Tips for stalking Rabbits.

Nemesis

My first outing ever today (2.30pm-6.30pm) I got a rabbit with my first shot.

This is with my 2 sons carrying bags for me,(was going to shoot targets but rabbit was en route).

So I got this guy at about 75 yards but he was only a wee thing ..which means in-experienced.

Then I spotted another two about 268 yards away (rangefinder ) so I tried to 'Stalk' them.

With 2 sons and me heading towards them..checking wind and then changing our direction to be downwind..we approached to about 100 yards.

At about 100 yards I told the two sons to stay still as I was going to get within 70 yards..and as I crouched and slowly hugged the ditch..they legged it ..the rabbits not the sons.

Same happened in next field which was full of rabbits..just at about 80 yards they legged it and didn't appear after even 20 min's of waiting.

It seemed as the older/bigger rabbits knew the range.

This is with a .22lr.

I felt if I had the .17 I would have had a better chance.
The extra range would have meant all the difference.

I suppose the first thing to do is go hunt alone..but any other tips for stalking rabbits during the day?.

Should I wait for dusk..or go out in the morning?

I also noticed how few birds (crows..woodies..magpies) were in any of the fields..it seemed there are a lot more around the actual village I live in than in the fields!..or maybe they don't frequent Grassy fields during the day?

And so many Pheasants just asking for it! but damn them rules

jwshooter

you can only shoot them once ,the sport is in the hunt .

Nemesis

Thanks,
Found some helpfull advice on stalking here :
Stalking..a basic guide:

http://rnpk-dvs.blogspot.com/2009/02/stalkinga-basic-guide.html

macnab

good info in that link, also its worth adding that it is almost impossible to sneak up on a rabbit in very calm conditions, the more wind the better as it reduces their ability to hear you. Try to keep the sun behind you as that will add to your cammo affect. Move slowly and even creep the last 10 yards if the rabbit seems spooked.

dwighet

be bewwy bewwy qwiet..wabbits have bewwy big ears...sssshhhh:D

Trojan911

Nemesis wrote: »

Should I wait for dusk..or go out in the morning?

Both times are good to go out or even mid afternoon. Go by yourself or preferably bring someone (safety reasons). What I tend to do sometimes is find out where they congregate, either by seeing them or finding fresh droppings & then set myself up near to where I can hide myself downwind & wait for them to appear.

Other times I just walk the fields peeping over or through ditches.

With deer stalking I pretty much use the same methods.

dwighet

Trojan911 wrote: »

Both times are good to go out or even mid afternoon. Go by yourself or preferably bring someone (safety reasons). What I tend to do sometimes is find out where they congregate, either by seeing them or finding fresh droppings & then set myself up near to where I can hide myself downwind & wait for them to appear.

Other times I just walk the fields peeping over or through ditches.

With deer stalking I pretty much use the same methods.

Im with Trojan there.
I was out yesterday with my 22 using subs... Plenty of bunnies out but getting close enough was a task...

I ended up picking a likley looking ditch and laydown 60yds from it and waited for them to show..And they did..3 for the pot.

Saw loads of young ones(babies) which were not real street smart as yet as they didnt seem too shy of my presence...

eoinkildare

go lamping!!
or if you really must stalk then make sure you're willing to get down on your hands and knees and crawl. its never easy to get close though. its funny all the same, i seem to get a lot closer when its me and the shotgun rather than with the rifle!

Tackleberry.

Ask Bunnyshooter if he don't have a good tip he'll surely have to change his name,,,,,,,,,,:D:D

I shoot them with an Air Rifle and can get within 30 yrds most of the time as thats the distance i need for a quick kill, not saying they all stand for me lots run off but its a great way to hone your stalking for the bigger prize in September the deer, tis all about the hunt i cover up with face como/gloves etc...works for me.

bunny shooter

Stalking or ambushing is the only two ways to shoot bunnies. I can stalk to within 50-60 yards with hardly any hassle usually if they are not skitish. If they are I ambush them. It all depends how skitish the bunnies are where I am shooting tbh. If they are shot consistently even with subs they do get smart very quickly and don't take much to leg it. Rabbits eyesight is not great. They rely more on smell and believe it or not vibrations in the ground. I wear my "shooting clothes", these are never washed and smell of the "countryside" :eek:, don't use aftershave or deodorant going shooting. ALWAYS hunt into the wind. Hunt in the evenings or better again early morning, as soon after sunrise as you can is the best time I have found. When stalking refrain from fast movement and all noise should be kept to a minimum. Shoot alone or with someone who knows what they are doing too. NO TALKING ! Hand signals if necessary. When stalking use cover, shadows of bushes ditches etc and contours in the ground to your advantage. Get down on the ground and look at the ground from the rabbits point of view! It looks totally different at 6"-9" off the ground to my 5'8" ! Watch the bunny and only move when it is feeding or not looking in your direction. When it is looking around FREEZE. Keep movement slow and deliberate and remember no vibration in the ground !

Ambushing is easier, pick your spot with a good view of the area where they are and just wait for them to appear. I have had rabbits appear no farther than 2-3 feet from me while waiting for more to emerge ! No movement and they don't notice you !

eoinkildare

i remember on one of my first outings with my .22 lr I was after seeing three rabbits at about 60 yards dart in to the bushes. i decided i was going to lie in wait behind a fallen tree for them to reappear. while waiting, two bunnies came out no more than 10 yards away. i tried to shoot one and missed because i never took into account that my scope was nowhere near zeroed for that distance!

