Okay, I live in Charlotte, N.C., I'm noticing small holes in my fenced of yard. While mowing over the weekend, a rabbit popped out of one of the bushes. to rid my yard of these pesky creatures, is it better to use a rifle (like .22 cal) or a high powered air rifle?
RABBITS?????????????????
- Thread starter Bandit01
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It all depends on the local laws. I personally like a shotgun for running rabbits but the local police frown on that in the city limits. If discharging a firearm is illegal in your yard, silence will be needed. An air rifle from inside the house well back from the open window. Most of the noise will be contained in the room. My lab keeps my yard free of them.
Are you sure it is the rabbits making the holes??
Are you sure it is the rabbits making the holes??
ID_shooting
Member
Freid rabbit, rabbit stew, rabbit and dumplings, dddrrrroooolllll
Owen
Moderator Emeritus
Unless they are causing damage, I would just let them be.
I enjoy sitting on my patio and watching the cottontails graze around.
I enjoy sitting on my patio and watching the cottontails graze around.
MCgunner
Member
I have a really accurate old Remington M512X .22 bolt gun. It hits right where the crosshairs cross with .22 CB Shorts and they make less noise and have more power than my old Benjamin pump up .22 caliber air rifle.
You're not Jimmy Carter, are you?
He was attacked by the killer rabbit in this picture:
The whole story: http://www.narsil.org/politics/carter/killer_rabbit.html
Rabbits can get through some extremely small places. They go through my chain link fence like nothing. Looking at them and the size of the squares in the fence, you'd swear they couldn't do it. My lab gives them a lot of incentive though.
The slow ones don't make it intact.
The slow ones don't make it intact.Head shot w/ a .22 if they're not running, don't ruin any meat that way...Pellet gun isn't powerful enough for a clean kill.
But, to my knowledge they don't usually dig holes (although they'll live in existing ones), except when they make a nest, which is a really shallow hole. Used to have a bunch around here, never hurt my yard a bit, they'd just come out and "graze". Haven't seen any in some time, think the foxes (which we have alot of) and even coyotes (which are rapidly taking over) have thinned the herd. I just leave 'em alone, as I don't shoot anything that I don't eat (and I don't much care for rabbit) or is causing me trouble.
If you have holes in the yard, suspect woodchucks, or if smaller, moles, both can be real diggers.
But, to my knowledge they don't usually dig holes (although they'll live in existing ones), except when they make a nest, which is a really shallow hole. Used to have a bunch around here, never hurt my yard a bit, they'd just come out and "graze". Haven't seen any in some time, think the foxes (which we have alot of) and even coyotes (which are rapidly taking over) have thinned the herd. I just leave 'em alone, as I don't shoot anything that I don't eat (and I don't much care for rabbit) or is causing me trouble.
If you have holes in the yard, suspect woodchucks, or if smaller, moles, both can be real diggers.
sm
member
Forget a Firearm
Make a big pot of coffee.
Hit the bakery, I'm parital to donut holes and cinammon twists myself.
Invite the fella with the Beagles, and hope he has pups.
Sit on back porch and enjoy the show.
I mean this is first rate entertainment, especially with new pups and momma scolding them.
"listen here Junior , you are supposed to chase the wabbit, not the wabbit chase you - got it?"
Too warm for taking rabbits, disease and all, hence the reason the seasons are set to account for the first good freeze of the year.
Ah- I likes the sounds of Beagles in the morning..."
Make a big pot of coffee.
Hit the bakery, I'm parital to donut holes and cinammon twists myself.
Invite the fella with the Beagles, and hope he has pups.
Sit on back porch and enjoy the show.
I mean this is first rate entertainment, especially with new pups and momma scolding them.
"listen here Junior , you are supposed to chase the wabbit, not the wabbit chase you - got it?" Too warm for taking rabbits, disease and all, hence the reason the seasons are set to account for the first good freeze of the year.
Ah- I likes the sounds of Beagles in the morning..."
Karbon
Member
We had a bit of a rabbit issue the last few years with my wife’s garden. No fencing that was not “too ugly” was effective enough. My Irish Setter was useless (on point and would remain locked) and my golden has been trained to not care, ducks and geese only.
Enter the Gamo 1000+ fps air rifle with a 3x9. Let us just say that this year the garden is better than ever.
I have to admit long shots are not humane, but a head shot out to 30 yards is lethal and effective.
This year, 4 shots, 3 dead bunnies and one flat basketball.
