Bunny fun and a couple of extras Down Under

kombi1976

kombi1976

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
NSW Australia
Last night myself and a couple of mates got out to a friend's property north of Collector to see what we could knock over.
I meant to go out last weekend but my friend had been away and I hadn't managed to contact him in time.
It turned out not to be a bad thing though as he was out spotting ferals earlier in the week and by telling us what was out there he gave us an idea what to look for.
I'd spent the best part of a night doing some test loads for my 25-20 Martini Cadet sporter and after determining the best load on Saturday morning and apparently getting it on target I quickly reloaded some of the newly tuned rounds to use for the hunt.
As the only other rifles were .22lr's I decided to take both the 25-20 and my 22 Hornet Cadet.
That turned out to be a wise move.
My mate Chris had only just got his rifle up from his dad's place down near the border and his Winchester Mod 250 hammerless lever gun was deadly.
He took 4 out of the 5 bunnies around the stockyards straight off.
Another mate's son, Alex, came out to spot for us as his papers aren't through yet.
Here he is along side the 5 from the stockyards:

RobsPlace_14-11-09_02.jpg


I only succeeded in winging a bunny with the 25-20 and subsequent shots were all misses.
After wasting 8 rounds and another 3 trying to zero it it went back in the guncase.
The sun went down, we got the spot going and Chris continued his one rifle wave of carnage with the little Winnie .22lr.
First another bunny:

RobsPlace_14-11-09_03.jpg


Then a hare:

RobsPlace_14-11-09_04.jpg


Alex's young eyes had proved astounding.
His spotting technique was erratic but Chris said he never would've spotted the hare and Alex's next ID was amazing.
We'd just passed through a gate when Alex spied some movement around a log.
It was a fox cub, the size of a little puppy, and small even through my 12x scope.
I called this one and slammed it with my 22 Hornet:

RobsPlace_14-11-09_05.jpg


When I got to him though Chris's lever .22lr would've killed it.
The 40gr Ballistic Tip from the hornet made a tiny hole on one side and one the size of a baseball on the other!
But I went back to driving and the Model 250 went on its merry blood letting ways.
Here are a few more pics:

RobsPlace_14-11-09_06.jpg


RobsPlace_14-11-09_07.jpg


RobsPlace_14-11-09_08.jpg


RobsPlace_14-11-09_09.jpg


The only other shot I took was at the end of the night when the Hornet, without problem and decisive as usual, nailed out last rabbit.

RobsPlace_14-11-09_10.jpg


Suffice to say we were pleased with the outcome - 11 rabbits, a hare and a fox (albeit a cub). :)
Still, as my friend, the owner, says the only good fox is a dead fox.
And we know there are another 4 cubs and vixen out there too.....plus all the rabbits we missed! :redface:
What I HAVE to do though is take the 25-20 BACK to the range and zero it properly.
That rifle took 9 rabbits on one outing and embarassed a friend's 204 Ruger.
It needs a stern talking to and a smacked bottom to get it accurate again! :mad:
 
Are you being critical of us shooting a fox cub, fishkinger?
If you are please remember that foxes destroy more lambs and native wildlife than any other feral animal.
Farmers hate them.
You guys in North America don't seem to have much in the way of introduced animals but we have several species that are really destructive both to the native habitat, to indigenous wildlife and to livestock.
And so it is a source of satisfaction for us that we nailed that cub even though it was a baby.
We can't afford a to be sentimental because, afterall, they all grow up.
If on the other hand you aren't questioning why we shot the cub and are merely congratulating us well then thanks. ;)
 
We need to reimport some of those rabbits here. Our bush rabbits ( cottontails & snowshoes) have all but gone. Seldom see any sign let alone a bunny. Loss of habitat, coyotes, hawks owls and foxes, have all taken the toll. I was just out in a heavy covered coulie, lots of willow & poplar. No sigh of Bugs. Did get a shot at a nice light coyote :).
 
kombi1976 said:
Are you being critical of us shooting a fox cub, fishkinger?
If you are please remember that foxes destroy more lambs and native wildlife than any other feral animal.
Farmers hate them.
You guys in North America don't seem to have much in the way of introduced animals but we have several species that are really destructive both to the native habitat, to indigenous wildlife and to livestock.
And so it is a source of satisfaction for us that we nailed that cub even though it was a baby.
We can't afford a to be sentimental because, afterall, they all grow up.
If on the other hand you aren't questioning why we shot the cub and are merely congratulating us well then thanks. ;)
Click to expand...

