Night shooting for bunnies.

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Night shooting for bunnies.
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Snap Cap

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 553
Location: Outside a warren armed to the teeth.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 8:03 am Post subject: Night shooting for bunnies.

Out of a fit of depression I decided to go out last night and bag some bunnies for the freezer.
Normally go lamping but decided to give my new NV scope an outing. Never shot with a NV scope before so was not sure what to expect.
I get out there just before dark and plot up about 30 yards from a warren and wait....and wait....and wait by now its pitch black so off comes the lens cap on the scope and I peer through to be greeted by a flourecent green world that is to my dissapointment in 2D no depth so working out distance is going to be a mare. I had previously zeroed the rig in the back garden but to be on the safe side and as no bunnies had emerged had a practice shot at a old shot gun cartridge that was about 25 yard away. which I promptly missed, this was going to be a difficult night. Finally after a couple of practice shots I managed to knock the cartridge up in the air, so installed with confidence I started my vigil.
After about half an hour the advance scout stuck his head out of the warren then hopped out onto the edge of the barley stubble, with the red dot on the kill zone I squeezed off a shot.... missed bunny exit stage left!. not a good start.
So reload and wait again. must have been a good 15 mins before bunny number 2 decided to have a wander about, he hopped out and decided to have a feed behind a dirt clump. so making a click click noise got him sitting up and in line for a shot... which also wizzed past his head and the bunny wizzed back down the hole. I know it shot past his head because when night shooting its a good idea to put a bit of tipp ex on the back of the pellet, when using NV this white lights up like a tracer bullet and you can see where your pellet goes.
I am doing something seriously wrong here. Gun is sighted ok, very little wind. its got to be the distance factor that warren due to the 2D effect of the scope has got to be closer that I think.

Anyway I stayed out for another hour but came home empty handed and even more annoyed. Technology is not all that its cracked up to be, give me a lamp a 4X4 and I'll bag enough bunnies to feed a small town but that scope was a nightmare bit of kit I think some night time target and distance calculation is in order before I go after live quarry again.

Just thought I'd share that with you.

Bernie66

Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 13967
Location: Eastoft

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 8:37 am Post subject:
Shame mate, no rabbit pie for tea then?

Silas

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 6848
Location: Staffordshire

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 8:49 am Post subject:

Frankly, I am disgusted that you even tried to shoot knowing that there was a good chance that you would miss or just wound your target.

If you are going to shoot wild animals, you have a real responsibility to ensure that your equipment is working properly and that you are competent enough to kill FIRST TIME EVERY TIME.

I know that may be a little idealistic, but that should, at the very least, be the objective of everyone who goes out shooting.

Or am I wrong?

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 8:54 am Post subject:
Snap Cap, is doesn't seem to have been your day yesterday Hopefully today will be a lot better It's interesting the know that the fancy technology can't really better your own skill, judegment and experience. And bunnies are cunning -- too often round here they cheat and hug the hedges, so my hound hasn't got a chance

Snap Cap

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 553
Location: Outside a warren armed to the teeth.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 8:58 am Post subject:

Freezer is a bunny free zone at the moment, loads of pigeon.

Trying to get the hang of shooting with that scope is going to take some practice. Sighting it up during the day you have a special cap that goes over the end that cuts down the light so it dosn't damage the sensitive lenses, looking throught it during the day you can still see depth but at night its like trying to work out how far a face is away from a wall in a portrait, the image is flat.

To be honest I was stupid going out with it with the lack of practice at night. I could have injured a bunny and it could have died an agonising death down in the warren. I cannot have that!

So I will be out in the garden tonight trying to work out how to use and shoot with this peice of kit properly and safely.

Snap Cap

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 553
Location: Outside a warren armed to the teeth.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 9:02 am Post subject:

Silas wrote:

Not even going to give you the satisfaction.

Silas

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 6848
Location: Staffordshire

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 9:04 am Post subject:
K

Snap Cap

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 553
Location: Outside a warren armed to the teeth.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 9:22 am Post subject:

hedgewitch wrote:

It's interesting the know that the fancy technology can't really better your own skill, judegment and experience.

And bunnies are cunning -- too often round here they cheat and hug the hedges, so my hound hasn't got a chance

I was a bit surprised as well �400 worth of kit and I could have had more success with a torch and my normal scope. Just need more practice with it shooting at things with no pulse and when I feel confident enough to give it another go with live quarry, I will.

Technology eh?

Bernie66

Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 13967
Location: Eastoft

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 9:24 am Post subject:

Snap Cap wrote:

Technology eh?

Bushcraft is better, every time

Snap Cap

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 553
Location: Outside a warren armed to the teeth.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 9:26 am Post subject:

Bernie66 wrote:

Snap Cap wrote:

Technology eh?

Bushcraft is better, every time

Your not wrong there!

Silas

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 6848
Location: Staffordshire

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 9:28 am Post subject:

Snap Cap wrote:

hedgewitch wrote:

Good idea.

Well done that man.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 10:27 am Post subject:

If you want to catch rabbits get yourself a good dog.
A lurcher between thirty and fourty pounds with quite a lot of non pedigree whippet in it is my ideal.
I've been a 'lamper' for nearly fourty years and in this time I've had some super dogs and it wouldn't be an exageration to say that I've also had thousands of rabbits.
I've used a .22 rifle and a 12 bore in the last few years at night with good effect but a well trained lurcher is the only thing that can guarentee a 100% kill rate.

I kill rabbits for food and because I enjoy it.
I hope people don't think any less of me because of this admission.I've been a hunter all my life and always will be. I,m a country boy through and through and whilst I may not be the most eloquent, its where most of my practical knowledge comes from.
To those that I havent offended, I will always continue to be as helpful as I can whenever I can.
Bodge

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 10:31 am Post subject:

bodger wrote:

I kill rabbits for food and because I enjoy it.

Doesn't seem offensive to me. Killing rabbits to eat and also to control the local population seems entirely reasonable. No need to insist that you mustn't enjoy doing it.

Snap Cap

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 553
Location: Outside a warren armed to the teeth.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 10:36 am Post subject:

I agree 100%.

I am a long time hunter and have to admit I enjoy it, everything about it. Stalking, ambush, oppotunist all types. Nothing beats the anticipation of planning a hunting trip, what chances you are going to get, what type of hunting you are going to have to employ! Love it!!

I would rather be outside in the fields then sitting in doors watching crap like big brother, Eastenders etc.

Last edited by Snap Cap on Tue Aug 15, 06 10:39 am; edited 1 time in total

madmonk

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 835

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 06 10:38 am Post subject:

cab wrote:

bodger wrote:

I kill rabbits for food and because I enjoy it.

Doesn't seem offensive to me. Killing rabbits to eat and also to control the local population seems entirely reasonable. No need to insist that you mustn't enjoy doing it.

Nor me Bodger and I was a city boy, at least you are honest.

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