Some of you would've read my previous threads about this particular hunting location. Our culling program has been on and off depending on rabbit breeding numbers, surrounding conditions and other factors. But it seems to have made a difference.
It's been 4 months since my mate and I made our last pilgrimage to the local historic house to rain down death and carnage on the local bunny population. August's trip was very slim pickings, only 6 recovered virtually and very few that ran after getting hit. But my mate got a frantic request as the big Christmas BBQ is on this Sunday and there were diggings everywhere so we gathered up our gear and headed out around 9:30pm last night.
My mate's BRNO .22lr is still in getting a new stock but he borrowed a CZ from another friend of ours. It's was a left handed rifle which caused a few awkward moments but it was quite accurate. I decided to take my Anschutz 1400 .22lr , despite the fact the mag is missing and I had to single load each round, which turned out to be a sensible decision. My mate had attached his LED light to the CZ's scope so rather than doing the spotter/shooter arrangement we both could shoot, albeit only at a small area at once. I know, GASP!!, hunting at night but it's very legal and very effective here.
It was immediately obvious when we arrived that 2 rifles, even with one reloading slowly was going to help. There were TONS of bunnies. My mate took 5 just driving in and then we worked our way across the front grassed area, taking another 10. Then we began to collect the bodies and the numbers starting racking up.
The unfortunate thing was that despite the fact most were hit hard not all fell on the spot. I hit a large rabbit at 15yds broadside in the dark while my mate was dropping 2 carcasses back with the rest and it ran off. I know I hit it, I could see it clearly in the moonlight and the meaty WHOOOMP!! the bullet made when it hit was unmissable. But it scurried away into the undergrowth. It's the reality of using subsonics I'm afraid. Unless they're head, heart or spine the little buggers don't drop.
In the end we only had to do 2 laps of the house and the rabbits had our measure. Either they were in hiding or had lain down somewhere to die. But we were satisfied. Here's why......
Can you count them? Yup, 28 recovered!!
That tops my previous total at the property of 24 recovered. That was the first time anyone had ever shot there and I was using hi-velocity ammo. So tonight was a massive highlight. More to the point there are at least another 10 laying dead in long grass, brush or their burrows. So the true total is between 38 and 40 but I'm happy with 28.
Now I need to replace the magazine. It will probably turn up the day the new one arrives but then 2 magazines are a help, especially when shooting these sort of numbers. I need to get myself an LED torch and scope mount too. If I'd had both a mag and my own mounted torch I think we could've taken 10 more. Impressive, eh? I wonder if the Historic House Trust would buy me a torch and mount......
It's been 4 months since my mate and I made our last pilgrimage to the local historic house to rain down death and carnage on the local bunny population. August's trip was very slim pickings, only 6 recovered virtually and very few that ran after getting hit. But my mate got a frantic request as the big Christmas BBQ is on this Sunday and there were diggings everywhere so we gathered up our gear and headed out around 9:30pm last night.
My mate's BRNO .22lr is still in getting a new stock but he borrowed a CZ from another friend of ours. It's was a left handed rifle which caused a few awkward moments but it was quite accurate. I decided to take my Anschutz 1400 .22lr , despite the fact the mag is missing and I had to single load each round, which turned out to be a sensible decision. My mate had attached his LED light to the CZ's scope so rather than doing the spotter/shooter arrangement we both could shoot, albeit only at a small area at once. I know, GASP!!, hunting at night but it's very legal and very effective here.
It was immediately obvious when we arrived that 2 rifles, even with one reloading slowly was going to help. There were TONS of bunnies. My mate took 5 just driving in and then we worked our way across the front grassed area, taking another 10. Then we began to collect the bodies and the numbers starting racking up.
The unfortunate thing was that despite the fact most were hit hard not all fell on the spot. I hit a large rabbit at 15yds broadside in the dark while my mate was dropping 2 carcasses back with the rest and it ran off. I know I hit it, I could see it clearly in the moonlight and the meaty WHOOOMP!! the bullet made when it hit was unmissable. But it scurried away into the undergrowth. It's the reality of using subsonics I'm afraid. Unless they're head, heart or spine the little buggers don't drop.
In the end we only had to do 2 laps of the house and the rabbits had our measure. Either they were in hiding or had lain down somewhere to die. But we were satisfied. Here's why......
Can you count them? Yup, 28 recovered!!
That tops my previous total at the property of 24 recovered. That was the first time anyone had ever shot there and I was using hi-velocity ammo. So tonight was a massive highlight. More to the point there are at least another 10 laying dead in long grass, brush or their burrows. So the true total is between 38 and 40 but I'm happy with 28.
Now I need to replace the magazine. It will probably turn up the day the new one arrives but then 2 magazines are a help, especially when shooting these sort of numbers. I need to get myself an LED torch and scope mount too. If I'd had both a mag and my own mounted torch I think we could've taken 10 more. Impressive, eh? I wonder if the Historic House Trust would buy me a torch and mount......
