Rabbit control on football field

mac80

I have been asked to control rabbits on a local football field. The area the pitches are in have no houses within say 250 - 300 metres of them and the direction I would be firing "at" the rabbits has a safe backdrop.

The Rabbits are digging holes in the pitch and players are worried about twisting their ankles etc in them.

Question: Is this any different to hunting in a normal field, is special permission reqiuired from the Gardai or is it even legal to shoot on such ground.
I told them I would have a look some evening and get back to them but dont want to commit without finding out whats involved.
I'd be using a HMR with a mod BTW

It wasn't me!

Doesn't sound like there's any issue. No houses nearby, safe backstop and the request of the landowner. Seems fine to me. Great opportunity!

Cass

Try an get some sort of written confirmation, and put up signs to say culling inprogress and make sure the area is closed off from people wandering in.

Other than that you should be good to go.

Hibrion

A good air rifle would be the ideal tool for that situation.

mac80

Thanks lads ! Yeah I'll get the written permission first.
The pitch is on the very outskirts of a town and is used by members of the public out running etc, so I might wait till dark when the gates are shut to have a shot.

I think if I were to put up "Culling in progress" signs it may get a few of the local tree huggers out complaining so what they dont know wont hurt them

I agree a .22 with subs or a decent air rifle would be ideal but I'd be mad not to have a go with the HMR

dicky82

just because its dark doesn't mean its empty. when we were young we used to use the bit of waste ground near the local pitches for consuming beverages and partaking in divilment:rolleyes:. . . just something to think about.

garv123

mac80 wrote: »

Thanks lads ! Yeah I'll get the written permission first.
The pitch is on the very outskirts of a town and is used by members of the public out running etc, so I might wait till dark when the gates are shut to have a shot.

I think if I were to put up "Culling in progress" signs it may get a few of the local tree huggers out complaining so what they dont know wont hurt them

I agree a .22 with subs or a decent air rifle would be ideal but I'd be mad not to have a go with the HMR

hmr going off at night on the outskirts of a town? could cause some unwanted attention. find out off the club chairman who owns the pitch and the ground around it. get written permission off them and the club chairman too.

mac80

I appreciate that but their should be less people in the grounds if the gates are closed.
I wont be shooting it for a few weeks anyway as i have to make a dent in the Grey Crow population on my permissions, they seem to have a sixth sense of knowing when they are in danger.
Little grey baxtards are making joke of me. :rolleyes:

rabbit assassin

My local village has recently gotton 2 new pitches for soccar and are currently in the process of creating a 3rd, They are having a major rabbit problem at the moment and the chairman asked would there be anyone who could shoot them. I volunteered and basically Im using a .17hmr with a moderator. Myself and the chairman went around the village telling people that I would be on the pitch shooting the rabbits and asked people to spread the word . Luckily there is a big clay bank going right the way around the pitch and I was able to get very safe shots off. In 1 night I shot 11 rabbits , on returning the following evening I realised I hadnt made a difference in the population as we counted 17 adults sitting out in the sun and about twice as many young rabbits. They have absolutely destroyed the new pitches and the locals are only too happy that Im shooting them. All it takes is just to go round and spread the word , let them know what vehicle you have etc.. its great shooting ...