Bad luck or just bad fieldcraft?

[Erik Hamburger 0]

I would appreciate some advice to turn around my continuous bad luck with hunting rabbits on one of my more challenging permissions.

 

It is basically a square field of grass with fencing marking the borders, thick impenetrable hedgerows next to the fences, and no other natural cover apart from a few drinking troughs. The field measures approx 200M x 400M. Access is through one gate which is normally locked so I need to climb over it.

One of the long borders is one continuous active rabbit warren consisting of a rarely used public footpath flanked by two watery ditches, intensely thick jungle-like scrub, and a 2-feet high bank resembling a Swiss cheese due to the warrens. The footpath and scrub itself is not part of my permission – but this is where the rabbits live and come out from, to feed on the field.

 

When I arrive and quietly observe the field from behind the gate there is plenty of rabbit activity (At any time of day), but entering the field – however stealthily- normally results in all rabbits running off. Note that every corner of the field can be observed from every other corner.

 

A couple of winter-night lamping sessions have been unsuccessful apart from the odd chance – again once there has been some human activity they all seem to disappear.

Yesterday, with an Easterly wind, I saw my change (the gate is on the West) and took some netting to build a simple hide against the fence parallel to the footpath, with a view to lay prone in hiding for 20-30 min, wait for activity to resume, and take out rabbits as they entered the field to feed, shooting in an Easterly direction. I was ready for them by 6pm and sunset was just after 8pm. The only possible disadvantage was that the sun was setting behind me (I was facing East) so I had more “backlight†than I was comfortable with. But there is just no natural cover.

 

I observed that most rabbit activity returned to normal within 15-20min. – but all well out of range, typically 75-100M away – including downwind from my position! It was as if they knew that I had an airgun and my effective range was a max. of 35M! There were two opportunities for a challenging shot at the max. of my range but the moment I slightly raised myself to take the shot (and missed!) the entire field showed me fluffy white tails disappearing at speed into the brush – immensely frustrating. The rabbits nearest to you run off, then the group of rabbits next to them runs off, and before you know the entire field is empty.

 

I feel particularly frustrated because whenever and wherever I go for a walk with my wife or take the dog in the Cotswold Hills where I live, I seem to fall over rabbits everywhere – and well within 35M!.

 

And just anticipating some questions/comments- Yes I was very quiet, yes I was wearing black/green clothing, head-cover and covered my face, yes I know my range, and yes I am aware rabbits are mainly sensitive to smells and sounds. The farmer claims the field is not hunted, and I am the only person with shooting permission. I visit the field on average once every three weeks – normally unsuccessfully! (Some 7-8 trips of 1-2 hours each, and I have shot just one (!) rabbit – and that was on my first ever hunting trip within the first 30 min. during a sunny autumn afternoon).

 

If anybody is familiar with a similar challenging field and can give some tips/hints on a good hunting strategy I would be most grateful! Thank you.

[stubby 175]

I too have a simular shoot permission, with same results,

I'd say, do as I did, FERRET the bunnies out

[jacob 28]

have you thought about longnetting it.

Edited April 17, 2008 by jacob

[Malt 379]

I'd suggest a few ferrets, & some purse nets.

[Guest bigredbusa]

great post , if the hedges are that thick you cant ferret i would stick with the hide , maybe try from another corner or the other side .

you seem to know what you are doing so i presume you just have a hard field to get round . im surprised you are not hitting at night tho , maybe try NV ???

[stillair1 16]

Is the farmer going round with a tweleve bore when your not there?

[SEAN3513 7]

i know its easy to say....................but....time and paitence and them some more time and even more paitience.

 

we had a similar situation when we where rifle shooting(rimfire) and we just put longer sessions in and it eventually paid off but if the rabbits are easily spooked dont supose theres much else to do...........perhaps STILLAIR 1 has raised an interesting point??!!

 

hope whatever you do mate pays off and good luck..

[davyt63 1,845]

hi erik

have you tride a dawn raid ? stay till midday av some lunch & then back at it till dusk.

long hours but some times long hours have good results. hope you sort it out if you need nv assistance im in swindon

not far from the cotswolds pm me good luck

happy hunting

 

davy

[stillair1 16]

It would not be the first time a farmer has been doing a bit of diy, but keeping quite. You get a feel for these things afer a while, if the recycle time is more than half an hour I would say somebody has been having a pop in your absense as you seem to be doing things right.

Might be worth starting earlier in the afternoon say in position by 2.30pm and plenty of patience as Sean said.

Probably the best wind conditions would be with the wind blowing from behind the holes and out into the field where the bank and brambles would give shelter for the rabbits and your scent would be blown away from the holes rather than into the holes behind you if you are working a long warren bank.

Wind can do funny things as it meets hedge rows and banks.

[gandalf 0]

I would appreciate some advice to turn around my continuous bad luck with hunting rabbits on one of my more challenging permissions.

 

It is basically a square field of grass with fencing marking the borders, thick impenetrable hedgerows next to the fences, and no other natural cover apart from a few drinking troughs. The field measures approx 200M x 400M. Access is through one gate which is normally locked so I need to climb over it.

One of the long borders is one continuous active rabbit warren consisting of a rarely used public footpath flanked by two watery ditches, intensely thick jungle-like scrub, and a 2-feet high bank resembling a Swiss cheese due to the warrens. The footpath and scrub itself is not part of my permission – but this is where the rabbits live and come out from, to feed on the field.

