View Full Version : Hunting, tips
Decided I needed to do something with my life so I'm going to kill things that are smaller than me. Rabbits sounds good. I got a recurve bow but would get hurt, last time I made a shot with it the string slapped my wrist and it hurt really bad. So air-rifles it is. Where do you shoot them, I want them dead before they feel it. At what time can you shoot them, and more general tips like don't aim at cops. Noob advice please.
HoreTore
12-18-2010, 15:31
Come with me to the Norwegian side of the swedish border and hunt boars! They're blacklisted, so they're free to hunt all year long and no charge!
Gregoshi
12-18-2010, 16:16
...and no charge!
Wimpy boars if they don't charge. ~D
Get an arm guard and it will protect your wrist from the slap of the bowstring so you can use your bow too.
A right-winger and a pseudo-communist together in east Norway, just the two of them with nobody around?
Hilarity ensues.
Sarmatian
12-18-2010, 16:39
Decided I needed to do something with my life so I'm going to kill things that are smaller than me. Rabbits sounds good. I got a recurve bow but would get hurt, last time I made a shot with it the string slapped my wrist and it hurt really bad. So air-rifles it is. Where do you shoot them, I want them dead before they feel it. At what time can you shoot them, and more general tips like don't aim at cops. Noob advice please.
Laws are different from country to country, you should check your own laws when it comes to rabbits. Rabbits and other smaller animals are usually hunted with shotguns. They're small, quick and agile it's not easy to hit them and they're fragile enough to be killed instantly with shotguns. If you want to hunt bigger game, like boars Horetore mentioned, don't use shotguns.
You wanna go with someone more experienced first few times. If you don't know anything about rabbits or hunting and want to use air rifle, in all likelyhood you'll only catch a cold.
HoreTore
12-18-2010, 16:40
A right-winger and a pseudo-communist together in east Norway, just the two of them with nobody around?
Hilarity ensues.
I smell a sitcom!
Laws are different from country to country, you should check your own laws when it comes to rabbits. Rabbits and other smaller animals are usually hunted with shotguns. They're small, quick and agile it's not easy to hit them and they're fragile enough to be killed instantly with shotguns. If you want to hunt bigger game, like boars Horetore mentioned, don't use shotguns.
You wanna go with someone more experienced first few times. If you don't know anything about rabbits or hunting and want to use air rifle, in all likelyhood you'll only catch a cold.
Why? Rabbits are basicly everwhere. I am a really poor shot with a bow, I don't have the fortitude to keep my bow focused, will hit target on 20 or 30 meters but no more. A bow is incredibly deadly in the right hands but I suck at it. Air rifle seems very convenient, but does it have enough power, boars are really dangerous
A right-winger and a pseudo-communist together in east Norway, just the two of them with nobody around?
Hilarity ensues.
Does it star a guess appearance of Dick Cheney?
Devastatin Dave
12-18-2010, 21:43
A 4-10 shotgun worked best for me when i use to hunt rabbit. I prefer killing targets. I respect hunters but I hate seeing the dead eyes of the life i took.
Can't have those shotguns, crossbows handbows and airguns are fine. Not sure if I want to kill anything I'll probably miss. But I'm infinately fascinated by the possibility to actually hit with precision when you have gotten everything right, the tech behind it, and if I do hit I'm going to eat it. Shooting a deer is a stretch to far, but ducks and rabbits are really tasty and I eat them anyway. Also eat deer but couldn't shoot them
Crazed Rabbit
12-18-2010, 22:09
:stare:
Seriously, go with someone experienced. And it goes without saying that there are likely areas (forests, etc) where it is legal to hunt, and doing so in other places can be legally hazardous.
I can't say much else because I've never really hunted; though one time when target shooting in northern Idaho woods some prairie dogs (or something similar) were walking around...
CR
PanzerJaeger
12-18-2010, 22:14
Unless you are an extraordinarily good shot, you will not be able to hit a running rabbit with a pellet gun. And unlike prairie dogs and other varmints that can be hunted from a long range with a scoped rifle, rabbits always use cover, so using a stand or trying to sneak up from a distance (especially with a pellet gun) are not viable options.
The way it is done around here is with dogs (to get them running towards you) and shotguns (to widen your field of accurate fire). Even then, I have found it to be nothing but frustrating. Does anything else interest you? If you can make it across the pond, the big game hunting in America and Canada is great and not as pricy as Africa or as dangerous as Russia.
If you are intent on hunting wabbits, I would definitely invest in a shotgun, and take that shotgun to a range routinely for a couple of weeks before you even tried it in the field. Many skeet ranges have a 'rabbit' option, which is a flat circular skeet that rolls across the ground instead of flying through air. Until you can hit that, reliably, don't even bother going out. Also, I would recommend getting hooked up with a guide, preferably running dogs. Going out alone for your first time will likely turn out to be nothing more than a nature hike.
