Reply With QuoteWe did have the sun on are faces for the most part. On the way out of the estate on grass verge was half a dozen right next to main road
Lord GoodWill of Hunting
Yep I'll echo what waylander and fieldandtarget are saying and add a few observation from my own experience for day light rabbit shooting.
At this time of year, evening, with the wind in the west isn't much cop because the sun is low (shining from the same direction as the wind) and usually shining at your position thus lighting it up, camo/cover can help but better with the wind or sun the other way round as controlling your own movement isn't so important and therefore the whole venture is more relaxing plus the available light is lighting up what your trying to shoot.
So generally; with a westerly wind I find it better shooting early morning. Easterly wind, late afternoon/evening, that'll change of course, timings etc variations in wind direction and so on, with the advance of the seasons and as the season retracts at the other end of the year. Weather too has a bearing, but unless it's pouring down it's not that much of an issue at this time of the year.
That means I can stroll out to a shaded position where the wind is coming from the direction I hope to shoot and sit waiting for the rabbits to appear. I've found the best static positions for me tend to be back against a wall-hedge-bank-tree-bush-shed etc so from the rabbits view I'm in the shadow, I don't bother with camo (but I'm not wearing my disco duds either) and find if I stay reasonably still from those sorts of positions it's me thats got the edge, element of surprise until the first whack of pellet on bonce.
Then it's just a case of staying still until things quieten down, actually the tastier 3/4, near full grown guys don't seem that wary so often tend to hang around munching, more fool them
Originally Posted by Beach Ball Steve
Registered User
We did have the sun on are faces for the most part. On the way out of the estate on grass verge was half a dozen right next to main road
Lord GoodWill of Hunting
There could be something in that.We did have the sun on are faces for the most part. On the way out of the estate on grass verge was half a dozen right next to main road
I don't do that much rabbit shooting these days Robert but back in the day, when I had the mania, bad, I spent quite a bit of time trying out all sorts and scoping likely spots. Thats actually the bits that takes the time and if I'm honest the bit I enjoy most. Mainly involved just walking the spots pacing the distance and perhaps putting out a 25 yard distance markers here and there.
Once I'd sussed out a particular in to a bit, I'd store it up in my head and use it when my then Mrs put in an order for a few eaters. I'd check the wind direction, what the light was doing and decide on a spot based on what I though would pay dividends. If I didn't get enough for the Mrs's French recipe (that I can't spell), I'd nip out after dark with the lamp to make up the numbers, around 12 needed to make a proper job of it.
Going alone as Wayler's said, helps too. No chatter and less distraction.
Even with the best planning, best location, sneakiest stalk and ideal conditions, there's lots of other things that can put them down. Predators, on the ground that perhaps aren't obvious to you, or a raptor high above that the bunnies can see but you haven't noticed.
Light wind direction and cover are all worth paying attention to and use them to your advantage, added to that a little canniness with the physical fieldcraft and things will improve greatly opportunity wise. Plus you'll spend much more time simply enjoying the great outdoors observing and learning. Got to get it wrong before you can reliably get it right, thats what I've found.
Registered User
Thats some great advice there I have a plan in my head now. I still enjoyed myself great fun.
Registered User
I suggest practice my friend , learn your ground well and rabbits actions , learn distances and approaches , sometimes ambush is best sometimes its a sit and wait game , hides can work well too , a good quality silencer and an accurate air rifle are superb bunny stoppers.
Make ya own HFT course from spoons on coat hangers or extra strong mints etc and practice
Enjoy
Steve
Registered User
Just walk the ground lots. It's not bravo two zero military operations. The more you walk it the more used to your sound they will get . Enjoy the walk and relax. Shoot any that present themselves. I found the biggest factors to mainly be time of day. Try going at night with a torch if only to get a good idea of where they all are.
Registered User
While to a degree that's true, along with waylar's #10 sit down for a brew & smoke, if I'm openly working in the fields the wildlife takes absolutely no notice of me because I am no threat, but if I stop working & take my rifle off the rack, everything starts to get tense & heads for cover.
I'm certain wildlife can sense when a person or animal decides to become the hunter and starts to take interest in them, I've had foxes happily walk past 20yds away while I'm using a chainsaw in the woods because I'm not being a threat
But when you are hunting & they sense it then you do need to be 100%
Likes to go Commando
It very much depends on the nut behind the butt.
I regularly take rabbits and pigeons at 60yds even in the wind, but I use this rifle most days and know exactly what it will do.
I recall one time I was shooting paper at 90yds whils testing and a crow dropped into the target holder while I was reloading the mag and it was the last thing he ever did. I wouldn't normally take a shot such as this but as I had been printing good groups for over an hour and I was 100% confidant of a clean kill I took the shot. The pellet cleaved a big V through the top of its head so the pellet had more than enough retained energy.
I find FAC air is a invaluable addition to my collection and it has very much become my go to gun for most of the pest control I do. You do have to be a bit more selective with back stops as it will punch straight through 1mm steel that a lot of farm buildings are made of.
But as far as "max" range I class it as whatever range you can hit a half inc target EVERY TIME.
HTH. Hal.
Registered User
It would be great to have FAC air rifle for that extra killing range but for now I am going to try and master sub 12ftlbs. I would of loved to see that 90yard shot with crow amazing.
Registered User
Yep I agree with that its like the ones we seen at road side grazing weren't even bothered about jeep.While to a degree that's true, along with waylar's #10 sit down for a brew & smoke, if I'm openly working in the fields the wildlife takes absolutely no notice of me because I am no threat, but if I stop working & take my rifle off the rack, everything starts to get tense & heads for cover.
I'm certain wildlife can sense when a person or animal decides to become the hunter and starts to take interest in them, I've had foxes happily walk past 20yds away while I'm using a chainsaw in the woods because I'm not being a threat
But when you are hunting & they sense it then you do need to be 100%
Registered User
I always found ambushing them was best,find out where they are, they usually don't stray far from their burrows when feeding,make sure your down wind from them and fairly concealed either naturally or some camo or drab coloured clothing,make sure your in range I.E ideally about 25 yds no further if your not that experienced then get a comfortable shooting position and wait for them to appear.If they're already out when you arrive they'll bolt for cover but usually reappear after a reasonably short while if you're prepared to be patient
Last edited by Patrick 2; 20-04-2014 at 05:17 PM.
Registered User
Most animals I believe respond to seeing two eyes, something to do with predators looking at them? There is some field craft involved as it were. I'm just pointing out he doesn't NEED to go and buy full camo and start crawling around as that must be a real ball ache way to waste an afternoon if it doesn't work.
Banned
Snake Plissken, would have made an excellent rabbit hunter.
Waylander
Registered User
And if rabbit's good enough for Del-Boy, it's good enough for anyone!: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/box...lash-July.html
Registered User
It's always that thing that if you see a rabbit/pigeon off to one side it clocks you but stays there. If you turn to use both eyes (as a predator would to judge distance etc) the scarper. Obviously not an all round working model.....
Posting Permissions