how many of you have noticed a decline in rabbit numbers over the years.
if you have,when did you first notice this.
my shooting partner and myself have seen a serious decline over the last five years even more so over the last 18 months,most of our permissions are now almost without rabbits .
we picked up 2 permissions early this year with a healthy amount of rabbits,by the middle of the summer both are finished not a rabbit too be seen.
some disease has gone through them vhd/rhd we think.
we found no rabbit showing signs of mixy the rabbits just vanished over a 3 week period.
brian
too all the rabbit shooters
too all the rabbit shooters
IS MY SIGNATURE BIGGER THAN RAYS. Cz 452 american .22+sak mod
S200. .177
S200. .177
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
one permission I have has large marsh cutting it in half ,
the side near the farm there is not a rabbit .
the other side is well populated with them.
rabbits don't seem to cross it I wonder if its
that which is keeping the others well .
my own land has a lot less than other years I have noticed .
the side near the farm there is not a rabbit .
the other side is well populated with them.
rabbits don't seem to cross it I wonder if its
that which is keeping the others well .
my own land has a lot less than other years I have noticed .
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
Exactly the same where I am in Middlesex, I haven't seen a cony in at least 2 months, I think it's RHD. Rog
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
6 years ago I estimate that I took around 1200 rabbits from the farm and stables in 1 year. 3 years ago that number was down to maybe 250, that coincided with a big hit of mixy in early summer. Since then the numbers have plummetted, once healthy warrens are overgrown and crumbling. Even land where I don't shoot is devoid of rabbits. VHD is the only thing I can think of that could have such a devastating effect. This year I've hardly bothered going out looking for rabbits because they just aren't there. My biggest worry is for the predators, foxes, badgers, weasels and stoats, buzzards etc who will struggle to find food. We've already seen a big increase in fox attacks on poultry locally, bins being raided and I have 1 fox who regularly picks up food that I put out for the birds in broad daylight. It's sad but they are an introduced pest species. I wish the same misfortune would hit the grey squirrel population though.
- Blackbaronfish
- Posts: 3690
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 6:20 pm
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Re: too all the rabbit shooters
The last five years have slowly dwindled. We have bouts of mixy so you don't really notice.
I did a post a few years ago saying the very same thing
Let's hope they come back with a vengeance
BBF
I did a post a few years ago saying the very same thing
Let's hope they come back with a vengeance
BBF
Did I mention that I'm the only one to have attended EVERY meet since we started
- Outandabout
- Posts: 723
- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:13 pm
- Location: Bishop Auckland Co Durham
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
2 of my permissions seem to be devoid of rabbits at the moment, even though the warrens are still being used and freshly dug out in some places. I have walked around them at all times of day and night and only see 1 or 2 and thats not everytime I go out.
Earlier in the year there was loads of them about my best night was 35, but its all changed since August - just after the corn was cut they just dissapeared.
Kevin
Earlier in the year there was loads of them about my best night was 35, but its all changed since August - just after the corn was cut they just dissapeared.
Kevin
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
another evening out ........not a rabbit too be seen
IS MY SIGNATURE BIGGER THAN RAYS. Cz 452 american .22+sak mod
S200. .177
S200. .177
- Blackbaronfish
- Posts: 3690
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Nuneaton
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
Ive seen a few kits lately and will be keeping my fingers crossed that they'll be horny over the next few months
BBF
BBF
Did I mention that I'm the only one to have attended EVERY meet since we started
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
been out several times .... not one bunny seen ... let alone to have a shot at !!! on 2 of my permissions , i havent seen a single rabbit for well over 2 years now ..... also noticed a MASSIVE decline in squirrels round here too
ONE SHOT .... ONE KILL
Re: too all the rabbit shooters
I've just spoken to one of my landowners, he's asked me not to shoot any rabbits on his land until the numbers recover. Like me he's concerned about the effect on the predators. When I left work at 2pm I spent nearly an hour with the binos driving around looking for any sign of bunnies, I saw 2.
Doesn't look good does it?
Doesn't look good does it?
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