Where have all the rabbits gone

no avatar
Outandabout
Posts: 723
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:13 pm
Location: Bishop Auckland Co Durham

Where have all the rabbits gone

Sat Jan 16, 2016 3:46 pm

Had a walk round the permission last night and earlier today. Normally there is a lot of rabbits about, but not last night i only spotted 2 and not close enough for a shot and nothing at all this morning. Very little sign of anything either. Has anybody else lost their rabbits.
Kevin

no avatar
Pat g
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:47 pm

Re: Where have all the rabbits gone

Sat Jan 16, 2016 5:16 pm

This is not what you''ll want to hear Kev but in all probability they've been wiped by mixy mate. The damp mild and wet conditions we've had for the past couple of months are the ideal conditions for the awful disease to thrive added to the fact that many warrens will have been flooded too :( Not good news but it happens to everyone and on every permission. I had a permission that had a big rabbit problem in the late summer and Autumn. I hammered it to start with and got on top of it then mixy struck as well, I visited 3 weeks ago and only saw two rabbits which did'nt present safe shots i might add but hey ho. The landowner is delighted mind.
Don't worry though the bunnies will be back. Just give it time and when they do return just go easy on them until if and when they begin to become a problem ;)
ATB,
Pat
Ceaser Guerini Magnus Sporter 12g
Beretta Urika 2 12g Auto
243 howa 1500, 3-12x50 Zeiss, Wildcat mod
Sako Finfire 22lr
CZ 452 Varmint 17HMR
AA S410 carbine 177
HW 77k SFS stage 2 177

User avatar
Raj
Posts: 2005
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:36 pm
Location: Rugby

Re: Where have all the rabbits gone

Sat Jan 16, 2016 6:47 pm

They have gone to ground. In spite of their lovely fur, they have little insulation in the form of body fat. Hence they go to ground when the weather turns cold. On the plus side, they will be out in strength as soon as it warms up a bit and the grass shoots poke out. :)
“It's the Indian, not the arrow"

no avatar
mark holding
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:07 pm

Re: Where have all the rabbits gone

Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:00 pm

I expect it is the cold weather, as the cold effects all mammal's including us. Hopefully they will be out soon. You are lucky to have a permission. I travel 20 miles to the Woodend Farm Shooting complex which is great for a variety of disciplines. I used to go with my Son to Pete's Airgun Farm in Essex, which is also a great shooting places, but there never seemed many rabbits, due to the number of shooters, and the pigeons were shooter shy and lucky to get within 300 yards of them, plus it was a 3 hour drive from Nottingham. Keep up the good work and enjoy the sport.

no avatar
granville
Posts: 602
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 7:33 pm

Re: Where have all the rabbits gone

Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:50 pm

seen doe taking nest materal today looked like it will be
time for her to give birth . good lot of rabbits out on ,
that permission seen 10 or so .- 2 for me . ;)

no avatar
FPoole
Posts: 339
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2015 2:37 am

Re: Where have all the rabbits gone

Mon Jan 18, 2016 2:21 am

Raj wrote:They have gone to ground. In spite of their lovely fur, they have little insulation in the form of body fat. Hence they go to ground when the weather turns cold. On the plus side, they will be out in strength as soon as it warms up a bit and the grass shoots poke out. :)

Little body fat, you haven't seen our pet New Zealand buck. He's fat as a hog. :lol:

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 82 guests