Rabbits

Rabbit are excellent quarry.
Not only do they provide a superb challenge in hunting them but they put excellent food on the table!

Identification

Rabbits are small mammals found throughout the United Kingdom, they range in size from approx 20cm (and just under .5kg) to 50cm and over 2kg. One of the most obvious characteristics is the large ears, these can be more than 10cm long. Their colouring is generally brown but a range of shades are often seen ranging from a very pale buff through gray and onto black. They have a small fluffy tail, brownish in colour on top and white underneath that issues as a warning "flag" as they run for cover.

Habitat

Rabbits live in social groups, their burrows are collectively called warrens. They are typically found in..

Food

Rabbits are herbivores who feed by grazing on grass, forbs, and leafy weeds. They often compete with livestock who share the fields, this provides an excellent reason for an enthusiastic hunter to offer the services of "pest control" to the land owner.

Habits

Rabbits can be seen outside, in the fields pretty much throughout the day and night. Although activity appears to increase about an hour before dusk and remain higher throughout the night until just after dawn. They tend to be in greater numbers around the edges of the fields where they can dart for cover in a few seconds. However, don't discount the

middle of a field, particularly if there is long grass to provide cover. You will also see rabbits on any raised ground, being a prey animal, they will obviously take advantage of any vantage point available - to look out for danger.

Reproduction

Well what can we say? They breed like the proverbial "rabbits"!

Techniques

There are two main ways to hunt rabbits. which one you choose will depend very much on your shoot and your personal preference.

Stalking

Stalking to within range of a rabbit takes a huge amount of control and concentration. Coney eye sight is not particularly good, but they can detect movement very well. Often the stalk will fail. Many times it will fail for reasons beyond your control, the appearance of a fox, buzzard or another human for example.

Rabbits apparently see in "vertical strips". These "strips" help it detect movement. So the best way to stalk a bunny is to go directly towards it. This will mean your movement, from a rabbits point of view, will be just you getting larger and larger, but not triggering any additional strips. Other rabbits will flee, as your movement across their vision is picked up, but your quarry stands less chance of seeing you.

As you approach keep your arms close to you body and your legs close together. Light suddenly appearing in a gap inside your elbow will alert Flopsey of your presence.

Slow smooth movements are the order of the day. Any sudden jerky action will result in a little white tail bobbin towards the hedge or fence and out of sight.

Rabbits alert others to danger by thumping their feet, so slow gentle steps will mask your approach. Rolling your weight from heal to toe will create as little sound and vibration as possible.

Use your field craft to the best advantage. A fence post or tree to cover your movement works remarkable well.

Ambushing

If you are fortunate enough to find a warren, look for good ambush spots. A place you can sit\stand or lay for an extended period of time comfortably. This type of hunting requires you to get into position before your target arrives. You then have the advantage of seeing their movement while you can remain still.

Some say the ambush method is the easier of the two styles, but reaming still and focused for 30+ minutes can be quite a challenge!

Lamping

Using a lamp to hunt Benjamin Bunny is a truly excellent way to good bags. Rabbits do not seem to be as worried about predators when they are veiled in darkness. This allows you to stalk closer, easier. Using a good powerful torch\lamp or night vision will show you where they are in the field. You then use the cover of night to reduce the range. Once in range you flick the lamp on, place the cross hairs on the kill zone and send a small lead calling card to the rabbit.

Red filters will help out as, like rats rabbits cannot see the red end of the light spectrum. This method works just as well with stalking as it does with ambushing

Rabbit Recipes

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