Good luck! Hunting is great fun with a gun, second only to CQB training in my book.
Need no guide, find rabbit, shoot it, pick it up, buy onions carrots and wine. Could catch them by hand chasing them. But shooting is cool, want to make it ramboesque
Tellos Athenaios
12-19-2010, 00:52
Check that you're actually allowed to “kill things that are smaller than [you]”. Far as I know the law here takes a dim view of hunting for sport without proper paperworks.
rabbits always use cover
Crazed Rabbits also shoot back! :hide: :surrender:
Sarmatian
12-19-2010, 02:53
Need no guide, find rabbit, shoot it, pick it up, buy onions carrots and wine. Could catch them by hand chasing them. But shooting is cool, want to make it ramboesque
Ok, I have 10 euros here that says Frags isn't gonna catch anything. Anyone?
Seriosly Frag, there are almost no chance you're gonna hit a wabbit with an airgun. They're sneaksy and they jump around.
gaelic cowboy
12-19-2010, 03:33
Could catch them by hand chasing them
If you can do this then the rabbit is sick probably with Myxomatosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myxomatosis)
Gregoshi
12-19-2010, 08:50
How do you catch a rabbit by hand? You gwabbit. :drummer:
Thank you! Thank you!
How do you kill a rabbit with an air gun? You Frag it. :drummer:
Oh! I got a million of 'em! :laugh4:
Check that you're actually allowed to ?kill things that are smaller than [you]?. Far as I know the law here takes a dim view of hunting for sport without proper paperworks.
Guy lives in the middle the woods police don't come there, but might have to check that out. Too cold now anyway.
Found a nice online shop where they sell airguns. 130 euro for a 4.5 scoped one, 400 m/s sounds pretty powerful and it looks really cool. A shame you need a permit for the powder types.
@Sarmatarian they hop around as close as 5 meters, maybe we have really dumb rabbits. Maybe I should get a crossbow instead as I want to grow towards using my bow. Dart should take them out.
Tellos Athenaios
12-19-2010, 13:14
@Sarmatarian they hop around as close as 5 meters, maybe we have really dumb rabbits. Maybe I should get a crossbow instead as I want to grow towards using my bow. Dart should take them out.
On the other hand: they can move faster than cats, and cats are faster than Usain Bolt. So unless you plan to go really slow and are lucky to have a rabbit sit that long in a single spot enjoying his dinner show, it might not be so easy.
Banquo's Ghost
12-19-2010, 14:36
Fragony, old bean, it appears that your country has rather strict laws on hunting (http://hollandsouth.angloinfo.com/countries/holland/hunting.asp) and these include rabbit. It also seems to be the case that air rifles are not permitted weapons for hunting.
I think you would do well to join a hunting group, pass your licence and perhaps learn to shoot pheasant first. As well as a fine day out, they make very good eating.
The Netherlands has strict laws on everything doesn't mean I should naturally oblige every petty rule tofu-munching city-folks cook up. Screw the laws too many of them to keep track. Besides I got night-goggles police doesn't, they will never catch us way too dark.
lol Frags, seriously man, you better off obeying the law. There is a reason that you are not allowed to hunt with an air rifle...it is not humane. Animals are tough, and can take a pretty lot of holes in them if you do not know what you are doing.
They are right that it is easier to use a shotgun for rabbits, but me, I prefer a rifle. All you need is something small like a .223 (I use the mini 14). Practice on still targets until you are good enough to to snap a 2" at 50 yards, and you should have no problem hitting a rabbit. It is actually not that hard to come upon one while they are standing still if you walk quietly.
The mini14 is cheap to shoot, but if you want something cheaper, a common .22 would work fine also.
There is a reason for making you take gun training BTW Frags, without it you could end up having someone's death on your hands. In the US it used to be that everyone knew how to shoot, and fathers taught their sons (in my case, my dad was also an expert marksman in the Marines :P). It is not the case anymore, and no offense, but an inexperienced person is more likely to hurt themselves or their friend than actually kill game.
Seriously, it is the best way to go.
Also, may I ask what you plan on doing with this rabbit after you kill it? Do you know how to field dress an animal? Skin it? etc.
That is why it is best to first hunt with an experienced individual who can show you how to do all these things.
Banquo's Ghost
12-19-2010, 16:53
The Netherlands has strict laws on everything doesn't mean I should naturally oblige every petty rule tofu-munching city-folks cook up. Screw the laws too many of them to keep track. Besides I got night-goggles police doesn't, they will never catch us way too dark.
Well, I can't speak for the Netherlands but a good deal of hunting law is made and enforced by country people. You're the one sounding like a city-slicker.
The attitude expressed above is not that of a hunter, but a poacher. Just as well that you won't take that view on any land of mine, as it wouldn't be the rabbit that gets shot.
There is a reason for making you take gun training BTW Frags, without it you could end up having someone's death on your hands. In the US it used to be that everyone knew how to shoot, and fathers taught their sons (in my case, my dad was also an expert marksman in the Marines :P). It is not the case anymore, and no offense, but an inexperienced person is more likely to hurt themselves or their friend than actually kill game.
Seriously, it is the best way to go.
Also, may I ask what you plan on doing with this rabbit after you kill it? Do you know how to field dress an animal? Skin it? etc.
That is why it is best to first hunt with an experienced individual who can show you how to do all these things.
Very wise words, Vuk. :thumbsup:
Poaching is the same thing but without a licence what's the difference, not going to shoot any unicorns just a rabbit with an airgun, and eat it mother nature will survive. Friend of mine knows how to clean it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOpY0wQdJ5w
Could catch them by hand chasing themIf you can do this then the rabbit is sick probably with Myxomatosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myxomatosis)
Watch, and learn. ~D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R_0FryVRNk
I've been led to believe that a dark night, a low powered rifle and a high powered torch are the best things for hunting rabbits. Plus any necessary licenses and permissions of course.
Tellos Athenaios
12-20-2010, 02:16
I've been led to believe that as far as Pheasant goes, raisins (or whatever it was) stuffed with crushed sleeping tablets (I think) it is. But that might be a fiction. ~;)
gaelic cowboy
12-20-2010, 03:09
I've been led to believe that a dark night, a low powered rifle and a high powered torch are the best things for hunting rabbits. Plus any necessary licenses and permissions of course.
No thats for foxes
Devastatin Dave
12-20-2010, 03:10
Dude, just come here to the US, you can borrow my beagle, my 4-10 and enjoy yourself.
Seamus Fermanagh
12-20-2010, 03:39
I smell a sitcom!
Didn't Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty do an American version of this. Something about the Appalachians.....
Crazed Rabbit
12-20-2010, 04:11
Poaching is the same thing but without a licence what's the difference, not going to shoot any unicorns just a rabbit with an airgun, and eat it mother nature will survive. Friend of mine knows how to clean it
The difference is, hunting licenses pay for upkeep of the land and all attendant public costs. Poaching is stealing. It's not a matter of having the proper government permit or not, but paying for the upkeep of what you do.
Also, an airgun is a small caliber for a rabbit. While I don't think a .223 is necessary, an airgun may well not kill the rabbit. You really need a .22.
It bears repeating, unfortunately, that you should hunt LEGALLY and join a club or whatever and go with someone who's hunted before.
Crazed Rabbits also shoot back!
:beam:
As it happens, I was looking at one of these yesterday: http://www.eotech-inc.com/product.php?id=29&cat=2
Seems like it'd be a useful sight for hunting.
CR
PanzerJaeger
12-20-2010, 08:30
:beam:
As it happens, I was looking at one of these yesterday: http://www.eotech-inc.com/product.php?id=29&cat=2
Seems like it'd be a useful sight for hunting.
CR
EOTechs, Aimpoints, and other red dot sights are built for fast reaction, combat-style shooting. While you certainly could hunt with one, I'm not sure it would offer very much benefit over iron sights in that role as it has no magnification. You would also be paying a very large premium for mil-spec durability that is not necessary in the vast majority of hunting situations and not much more.
For $500 you can get a very good hunting scope (http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting) with multiple magnification settings so that it can be used in a wide variety of applications.
If airgun isn't a guaranteed kill I'm not going to use one, I'll get a crossbow instead. Think the woods are private property just going to ask owner's permission, doubt he will mind rabbits are harmfull creatures and they only have foxes to worry about. They are everywhere. If he does I'm going to put it on hold and get the papers.
Crazed Rabbit
12-21-2010, 03:48
EOTechs, Aimpoints, and other red dot sights are built for fast reaction, combat-style shooting. While you certainly could hunt with one, I'm not sure it would offer very much benefit over iron sights in that role as it has no magnification. You would also be paying a very large premium for mil-spec durability that is not necessary in the vast majority of hunting situations and not much more.
For $500 you can get a very good hunting scope (http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting) with multiple magnification settings so that it can be used in a wide variety of applications.
I'm not planning on hunting. The primary use would be range shooting and quick shooting competitions.
The nice folks behind the counter mounted the optic on my rifle and let me try looking through. They're so much better than iron sights.
In terms of hunting, I don't know how much the quick acquisition would be worth versus magnifying power, though I think for some types of game (birds, other fast moving, close animals) it'd be quite useful.
CR
PanzerJaeger
12-21-2010, 09:55
I'm not planning on hunting. The primary use would be range shooting and quick shooting competitions.