Umiq88

Stalking is good fun.

Rabbits are very sensitive to noise which means step very lightly and no rusling or talking, i've stalked a good few in just my socks before when the ground is hard and dry.

Their eyesight is not good it is possible to walk really slowly in a straight line straight at them and get within 60 yards. But walking straight is important as side to side movement can be picked up. Same with crouching is quite obvious when your full dark frame is being replaced with bright sky so this needs to be done slowly. Of course as said use cover and crouch or crawl the last ten yards. Hilly land is very good for sneaking up.

Lots of other ways sometimes can walk into a field and walk around and shoot 15-20 other times none.

Lamping is also effective shoot for a farmer and cleaned the place out took about 40-50 bunnies out and couldnt find any mor eat day so went out around 12 or 1 and picked up 4-5 and he says there hasnt been any back since which is good news.

Nemesis

Sunday..I went out again to a different field.

From research on google map I knew there was some high ground at the end of the field.



It happens to be some sort of quarry.

In it was 2 magpies and a wabbit...of course the magpies spotted me and off hopped the bunny ..not startled but sorta wary..it knew from the magpies something was up!.

After 2 hours of a nice walk I went back to the gate beside the road calling it a day.

I take out the bolt and magazine an then notice something 'loping' its way up the field.

Of course..it was my first fox, about 30 yards away with a wall as a backstop.
It ran right on by me..so my Camo must work ;:rolleyes: .


Today I went out again and tried to zero my rifle again to make sure..to be sure.

After lots of rain and a lot of wind I learned to make sure the scope stays dry as drops dont help things.
25 yards..50 yards..spot on....75 yards with wind howling I lucky to get within the size of an apple.

Now I decide to go look for a Rabbit...now that I know where they hang out.
The first guy susses me but I spy another about 80 yards away.

This time I promised myself I'd do the Boards shooting fraternity proud..I'd get down and dirty.

10 mins later after crawling through wet grass...sheep ****..and bits of gorse bush (Ouch) I get within 30 yards.

I take carefull aim...and of course miss.:P

Still it was a good 2 hours spent in the field..even if it was in a gale and rain.



Nem.

eoinkildare

google maps? hmm, i dont think youll get many takers there! but thats just me!

dwighet

As long as your enjoying it Nem.. Thats the main thing..Bunnies in the bag will come.
Are you using subs or high velocity rounds?

thelurcher

I do the same as Trojan - best way to keep the numbers down IMO.

Trojan911 wrote: »

I just walk the fields peeping over or through ditches.

A lot depends on the kind of country you shoot over though.

I prefer to shoot morning or evening at this time of year and the summer - always found that there's too many milky does out during the day sunning themselves.

A rabbits eyesight is excellent at detecting what it perceives as a threat - they have a blind spot alright and we've all tried to exploit this when they're looking straight at us but there is usually more than one pair of eyes watching out. Google and you'll find loads of info on it - depth perception paragraph is good here Rabbit Sight


One thing I would say and hopefully not sound patronizing - when shooting with children we don't have the benefit of the rabbits near 360 vision - expecting the little feckers to stay still is a big ask on a long stalk - stay safe

andyone

don't really have much in the way of tips..... what everybody is saying is sound advive.... but have to say the best money i ever spent was on my cz452 .17hmr.....and the second best was my second hand lightforce lamping kit...... although its nice to get out during the day, i seldom have the time..... but night time is a whole different matter..... who'd be bothered with eastenders anyway..... and with the .17 you don't have to blend in to the scenery as much as the .22, i'm getting good kills out to about 130+ and even got a 160+ the other night under candle light( this is ground that i shoot on often and that i know really well)...i have a friend that uses a parker hale moderator on his .22 with sub's and the poor rabbits don't know whats going on..... they just look at each other falling over and scratch there heads....:D:D

clivej

Just in the door and 8 bunnies in the bag.
Got a new scope today so had to give it a try out. It's a Bushnell 10x40 with tactical turrets mildot. 3 shots to zero at the farm and then off to head shoot the bunnies. Took one at about 80-100y standing - my best yet.

I find that walking from field to field does it for me. As I come to another ditch I just peep around and look for the rabbits along the ditch. If they are far away then I sneek up on them but kepping as near to the bush's as I can. Then it's down on the ground and out with the bi-pod sniper like.

andyone

ya can't beat a good scope...... I've a BSA 6-24x50 atop my .17 you can nearly see your own reflection in the poor unfortunate's eyes as you gently squeeze the trigger, only to hear that satisfying THUMP.... and you know its lights out....:cool:

clivej

I took a few bunnies from standing today and actually hit the craters.
John Greene showed me a way of wrapping the sling around my left arm that holds the gun more steady.

andyone

ya i've heard of that.... have to say i haven't tried it..... god bless farmers gates and fencing post......... having said that one of my kills the other night was 120yds of the shoulder... personally i think it was a lucky shot.....but you have to try.... and i agree with your tactics.... we have an area we walk around keeping to the ditches and going ever so quitely around corners... normally takes an hour and a half.... even with no shots fired its a pleasure to be out.....