Good answer - foreign invader / introduced critters should all be killed, regardless of sentimental feelings.

Good on ya, looks like a nice evening.
 
Thanks, cjs.
I have to admit that with some feral animals we are a bit sentimental.
All of the deer species we have here are not shot indiscriminately in the way feral predators are.
And there is also a general public attachment to feral horses (we call them "brumbies") because of Aussie folklore, even though they are terribly destructive to native habitats.
As such brumbies are largely left to themselves in most of Australia and are only shot in the Northern Territory and central Australia.
But foxes, rabbits, hares, pigs, goats, feral cats and wild dogs are shot without compunction.
Larger species like camels, wild donkeys, feral cattle (called scrub bulls) and Asiatic water buffalo are prized game but not managed in the way deer are in places.
 
Some people use lasers but it's a tad pointless as you then need a big scope to see the dot.
Nope, good scope, good spotlight, take the shot!
 
I have before but my missus suffers from "foam tray" syndrome.
If it isn't from the supermarket it's wrong.
Next time though I mean to take some home.
 
a j cave said:
We need to reimport some of those rabbits here. Our bush rabbits ( cottontails & snowshoes) have all but gone. Seldom see any sign let alone a bunny. Loss of habitat, coyotes, hawks owls and foxes, have all taken the toll. I was just out in a heavy covered coulie, lots of willow & poplar. No sigh of Bugs. Did get a shot at a nice light coyote :).
Click to expand...

Where in AB do you live? I could go out everyday of the week with rabbit.
 
a j cave said:
We need to reimport some of those rabbits here. Our bush rabbits ( cottontails & snowshoes) have all but gone. Seldom see any sign let alone a bunny. Loss of habitat, coyotes, hawks owls and foxes, have all taken the toll. I was just out in a heavy covered coulie, lots of willow & poplar. No sigh of Bugs. Did get a shot at a nice light coyote :).
Click to expand...
Give your area a few more years and you will see rabbits again.
They run in a 7 year cycle.....
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
Give your area a few more years and you will see rabbits again.
They run in a 7 year cycle.....
Click to expand...
Is that like the little wheels you get in a gerbil cage? :confused:
catnthehatt said:
'Nother fine evening Kombi!
Gotta love dem Martinis, eh?
Click to expand...
It was good night, Cat.
And yeah, I love Martinis.
If I had to pick a single type of rifle to collect it would be hard to go past Martinis.
There are always sporterised Cadets getting around but there are a number of nice original pieces for sale at present on www.usedguns.com.au
.
There's this 1890s Issac Hollis & Sons rook rifle in 360 Rook (same dimensions as 38 Spl/357 Mag) and it's only $700:
17103.JPG


Then there these 2 in 380 Long, the first a Cowles Dunn & Co with round bbl for $1000:
ST17.jpg


And the second another Hollis & Sons with an octagonal bbl, light engraving and a horn fore end tip for $1500:
ST21454.jpg


The prices are in Aussie dollars and the last 2 are a bit exy IMO but the 360 Rook is a good deal if you ask me.
Pity I'm poor! :(
 
I used to have an english rook rifle in 360 #5 Rook a hammer gun made by Lancaster & Son of London, England.
Had it ever so slightly reamed to 38 special once.
It was the absolutely quietest small game rifle, with 38 full wadcutter loads under 3 or ever less grains of unique. It was a 50/60 yards and less, in effective range. But boy, did those wadcutters ever slaughter the bunnies, with less report than a long barrelled 22 LR!
 
Nice shooting! Yummy bunnies.... I have them all over around the house but my wife has decreed that our yard is like the UN no fire zone....with a few exceptions....but "her" bunnies are a big nono. She loves game meat but has a soft spot for the bunnies:rolleyes:

I love reading about hunting in other countrys, keep up the good work!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom