Rabbit 'Control'

i_steal_sheep

They are taking over. Literally. There seems to be a population explosion this year and this is causing a number of problems. The first is that their underground warrens are now causing the ground to collapse above them and I'm afraid that livestock are going to get hurt if a foot goes down. They are also destroying a lot of the hedgerow planting that we are trying to do over time around the farm. Even with the bark protected on the saplings, they are digging little holes in around the roots. We've a large tract of land that sits on a bed of limestone and this is ideal territory for them.

Long story short, I want to reseed 7 acres in the next 10 days and I know (from past experience) that they are going to destroy any attempt I make at getting a nice crop of grass returning. We've had a group of lads in, in the past with Ferrets and they were great at controlling the population - they would catch the rabbits live with nets and bring them away. These lads are no longer in the business so I'm just wondering if anyone else is interested in the job. The farm is literally overrun. I am in Roscommon if it makes any difference...

i_steal_sheep

I should also add, I am open to whatever means are necessary to 'control' the rabbits. .22 / ferrets / all welcome.

Birdnuts

You should post this thread in the hunting forum:http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1014

where you should get plenty of offers of help:)

Sindri

I have a similar problem. Up until last year I would see maybe 2 or 3 a year mainly on my neighbors land around some sandy banks.

This year they're after infesting my land. Literally yesterday I seen 3 in the space of 5 minutes out the back early in the morning. My dog killed a few but he's dead now. Is there anything I can do?

Sorry for hopping in here i_steal_sheep.

i_steal_sheep

Sindri wrote: »

I have a similar problem. Up until last year I would see maybe 2 or 3 a year mainly on my neighbors land around some sandy banks.

This year they're after infesting my land. Literally yesterday I seen 3 in the space of 5 minutes out the back early in the morning. My dog killed a few but he's dead now. Is there anything I can do?

Sorry for hopping in here i_steal_sheep.

Yesterday evening I walked up the farm avenue to one of the paddocks, I could have counted more than 20 and it's only a 200m walk. The place is literally alive with them - when I say a population explosion, I mean it :-). Our labrador has stopped chasing them - maybe he has just got lazy or maybe there is no fun in it for him anymore.

fepper

same here,they are plenty here too,coming into farmyard now these days!!where is the mixamatosis gone?

rosser44

i_steal_sheep wrote: »

They are taking over. Literally. There seems to be a population explosion this year and this is causing a number of problems. The first is that their underground warrens are now causing the ground to collapse above them and I'm afraid that livestock are going to get hurt if a foot goes down. They are also destroying a lot of the hedgerow planting that we are trying to do over time around the farm. Even with the bark protected on the saplings, they are digging little holes in around the roots. We've a large tract of land that sits on a bed of limestone and this is ideal territory for them.

Long story short, I want to reseed 7 acres in the next 10 days and I know (from past experience) that they are going to destroy any attempt I make at getting a nice crop of grass returning. We've had a group of lads in, in the past with Ferrets and they were great at controlling the population - they would catch the rabbits live with nets and bring them away. These lads are no longer in the business so I'm just wondering if anyone else is interested in the job. The farm is literally overrun. I am in Roscommon if it makes any difference...

Hi Mr sheepstealer, I have replied to the thread in the hunting forum, please feel free to PM me for contact details.

Alan 1990

If it was a bit closer id help out no bother sorry lad. If anyone else is having similar problems pm me I'm based in Wexford. Have a shotgun and .22 rifle.
Cheers
Alan

dicky82

where is it?

tahina

Get the travellers in to go lamping rabbits mind you i doubt you would want them snooping around your land. I say get a gun licesence and sort them out yourself. If ya want a job done right you have to do it yourself thats my motto

blue5000

We'd need to start a health craze saying rabbit meat is really good for your heart. Create a demand for them:)

tahina

blue5000 wrote: »

We'd need to start a health craze saying rabbit meat is really good for your heart. Create a demand for them:)

Think of the profits =D organic free range rabbit =P

milkprofit

Get guy with Ferret and hawk

Bizzum

tahina wrote: »

If ya want a job done right you have to do it yourself thats my motto

Wat would you do if you had a broken tooth and needed it out?

Do it yourself or get a professional?

Askim

blue5000 wrote: »

We'd need to start a health craze saying rabbit meat is really good for your heart. Create a demand for them:)

does anyone have Dickie Corrigan's number ?????

blue5000

Askim wrote: »

does anyone have Dickie Corrigan's number ?????

Twoud be a lot better than your average chicken anyway:P

Farmer Pudsey

There is a way of netting them you need a lot of net to funnell them into an area where you catch and dispatch them. Below is website that explains how it is done and there is a bit on youtube about it. Much more efficient than shooting seems you can dispatch a good few on the one night you be lucky to shoot 3 or 4.
http://www.how-to-hunt-rabbit.com/Longnetting.html

ianoo

a good lad with a moderated .22 and a lamp would put a fair hole in the population over a few nights ,with a few regular return visits in the following weeks your problem rabbits would be sorted ,you are too far up the country for me to help sorry ,but if anyone around the waterford area has a simillar problem give me a shout ;)

ian....

Alan 1990

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Much more efficient than shooting seems you can dispatch a good few on the one night you be lucky to shoot 3 or 4.

Sorry lad don't agree with that, on a good night i could easily get triple that, that's if they are as numerous as reported which no doubt they are.
That's using a .22 with mod with just myself, bring a buddy along and could maybe double that so I reckon shooting is fairly effective to decrease te numbers a lot over a couple of days/nights.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

In my opinion, these guys do a great job of rabbit control when they are left to their own.

IIIAcHmEdIII

a lad with a .22LR could take 10 in a evenings walk about if he is good enough. Shame your to far away doh, I'm based in waterford so if anyone around waterford is haveing a similar problem id be more then happy to give you some help.

Ryan

Steyr243Hunter

"We'd need to start a health craze saying rabbit meat is really good for your heart. Create a demand for them"

Yea rabbit really is a healthy option.

I had it here before http://www.stjohnbreadandwine.com/
very nice!

dodderangler

mate i do hunt down in athleague so ur not to far away from where i hunt i from dublin but for good day huntin id travel id bring me ferret and the nets and maybe the harris hawk in the future but for now just the ferret i can pm u my number if u want to contact me my mate had similiar problems and my ferret got 33 rabbits in space on 3 hours which was good day
atb

johngalway

Combined arms is the way forward :cool:

Lamping with .22lr/.17HMR at night.

Shoot them during the day also.

Ferret them, either into nets, out to dogs & nets, or to guns.

After all that your rabbit population will be much diminished.

Rabbit drop boxes work. BUT, the large problem associated with them is the need for rabbit proof fencing to funnel the little buggers through the trap.

Anolly

know this is an old post but anybody Havin trouble with rabbits in wicklow area give is a shout ready and waitin to sort any vermin problem.