 

When I arrive and quietly observe the field from behind the gate there is plenty of rabbit activity (At any time of day), but entering the field – however stealthily- normally results in all rabbits running off. Note that every corner of the field can be observed from every other corner.

 

A couple of winter-night lamping sessions have been unsuccessful apart from the odd chance – again once there has been some human activity they all seem to disappear.

Yesterday, with an Easterly wind, I saw my change (the gate is on the West) and took some netting to build a simple hide against the fence parallel to the footpath, with a view to lay prone in hiding for 20-30 min, wait for activity to resume, and take out rabbits as they entered the field to feed, shooting in an Easterly direction. I was ready for them by 6pm and sunset was just after 8pm. The only possible disadvantage was that the sun was setting behind me (I was facing East) so I had more “backlight†than I was comfortable with. But there is just no natural cover.

 

I observed that most rabbit activity returned to normal within 15-20min. – but all well out of range, typically 75-100M away – including downwind from my position! It was as if they knew that I had an airgun and my effective range was a max. of 35M! There were two opportunities for a challenging shot at the max. of my range but the moment I slightly raised myself to take the shot (and missed!) the entire field showed me fluffy white tails disappearing at speed into the brush – immensely frustrating. The rabbits nearest to you run off, then the group of rabbits next to them runs off, and before you know the entire field is empty.

 

I feel particularly frustrated because whenever and wherever I go for a walk with my wife or take the dog in the Cotswold Hills where I live, I seem to fall over rabbits everywhere – and well within 35M!.

 

And just anticipating some questions/comments- Yes I was very quiet, yes I was wearing black/green clothing, head-cover and covered my face, yes I know my range, and yes I am aware rabbits are mainly sensitive to smells and sounds. The farmer claims the field is not hunted, and I am the only person with shooting permission. I visit the field on average once every three weeks – normally unsuccessfully! (Some 7-8 trips of 1-2 hours each, and I have shot just one (!) rabbit – and that was on my first ever hunting trip within the first 30 min. during a sunny autumn afternoon).

 

If anybody is familiar with a similar challenging field and can give some tips/hints on a good hunting strategy I would be most grateful! Thank you.

hi eric

i wrote about the same problem i had on here a while back and the advice i was given was not to worry about spooking them when you arrive go as far as walking up to the warrens then pace out your zeroed distance wind behind you if possible if not dont worry bout it then take the prone position get comfortable as you may have a long wait full cammo and a good net over you keep STILL,QUIET and you will get results thats what i did and it worked but you have to be patient.good luck let us know how you get on

[jamie g 17]

I would appreciate some advice to turn around my continuous bad luck with hunting rabbits on one of my more challenging permissions.

 

It is basically a square field of grass with fencing marking the borders, thick impenetrable hedgerows next to the fences, and no other natural cover apart from a few drinking troughs. The field measures approx 200M x 400M. Access is through one gate which is normally locked so I need to climb over it.

One of the long borders is one continuous active rabbit warren consisting of a rarely used public footpath flanked by two watery ditches, intensely thick jungle-like scrub, and a 2-feet high bank resembling a Swiss cheese due to the warrens. The footpath and scrub itself is not part of my permission – but this is where the rabbits live and come out from, to feed on the field.

 

When I arrive and quietly observe the field from behind the gate there is plenty of rabbit activity (At any time of day), but entering the field – however stealthily- normally results in all rabbits running off. Note that every corner of the field can be observed from every other corner.

 

A couple of winter-night lamping sessions have been unsuccessful apart from the odd chance – again once there has been some human activity they all seem to disappear.

Yesterday, with an Easterly wind, I saw my change (the gate is on the West) and took some netting to build a simple hide against the fence parallel to the footpath, with a view to lay prone in hiding for 20-30 min, wait for activity to resume, and take out rabbits as they entered the field to feed, shooting in an Easterly direction. I was ready for them by 6pm and sunset was just after 8pm. The only possible disadvantage was that the sun was setting behind me (I was facing East) so I had more “backlight†than I was comfortable with. But there is just no natural cover.

 

I observed that most rabbit activity returned to normal within 15-20min. – but all well out of range, typically 75-100M away – including downwind from my position! It was as if they knew that I had an airgun and my effective range was a max. of 35M! There were two opportunities for a challenging shot at the max. of my range but the moment I slightly raised myself to take the shot (and missed!) the entire field showed me fluffy white tails disappearing at speed into the brush – immensely frustrating. The rabbits nearest to you run off, then the group of rabbits next to them runs off, and before you know the entire field is empty.

 

I feel particularly frustrated because whenever and wherever I go for a walk with my wife or take the dog in the Cotswold Hills where I live, I seem to fall over rabbits everywhere – and well within 35M!.

 

And just anticipating some questions/comments- Yes I was very quiet, yes I was wearing black/green clothing, head-cover and covered my face, yes I know my range, and yes I am aware rabbits are mainly sensitive to smells and sounds. The farmer claims the field is not hunted, and I am the only person with shooting permission. I visit the field on average once every three weeks – normally unsuccessfully! (Some 7-8 trips of 1-2 hours each, and I have shot just one (!) rabbit – and that was on my first ever hunting trip within the first 30 min. during a sunny autumn afternoon).

 

If anybody is familiar with a similar challenging field and can give some tips/hints on a good hunting strategy I would be most grateful! Thank you.

 

put a pic of the field up mate it will give us a better clue of it they will come out just got to sit dead still and wait. other then that ferret it and stand back with 410 shotgun