....

Not for bolting rabbits the shotgun will be safer and with the set up the lads are using much more effective for cleaner kills. Last year got most of my rabbits by hunting hedges as the hornet ruins them for the pot

dwighet

cavan shooter wrote: »

Not for bolting rabbits the shotgun will be safer and with the set up the lads are using much more effective for cleaner kills. Last year got most of my rabbits by hunting hedges as the hornet ruins them for the pot

ditto

It wasn't me!

smccarrick wrote: »

Its far more sporting to use a rifle- if it gets away, it gets away.....

To be fair, using a rifle on bolting rabbits is both implausibly difficult and has the potential to result in a lot of winged rabbits. A shotgun is a safer bet in that situation, and it is an enormous amount of fun too.

If you did a lot of driven boar shooting the bunnies could keep your eye in though!

CJhaughey

I used to use a Beretta A303 with a Turkey choke, almost as good a a rifle:D
Rifle is more satisfying to me and less meat damage.

marlin vs

Sneaking around ditches when I was younger with my first shotgun trying to stalk rabbit's, and trying to shoot the one's on the run were great day's that i'll never forget.

pullandbang

Dusty87 wrote: »

Just wondering how many of ye bother doing it? Was out with a friend last summer he only got two. Is it even worth the while doing?

For most hunters the thrill of the hunt is in seeing your dog work. The joy of watching him hunt for scent, find it, trail it and then flush the quarry far outshines the kill. The kill is the icing on the cake with the successful retrieve capping the whole thing off.

So, the answer to your question is yes, it's worth while doing it and the bag count at the end is incidental.

ZappaFrank

Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting

dwighet

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting

Each to there own Frankie..You may think its unsporting..for what reason i cannot gather..But i think it is great craic and im sure im not the only one..Im guessing you dont get out much

Dusty87

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting

I said i was out with him, he shot, i didn have the shotgun at this stage. Dunno why he was out, probably because they were harming crops....
Why is it unsporting?/

The_Conductor

dwighet wrote: »

Each to there own Frankie..You may think its unsporting..for what reason i cannot gather..But i think it is great craic and im sure im not the only one..Im guessing you dont get out much

Same way I consider using a shotgun to be unsporting, I guess. Then again- I'd not get up and personal scaring rabbits out of hedgerows etc- its easier to hit a stationary target with a rifle than a moving target. If I miss- I've frightened the rabbit anyhow- and off it goes......

Story Man

I have shot for many years at all types of quarry but I consider the best sporting shooting is rabbit in light rush over a steady spaniel.

Shooters pay a fortune for sport that is not as exciting or satisfying as rabbits over a springer!

SM

macadam

Love shooting flushed bunnies best craic ever so long as you have a steady dog, pity ther scarce, seen and shot one this year.

Story Man

I am overrun with rabbits at home this year. I have reverted to the .22 and the lamp at night in an attempt to save what is left of my rockeries and bedding plants.

And this from a spaniel man who loves bunnies for training!

SM

Dusty87

I hear ya SM, good few a few miles from my house. Very quiet still around my place though. I remember years ago i used to see them in the field, not anymore. A few miles down the road is over run though. Maybe there making a comeback.

Story Man

I think they are making a comeback and I was wondering if it was because the weather is a bit warmer and they are spending less time underground. The fleas that spread mixi would have more chance of infecting if the rabbits were spending more time in the warrens as they would be in really wet weather.

Bush rabbits, those lying in scrapes as opposed to underground, never seemed to suffer from the disease as much.

Any thoughts?

SM

Dusty87

Well honestly, i think its cos the recession and they cant afford contraception anymore:D

Seriously i would agree with you there. We havnt had a real bitter cold winter in a few year. From breeding rabbits myself, they dont often breed in cold weather, and and sometimes if they do they will throw the babies out of nest. Dont know why. The last couple of winters have been a lot milder and maybe they bred in the late winter because of this. Was out lamping foxes late feb with a friend and anything like the amount of babies was unreal. never before seen it.

Story Man

Most of my problems are with the young ones.

