Historic bunny hunting

[kombi1976]

Many of you would remember the bunny hunt I had among the vines a couple of months back. Well, Jane who spotted for me then also does conservation work at a historic house not far from here. Unfortunately as they plant trees the rabbits there are wreaking havoc. Jane had told me about it alot before but there's due process to go through when culling pests on government properties like that so it was a while before we could proceed.

That was supposed to be the first Sunday night of my holidays, over 2 weeks back, but both of us were feeling the effects of the flu and we postponed the outing. I meant to do it last week but we're selling our house so we needed to prep it for photos and inspections so the shoot didn't happen. Then Jane was over for bible study last night and said "We need to do this as we're planting seedlings this week." So we set the date and headed out there tonight. I almost didn't go because my back has been playing up badly all day. Lucky I persisted.

I was a little prepared for the number of rabbits but the sight that met me was staggering. There were at least a hundred - probably double that. Unfortunately I lacked the presence of mind to load as soon as we rolled in the gate. Still, I'd never been there before and it's better safe than sorry so I loaded my Anschutz 1400 22lr and we nailed a couple to begin with, then set about the task.

Walking about with a hand spot was mildly effective and we knocked over a few more but it began to run out of power so we headed back to the car and set out with the main spotlight. The figures began to mount up and eventually Jane said "I've got a tarp so you can lay them out for a photo". I thought about it and said "Well, how about we pick them up as we go and put them in the tarp in the back of the car." So we set the tarp in the CRV so it wouldn't leak blood, etc into the car and tossed them in as we went.

Jane is a decent spotter and we knocked over many down on the river flat in a field connected to the house. Soon we began to fill up the tarp and grab previous kills as well. Oddly enough we came across rabbits I'd forgotten about and tossed them in. Finally when we returned to the house yard we had a LOT of rabbits. So in the end we came away with 16 rabbits in the tarp.



But no sooner had we packed everything away and got ready to leave I said "Isn't that another dead rabbit there on the grass?" It was......17.



Then Jane said "What about the one under the tree over there?".........18.



And they were only the ones we found. One lay dead in the grass on the other side of a fence I couldn't get over. Another 2 were hidden in the culverts and clods of the river flat field and a 4th was somewhere in the long grass beside the river. And they're the missing ones I can remember!!

So, the tally for the evening turned out to be 22. Not a massive dent in 150 to 200 but a good start. I can't really shoot there too often. The proximity to neighbouring properties and roads makes it diplomatically difficult. But it was good fun and Jane was a brilliant spotter.

[briarpatch]

You could feed a third world country with all that meat. Good work. Thanks for the pics.

[Jacko]

Good work Kombi, Yes definitely a fair feed there, probably a few for the dog also. In bsrecurves thread you said you where jealous - WELL me too  Envy may be a sin mate but it's a powerfull motivator also

regards Jacko

[kombi1976]

I understand your feelings of jealously, mate, but mine spring from never actually nailing a pig.
Tell ya what, if you come down next time we head out you can join me.......so long as you take me pig hunting.
I mean that.

[Jacko]

  I'm amused Kombi, Pigs are hard to come by in your neck of the woods and where I hunt Rabbits are not so common.

Pigs, next to Goats are the most commonly sighted game in all the districts I hunt. The bloody rabbits are so clued in on one place I hunt it's a real cause for celebration if you shoot one with Bow, Rifle or trap one.

I would like to meet up with you and trade Hunts one day, I only have minor narcissistic tendencies , just ask bsrecurve

regards Jacko

[kombi1976]

I would like to meet up with you and trade Hunts one day, I only have minor narcissistic tendencies , just ask bsrecurve

It would be good to hunt our own regions and guide each other.
Just the travelling!
Now, when you say narcissistic, do you mean you catch you reflection in puddles and are gripped by the beauty of your physique, so much that you stand for hours and the game wanders idly past? 

[jlwilliams]

  It's been my understanding that goats and pigs are not indigenous to Austarailia, New Zealand, (or any of the Pacific islands)  Is that correct?  Are rabbits a likewise invasive species?  Your story sure sounds like a species out of whack and that's often the case with 'transplants'.

  Is airgun hunting popular for rabbit down there? It's big in a lot of places and getting bigger here in the USA.  Modern airguns are great and getting better.  They are an excellent option when the game is small and noise is a factor.  What they lack in range can be a blessing when you want to keep your projos close .

[Jacko]

No mate, I expect you to admire me  , , but stay a step behind  

Yes Kombi Distance is the Killer. I was actually meant to be in Hawksberry right now after spending 3 or 4 days hunting down at Mingoola for a Traditional Archery shoot but Work [ the real Narcs ] canceled my 2 weeks long service I was taking - its a long story - not happy  

I'll be trying again for some more Long Service sometime in the New Year. My Dad has relatives in the Goulburn district that I have never meet that I want to meet  before they pass on. Perhaps we could keep this in mind if I can get down that way to meet them.

regards Jacko

[kombi1976]

Rabbits, hares, foxes, cats, dogs, goats, pigs, deer, camel, donkeys, brumbies (wild horses), scrub bulls (wild cattle) and Asiatic water buffalo are all pest species here in Oz. They are all problematic to a greater or lesser extent and are regarded as vermin although deer are more and more being managed rather than being hunted into oblivion. Some people like that. Others, mainly non-hunting conservationists, reckon it's illogical.

PCP air guns are picking up pace as rabbit guns but as our bunny hunting is mainly in the open away from towns it isn't a problem. In conservation culls however they can be valuable. The media has done a great disservice in describing anyone who hunts as a redneck with few brains and a screw loose. Few understand that the sizable dent in feral numbers each year which helps national parks and people appreciate is done by shooters. As such any covert method to lower feral populations in close to built up areas is a help.

Jacko, that sounds like a great opportunity to meet up. That way we can sit down with a beer and chat and I'll see if I can line something up while you're down. Sound ok? I can't guarantee anything in terms of bunny numbers but, hey, you never know.

[Jacko]

G/Day jlwilliams

yes mate your right Pigs , Goats, Rabbits, Deer , Buffalo and a host of other popular Australian game are all introduced. Since Myxomatosis 60 odd years ago and rabbit calicivirus around 20 years ago where introduced on top of poor seasons the Rabbit population had been under reasonable control compared to pre 1950's when they threatened the nations farmland. They are adaptable little blighters and since a decade old drought has all but broken recently particularly up and down the east coast and inland areas they have started to be found in plague proportions again as natural selection and good seasons help them overcome the virus's. They are now spreading into area's they never have been.

I notice that in recent years more high power Air Rifles are available in Australia but none of my mates have them. We have BS Gun Control laws here that mean adults must have a licence to own and use them. I think a child has to be 12 years of age in order to legally use a firearm and then only under strict supervision by a licenced adult. I note that an Air Rifle with the kind of performance needed to take Rabbits at moderate range is often WAY more expensive than a .22 Rimfire, this is what keeps me from buying one.

regards Jacko