secretagentmole 1,701 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Well this afternoon I went to my permission to learn the lie of the land, experiment with Mole Hole 1 and hopefully get a rabbit or two. Anyway the ambient temperature was barely above freezing, so I was expecting to be frozen in the hole, anyway this was the best corner to set up in, as there was a dirty great pile of horse droppings in the other... There are holes in the grass indicating rabbit runs all the way down the field and along the bottom of the field, they are tunnelled in the banks of the drainage ditches. Walking down with the owner a couple of large ones lolloped into the hedges and disappeared, so Mole decided to keep warm... So that looks a bit spare and spartan and I bought this, so over goes the camo net... So I lie down in there to wait for rabbits, realising I had left the headphones for my mobile at home, no darned radio! I waited, and waited, and waited some more. I can report that the camping mats work, they keep you warm. I decided, probably unwisely, to go for a walk and noted where the runs were round the field. The horses in the top paddocks paid me slight interest, trying to figure out what the fool at the bottom of the field was doing, no rabbits still so play some games on the mobile, stuff like Monopoly so should cotton tail venture out, I can get him! No cotton tail, one did poke it's head out and scamper round a bit 100 yards away. I did try stalking it, but cover was scant and it could see me easily, so bugs bunnied off. A fruitless day in terms of bag, but very fruitful in terms of scouting the land. The land owner says that the other people with permission usually lamp the varmints, and I might have a go at that. So any tips would be useful... Will keep you updated as to Moles attempts to avoid hypothermia and bag a bunny! Quote Link to post
StevoSmith 147 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 It does kinda stand out a bit there mole.....however if you leave it there for a while and let weather get to it to remove smells and so on im sure bug's and co will be quite happy to bound around the hide.....what range are you from the nearest run/warren?......Spend a good 5-6 hours in there watching and learning thier habbits and take plenty of coffee to keep warm im sure you will be getting some for the pot soon enough Quote Link to post
secretagentmole 1,701 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 There are runs up and down the field, at the most 6 feet apart, I was about 15 foot from the run that appeared most recently used, but according to the landowner the bunnies are variable some nights dozens, other nights none (a fox is active in the area). The wind was blowing straight down the tent door, so any scent (in theory) would have gone straight back over the tent into the fields behind (I hope). But I was hoping, not expecting to get one! Luckily coq au vin for dinner tonight anyway! Coffee would have been a good idea as would a torch! Going to have to clear a bit more behind the hide, tent, whatever. This is new to me, my previous hunting exploits were under beach houses so this is the first hide I built myself! Built myself, lol, take out of bag, shake and stake down! Two pegs were all that were needed, hopefully in summer it wont be quite so prominent! Quote Link to post
StevoSmith 147 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 (edited) By looking at the position of your hide it has hedges and a mound of summit behind it....this depending on wind direction will make for a unstable downwind site......as the hedges and the like will divert and displace the wind....if you were 15 feet from the warren/run im pretty sure bug's would have heard you moving and quite possibly smell you also....you should try make it atleast 10-15 meters/yards .....4.5 meters is just to close mate thier accute hearing and sence of smell is immence bud....im sure you will find a spot that give's you good distance but the chance of a humane KZ shot....50 foot is a tad over 15 meters way inside the average zero range of a .22 of 25-30 meters Edited January 31, 2011 by StevoSmith Quote Link to post
secretagentmole 1,701 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 I think you could be right there, as the rabbit that did appear was about 50 yards away! So I might have to find a new vantage point, but they are very used to human and horse contact, or so I am assured, they just object to humans carrying things like sticks... I will keep experimenting to get the set up right, remember, if at first you don't succeed, do not take up sky diving... 1 Quote Link to post
StevoSmith 147 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 It's a learning curve mate and you will get there Quote Link to post
Sweeney-Todd 208 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Hiya Moley. Good on you mate, looks like your having a ball experimenting on your new permission. Wont be long before you get the lay of the land. Good luck next time out. Bill. Quote Link to post
secretagentmole 1,701 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Any good lamping posts on here? After speaking to the owner there are two other permissions who tend to lamp on there! Quote Link to post
Sweeney-Todd 208 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Any good lamping posts on here? After speaking to the owner there are two other permissions who tend to lamp on there! Hi Moley. Do a search mate, there is a lot of great info to be had, also check out zini, and Davys pots on you tube. The pair of them have learnt well from me You could also try to meet up with the other lads shooting there, and ask to go along with them for a spot of learning. They can only say no, and you may well end up with a couple of shooting buddies, never know. ATB. Bill. Quote Link to post
Alex Arrigone 24 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 hey mate nice tent, not so subtle though i wouldnt suggest going out hunting for rabbits in the day time. me and my mate have 2 permissions and have yet to see one in the day! rabbits , in winter anyway, tend to be out from dusk to dawn. we go lamping at weekends. we tend to see around 8-15 rabbits a session. you'll soon scope out the rabbit hot spots. you'll find it much easier than sitting there all day. hope this helped a little 1 Quote Link to post
secretagentmole 1,701 Posted February 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 It has done, thanks all, now going and researching lamp attacks, somewhere I know I have that half million candle power re-chargeable torch, just need some gaffer tape... Quote Link to post
lampingboy 312 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 LOL dont bother pal ,i get a propper lamp if i was you! you wont regret it Quote Link to post
StevoSmith 147 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 You will also find that permissions that have been lamped for a period of time will make the bunnys very lamp shy more so to white light........if you are going to lamp try diff filters so not to spook the bunnys.......on mine and tus's new permission we find the bug's have a serious issue with white light......if we use red filter they tend to squat and stay which as you are aware make for easy targets...but you can get green/blue and so on its a game of chance so t speak and good luck with it 1 Quote Link to post
secretagentmole 1,701 Posted February 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 (edited) Looking into this seriously, but may delay it, the wife is muttering something about an air rifle from the village I was born in as a nice little prezzie, I was born in Sutton Cambridgeshire, so three guesses chaps! Idea being put on ice for the moment.... Edited February 2, 2011 by secretagentmole Quote Link to post
19powell90 89 Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 go lamping mate! much better chance of rabbits. get one of these for lamping there mint: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ULTRAFIRE-TORCH-WF-501B-250-LUMENS-CREE-LAMPING-HUNTING-/260713899068?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item3cb3c2643c atb scott Quote Link to post
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