I kid you not, I had three young rabbits in front of my kennels one morning last week! They were on the gravel path!

I hate taking them out but needs must!

SM

Dusty87

Know what ya mean, if it has to be done it has to be done. Looking forward to hopefully goin out myself soon for a nice evening walk with the dog. Hopefully sunday. Ill let ya know how we get on. It will be his first day out after rabbits so im not expecting much

Story Man

Didn't realise the time!

Blowing a gale over here on the east coast. Not rabbiting weather at all!

You going to the game fair at Ballinlough Castle in July. Should be a good event.

SM

Dusty87

I know, have to be up at 5 in the morning:( its pissing here in offaly. Probably will head down for the day, and to the one in birr. Should be something to do. Although i go into a mourning state after them shows, all the lovely things so little money:rolleyes:

Story Man

I'll be at Ballinlough, I know the guys runnning it so I know it will be a great weekend. They don't let the rubbish stands in to their events so you can be sure of good gear at reasonable prices too.

Isn't shooting gear getting so expensive?

I bought a new Barbour fleece in NI and paid £150 sterling for it. For a fleece! I think I am mad in the head.

SM

marlin vs

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting

Would you like to explain that statement.

clivej

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting

Because they all migrate during the winter.

Around the end of summer you can see the sky full of these migrating rabbits heading south to where the grass is greener, the gental breeze blowing across their backs, laying in the sun drinking cheap beer and making love in the sand.

The_Conductor

clivej wrote: »

Because they all migrate during the winter.

Around the end of summer you can see the sky full of these migrating rabbits heading south to where the grass is greener, the gental breeze blowing across their backs, laying in the sun drinking cheap beer and making love in the sand.

Lol, I needed a laugh.....

Story Man

Originally Posted by ZappaFrank
Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting



The mind boggles at the innocence of some folk!

SM

Double Barrel

Ok Clive, now I have to clean my screen. :rolleyes::cool:

Double Barrel

"best sporting shooting is rabbit in light rush" over a steady gundog.

Thats the ticket.

"Steady spaniel" Contradictio in terminis :rolleyes:

Could not resist.:pac:

ZappaFrank

Rabbits do be full of young this time of the year. Also rabbits breed twice a year, some time 3, therefore a doe can be and does be pregnant during the summer. For me theres no sport in that.

So if you guys want to be machomen and shoot young and pregnant rabbits fair enough. Or you can be sportsmen and wait till the autumn/winter were lamping with lurchers or ferreting are alot more enjoyable.

marlin vs

I only shoot the one's that wear trousers.

Story Man

Frank

That's great if you don't have an infestation of the blighters like I do.

Quite frankly (no pun intended!) I'll bring their numbers down this summer if I need to. It's either that or pay to have my gardens re-shrubbed and their holes filled in.

SM

Story Man

Wadda ya mean contradiction?

Only a non-spaniel man would come out with that craic!



SM

Hezz700

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Rabbits do be full of young this time of the year. Also rabbits breed twice a year, some time 3, therefore a doe can be and does be pregnant during the summer. For me theres no sport in that.

So if you guys want to be machomen and shoot young and pregnant rabbits fair enough. Or you can be sportsmen and wait till the autumn/winter were lamping with lurchers or ferreting are alot more enjoyable.

Its called Vermin control, Frankie boy.

Summer is when its done and its quite necessary, where i'm from at least. And god bless the little buggers, they're back with a vengence every summer.

Ya know they actually DO "breed like rabbits"

jwshooter

at his point it should be noted that all effort is made not to shoot pregnant or lactating does.

very close obversation with binos or the scope just before the shot will tell you is your rabbit is shot able .

big scruffy looking rabbits or rabbits out in the field lying flat ,have a good chance of been pregnant or lactating.

i always try to shoot young rabbits that are noticeably smaller than a mature bunny

Hezz700

jwshooter wrote: »

i always try to shoot young rabbits that are noticeably smaller than a mature bunny

Totally agreed.

