first rabbit got away

[BSA lightning boy]

last night i went to visit one of my new shoots, i saw lots of rabbits, but couldnt hit a thing.
Then when i was walking back i looked into the paddock and saw loads they ran except one which stood yp on its back legs and watched me, i aimed the rifle and shot the rabbit @ 30 yards, and by the time i got into the field the rabbit had crawled off, i am very upset because of this and wondered if it had happened to any one else, this would have been my first ever rabbit and now i feel really bad about it dying somewhere itn pain <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_frown.gif" alt="Frown" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

[BuddyBoy]

It happens occasionally unfortunately <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_frown.gif" alt="Frown" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

Good thing you feel bad, less likely to allow happen again..

BTW Not to be critical, but what kind of accuracy do you normally achieve at that range from the position you took the shot in - first shot <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

Also, try and take em away from cover / holes etc if pos, so as you can get there quick before they get away in case anything goes wrong.

HTH - JB

[logunshooter]

This happens only too often I'm afraid. Well done on having a conscience.

[phuttmutter]

Its down in the warren sayin 'you never guess what just happened to me. some punk took a shot at me with a springer, caught me right in the bonce, look at this wound willya!, I'm gonna have me one cool scar'

[Ao]

Well, my brother shot a rabbit once by the side of a fence at about 20yds (Shooting over the fence - along the fence). Cimbed the fence and it had gone. Bare field surrounding for miles with no sign of the rabbit? The fence was about 1m high and it had been dug into the ground? Did it jump the fence? <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_eek.gif" alt="Eek" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" width="15" height="22"><!--graemlin:-->

These things happen?

[Sid]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BSA lightning boy:
this would have been my first ever rabbit and now i feel really bad about it dying somewhere itn pain <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_frown.gif" alt="Frown" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->[/quote]

Don't be too upset, just let the experience remind you to do plenty of practise with your Lightning on paper targets.
I'm not saying theres anything wrong with your shooting now, but keeping sharp is a good thing <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:-->

As for the rabbit, I have seen them leap into undergrowth or down holes even after a righteous brain shot, so it's not certain that it suffered.

[Mo2]

I've shot rabbits with a 12 bore and they've still managed to get back into the hedge. Sent my dog in and she's picked them up just a couple of feet away - stone dead. Its the adrenalin and automatic reflex that does it even though they're mortally wounded. All you can do is mark the spot when you shoot and then go and have a look and a listen. Also remember that you get a fair recoil with a Lightening so you need to either be on the ground or be holding the gun against a tree or fence. Altrenatively, take a cleft stick with you and use it as long tripod like the deerstalkers use. Stick comes in handy for looking for shot rabbits as well.

[HMR_UK.]

I was out shooting with my brother not this sunday the sunday before and he shot a young rabbit in the face with my HMR.
It was jumping around (nerves) and by the time we got there it had kicked itself into a hole and dissapeard. This rabbit had its head spread over the sand bank brains blood and skull were found but it still dissapeard!!!

Just because things have no heads it doesnt mean they cant run! (Its just nerves <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:--> )

Regards
HMR_UK.

[Elmo Fudd]

Hi, my advice is mainly the same as someone else said. Practise on the paper until you can hit the sweet spot with your FIRST SHOT from different shooting positions especially standing. move around after every shot, left, right, forwards and backwards. DON'T rest your rifle on anything, as the recoil will kick the rifle a different way to your practising shots. I wouldn't worry about 'the one that got away' too much...it happens to the best of shooters unfortunately.

Happy Hunting

[HARDRAR]

Its good to have one, but don't let it get to you!
Last season I shot an adult hare that was squat in a tramline on a wheat stubble from 45 yards with a rimfire. It took off and ran 400 yards down the tram line to the bottom headland about 200 yards along the bottom headland, back up another tramline and then dropped about 20 yards off the top headland. It had a hole straight through the back of its' head behind the eye that you could see daylight through, which was exactly where I expected to have hit, its left flank being completely red. This is all down to nerves and does happen occasionally, which can be off putting to the new hunter.

[BSA lightning boy]

hi again
thanks for the replies, i feel a little better now.
at that sort of range i normally get all my shots in a group about the size of a 50p piece
i am not really new to hunter as i have done a fair bit of crow and rook shooting but rabbit shooting is new to me!
i practise alot of paper targets at home, i aimed for a head shot but must have got the rabbit in the neck area
i am practising alot every day now and will be shooting again in the next few days at another new shoot( 250 arces!) i now have 3 shoots and im only 14, im very plesed
thanks again guys
adam