Hunting Rabbits

KaHn

KaHn

KaHn

Soldato
Joined
13 Oct 2004
Posts
13,177
Location
South Shields
Hey all,

Just a quick question regarding the laws of hunting rabbits in the UK, it is national trust land if that makes a difference, I know they are classed as vermine and was wondering if I would have to use snare approach or air rifle?

The idea is to catch them to feed to my Dogs/me :D

KaHn
 
You have to have the land owners permission and you can then hunt them anyway you like provided it isn't unnecesarily cruel or poluting.
 
As far as i'm aware, as long as you have a gun licence and own the land you can shoot them.

They do this at my dads work regularly, and we usually get a few nice bunnys for dinner every few months :)
 
As I said it is national trust land I am looking through the net now was just looking for a quick answer wether it is allowed with license or not.

KaHn
 
Rabbits (and rats) are exempt from the - hopefully soon to be repealed - Hunting Act. This means you can still hunt rabbits legally with dogs, guns, ferrets, nets, snares - pretty much anything, in fact. Indeed landowners still have a legal obligation to make an actual effort to eradicate pest species on their land, including rabbits.

However, as was said above, in order for it to be a legal activity (i.e. one that won't see you in court, fined, possibly jailed AND have your dog/gun/car confiscated never to be returned!) you MUST have the landowner's permission. Preferably in writing. AFAIK the National Trust doesn't allow hunting on its grounds, though I'm sure they carry out control privately by their own means.

Plenty of rabbits to go at these days - they're almost back to pre-myxy levels in most areas now. Ask around, get some permission, and have fun :D Oh, and having fully comp 3rd party liability insurance (BASC, Countryside Alliance, SACS etc provide this as part of membership) helps enormously in getting permisison from farmers.
 
Cheers Rainmaker,

I was out with the dogs the other day (Shar Pei + GSD) and the shar pei darted into some bushes to go for the rabbits, got me thinking on cooking + dog feeding as I feed them RAW already.

Will look at the farmers bit as it is right next to a farm and golf course where I was.

KaHn
 
The golf course is worth an ask, too - but don't be surprised if they have a paid-for pest controller already and don't want to know. Some will love you and beg you to come and clear the rabbits (after all, rabbits and golf greens don't mix!), but some will fob you off no matter what.

I also feed raw (I think we briefly passed comment on the recent dog food thread that got diverted into raw feeding by me? :D). You'll need something a bit quicker than a GSD or Shar Pei to catch anything other than heavily-infected Myxy rabbits though.

Quicker and easier, for what you want, to get a couple of decent ferrets and nets, or an air rifle. :) Or, go the whole hog like me and go with lurchers, terriers, ferrets AND guns lol :D
 
Air rifle I think, but I used to keep ferrets when I was a kid but more as pets :D

I understand that neither of them will catch anything which is why I just let the shar pei chase them and the GSD try to herd her :D

Makrel season starts soon aswell, so going makrel bashing with a mate so I can feed the dogs fish for a while :D.

KaHn
 
Air rifle? Be a man, take a 12 gauge... dont need to aim so much as wave it in the general direction of an unsuspecting bunny family and let rip both barrels :p
 
matt_fsr said:
Air rifle? Be a man, take a 12 gauge... dont need to aim so much as wave it in the general direction of an unsuspecting bunny family and let rip both barrels :p
Click to expand...

Firearm Liscense is one thing hehe.

I am looking to do this more as a bit of fun on a nice weekend morning/evening rather than something big.

KaHn
 
20_Elmer_Fudd2.jpg
 
simulatorman said:
Can't you afford proper meat. ;)
Click to expand...

I like to feed mine a varrying diet, they get lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, tripe, heart, liver, pork. I need to talk to a couple of abatoirs around here to get cheap carcases/bone meat when Max is older.

KaHn
 
KaHn said:
I like to feed mine a varrying diet, they get lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, tripe, heart, liver, pork. I need to talk to a couple of abatoirs around here to get cheap carcases/bone meat when Max is older.

KaHn
Click to expand...

Do they cost you a lot to feed?
 
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