At any rate, the young uns are much better for the pot.

lucky-colm

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Why you shooting rabbits during the summer? very unsporting

rabbits are dangerous and should be kept under control if you ever see a rabbit coming at you with a knife turn grab your children and run best to keep them under control by shooting them when they are lazing around inthe sun and eating grass

Hezz700

lucky-colm wrote: »

rabbits are dangerous and should be kept under control if you ever see a rabbit coming at you with a knife turn grab your children and run best to keep them under control by shooting them when they are lazing around inthe sun and eating grass

Hey sunshine, Do you grow crops????

pullandbang

lucky-colm wrote: »

rabbits are dangerous and should be kept under control if you ever see a rabbit coming at you with a knife turn grab your children and run best to keep them under control by shooting them when they are lazing around inthe sun and eating grass

There are people out there who think we shouldn't shoot rabbits or any of God's little creatures.

If they had their way there would be no hunting, shooting, fishing or any killing at all of these poor creatures.

These people are sick, cruel and completely indifferent to the suffering of animals and birds. They would rather see us put a live bunny or pheasant straight into the oven without killing it first! Have you ever tried it? Can't get the buggers to stop squirming and fluttering. Much easier to shoot them first then cook them

bunny shooter

I shoot rabbits and I eat them during the summer.

So someone with a lurcher and/or ferrets objects to me shooting rabbits................I'm not so narrow minded to object to his sport though

dwighet

pullandbang wrote: »

There are people out there who think we shouldn't shoot rabbits or any of God's little creatures.

If they had their way there would be no hunting, shooting, fishing or any killing at all of these poor creatures.

These people are sick, cruel and completely indifferent to the suffering of animals and birds. They would rather see us put a live bunny or pheasant straight into the oven without killing it first! Have you ever tried it? Can't get the buggers to stop squirming and fluttering. Much easier to shoot them first then cook them

there is plenty of room here for all gods creatures...Right next to my mashed spuds and gravy

Dusty87

ZappaFrank wrote: »

Rabbits do be full of young this time of the year. Also rabbits breed twice a year, some time 3, therefore a doe can be and does be pregnant during the summer.

Judging by the young bunnys i seen mid febuary whilst lamping foxes they were pregnant juring the winter this year too. Its maths, they carry bunnys for 28 to 30 days, young dont leave there nest for two weeks and at least another 2 before they leave the burrow. The ones i seen were about six weeks old out running around. So maybe when your ferreting (nothing against it whatsoever, its an effective way of controlling them too) there is young in the burrow. This winter was a lot milder and maybe they bread through the winter. The woman breeds rabbits and this was the first year any of hers bread in the winter. I personally have noticed the numbers coming back to what they used to be.

Story Man

I saw Watership Down!

I didn't cry though.

Does that make me a bad person?

SM

jaffa20

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rGzCAMuUFA/SD3LhiUARtI/AAAAAAAAAyY/ci4No1SguPE/s320/evil.jpg

bunny shooter

Story Man wrote: »

I saw Watership Down!

I didn't cry though.

Does that make me a bad person?

SM

Bet ya cried when Bambis mum died though

pullandbang

Story Man wrote: »

I saw Watership Down!
I didn't cry though.
Does that make me a bad person?
SM

I remember seeing a photo of a butcher's shop in England, think it was Liverpool. Anyway, Watership Down was on in the cinemas at the time and he had rabbits hanging in his shop window.
Beside them was a big sign that read;

Watership Down.
You've read the book.
You've seen the film.
Now eat the cast!

Brilliant marketing!

dwighet

pullandbang wrote: »

I remember seeing a photo of a butcher's shop in England, think it was Liverpool. Anyway, Watership Down was on in the cinemas at the time and he had rabbits hanging in his shop window.
Beside them was a big sign that read;

Watership Down.
You've read the book.
You've seen the film.
Now eat the cast!

Brilliant marketing!

class

Dusty87

Was thinkin of goin out in the morning early. Heard thers going to be a frost so i dont think theres much point. Will i leave it till tomorrow evening and hope for the best or take a chance in the morning?