Enter the Gamo 1000+ fps air rifle with a 3x9. Let us just say that this year the garden is better than ever.
I have to admit long shots are not humane, but a head shot out to 30 yards is lethal and effective.
This year, 4 shots, 3 dead bunnies and one flat basketball.
Gamo 1000
Hey Karbon, I think you're right about the Gamo 1000. If you go to the website they have a short video of the G-1000 using these new pellets. I mean, it had me drooling. I'm about to call Walmart and Dick's to see if they carry them, if not, I'm ordering one today.
Damn Rabbits, come into my yard.......................
Hey Karbon, I think you're right about the Gamo 1000. If you go to the website they have a short video of the G-1000 using these new pellets. I mean, it had me drooling. I'm about to call Walmart and Dick's to see if they carry them, if not, I'm ordering one today.
Damn Rabbits, come into my yard.......................
MCgunner
Member
Don't be a shotgun weenie. .22s are more fun. Think of it as back yard varmint hunting. Shotguns are way too easy. For real fun, use a .22 handgun.
Texas has no rabbit season, though ring worms are bad in the heat of summer. I wouldn't worry too much about rabbit fever unless you plan on skinnin' and eatin' it. Then, wear rubber gloves and clean up afterward. You can usually tell if a rabbit is sick with the fever, though, very lethargic.
Shotguns are way too easy. For real fun, use a .22 handgun.Texas has no rabbit season, though ring worms are bad in the heat of summer. I wouldn't worry too much about rabbit fever unless you plan on skinnin' and eatin' it. Then, wear rubber gloves and clean up afterward. You can usually tell if a rabbit is sick with the fever, though, very lethargic.
Karbon
Member
Bandit,
I really love it. It's great for practice and tons of fun. With the 3x9 is can hit damn near anything I need to. Very accurate, and the effective range is suprising as well.
Bunnies at less than 30 yards, instant brain pudding.
I think I did see them at Wal-**** but I picked mine up at Gander. On sale and a return, but not used for $109. I was pleased. The Cheap Golden Antler 3x9 AO Tasco made for the air rifles has been just fine for my needs. I had to buy some larger-taller Leopold mounts so it would fit.
I really love it. It's great for practice and tons of fun. With the 3x9 is can hit damn near anything I need to. Very accurate, and the effective range is suprising as well.
Bunnies at less than 30 yards, instant brain pudding.
I think I did see them at Wal-**** but I picked mine up at Gander. On sale and a return, but not used for $109. I was pleased. The Cheap Golden Antler 3x9 AO Tasco made for the air rifles has been just fine for my needs. I had to buy some larger-taller Leopold mounts so it would fit.
Those damn little animals are one hell of a pest if you don't stop them. Make sure not to wipe them all out though. Leave just enough for a bit of sport when you feel like it.
I've never been able to enjoy eating them however. Just a bit too dry. I guess they need to marinade for a while and slow cook but I've never sat down at the table and thought, "Yep this is good."
I've never been able to enjoy eating them however. Just a bit too dry. I guess they need to marinade for a while and slow cook but I've never sat down at the table and thought, "Yep this is good."
I also don't care much for rabbit. Many years ago when my father was on UAW strike, I would shoot rabbits in the back yard with my Crosman pellet rifle. Those flat tip pellets dropped them dead quickly. I "enjoyed" rabbit & gravy over toast for breakfast, rabbit sandwiches for lunch at school, and baked rabbit for dinner. After several months of that strike, liver & onions even looked good to me. Haven't eaten a rabbit since, no matter how hungry I got.
MCgunner
Member
I like cottontails fried or with dumplings. See, the closest thing we got here in Texas to a Kangaroo is a jack rabbit.
I used to live around El Paso and the desert was full of cottontails. Surprised me when I moved there since it didn't seem like there was much rabbit-food around. Where I grew up (Iowa) we had about the same number but in cornfields - lots to eat. I thought the small deer I used to see around there were jackrabbits until I saw the tiny antlers.
MCgunner
Member
There's desert mulies out in the west Texas desert. They get some weight on 'em, but the antlers are different. A good one will dress over 200 lbs. They're not as big as rocky mountain mulies, though.
Yeah, out in the desert the jacks and cottontails are everywhere. I don't know if there's a lot of 'em or it's just there ain't much to hide behind out there.
Yeah, out in the desert the jacks and cottontails are everywhere. I don't know if there's a lot of 'em or it's just there ain't much to hide behind out there.
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