The nice folks behind the counter mounted the optic on my rifle and let me try looking through. They're so much better than iron sights.
That is my favorite type of shooting. What kind of rifle? An ar of some type?
Ever hunted with crossbow PJ? Although I suspect selfish motivations CR was right, air rifle won't always kill it and they die horribly of blood poisining, hunters here call it 'shooting them sick' and it won't win me any popularity contest. Crossbows pack a punch though, some even have scopes and laser-sights so I take it they got good enough range.
PanzerJaeger
12-21-2010, 12:41
I have not hunted with a crossbow, but it is essentially a compound bow tilted to the side with a stock added. It is powerful enough to hunt pretty much anything that will not hunt you back (I wouldn't go out after bear or anything dangerous without a backup firearm and preferably a partner), so it would be plenty powerful to destroy a rabbit. As a bonus, it would also serve as a limited home defense weapon, considering the restrictive gun laws you seem to be under.
Again though, you will not be able to hit a running rabbit with it, and I've never experienced rabbits that are approachable in the wild. They are far more perceptive to dangers than deer and other game animals around here. But if they are different over there as you say, then have fun! (Also check your local laws to make sure you can hunt such small game with a crossbow. Just because it is legal to own doesn't mean you can hunt all game animals with it.)
Furunculus
12-21-2010, 12:51
for birds/rodents you might be better with .177, for rabbits stick with .22. the former lacks the punch to knock down bigger animals and tends to just drill neat little holes in them, but it does have the advantage of greater velocity (if both rifles are at 12ft/lbs) and a flatter trajectory.
if your within 25 yards with a good rifle and scope and confident in your ability then go for a head-shot, if not then aim for centre-mass body, being prepared to wring its neck if you missed a kill-shot.
Furunculus
12-21-2010, 12:55
Ok, I have 10 euros here that says Frags isn't gonna catch anything. Anyone?
Seriosly Frag, there are almost no chance you're gonna hit a wabbit with an airgun. They're sneaksy and they jump around.
i've bagged a rabbit with a head-shot at thirty yards. the fun is stalking into a shooting position without spooking the rabbit, would never try a moving shot with an air-rifle tho.
I have not hunted with a crossbow, but it is essentially a compound bow tilted to the side with a stock added. It is powerful enough to hunt pretty much anything that will not hunt you back (I wouldn't go out after bear or anything dangerous without a backup firearm and preferably a partner), so it would be plenty powerful to destroy a rabbit. As a bonus, it would also serve as a limited home defense weapon, considering the restrictive gun laws you seem to be under.
Again though, you will not be able to hit a running rabbit with it, and I've never experienced rabbits that are approachable in the wild. They are far more perceptive to dangers than deer and other game animals around here. But if they are different over there as you say, then have fun! (Also check your local laws to make sure you can hunt such small game with a crossbow. Just because it is legal to own doesn't mean you can hunt all game animals with it.)
Our rabbits are ijjits, deers are really cautious
Yeah, even in the wild, it is not that hard to sneak up close enough to a rabbit to take a good shot. I personally do not shoot moving animals (with the exceptions of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks), because you are not assured a clean kill. It is really disturbing to shoot an animal's leg off and then chase it down and drill it full of holes as it is writhing on the ground. I have seen someone do that to a rabbit with his .22. After hitting it in the rear leg he shot the thing in the guts a bunch of times. That is a very painful, brutal way to go, and it is much better for you and the animal to finish it off with a clean shot to the head or other vitals.
That's what I want to avoid, 'the wild' isn't really the right expression here though, more like the number of trees between traffic-signs, 'wild rabbits' can even be found just out of the centre of Amsterdam and I don't mean bunnies, they got some disease last year though was pretty sad to see that, completely helpless.
edit, what's up with this? http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/ And that wouldn't scratch a rabbit?
Seamus Fermanagh
12-22-2010, 02:18
Perhaps a Martini-Henry? No worries about failing to kill the target....
The first question is what kind of air-gun you have.
You can easily get a .22 cal air-gun, the break barrel type, and that works for rabbits and quails and other game of that size. Furthermore these guns don't normally need a license.
As for hunting laws I can't really say. For instance in India, it's illegal to hunt anything but vermin, like rats and stuff. But quails that roam the fields are a delicacy, cooked on open flame.
And in my experience it's easier to kill a quail than a rabbit.
Edit:
Another thing you might want to take care about is the pellets. When I first bought the pellets I made the mistake of getting the round nosed ones. You want to get the pointed ones for greater penetration power.
edit, what's up with this? http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/ And that wouldn't scratch a rabbit?
Those are modified airguns, I think. The kind that would need a license to keep legally. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_gun_laws#Netherlands)
Furunculus
12-23-2010, 10:33
it has always been a dream to own a theoben rapid mk2, the rolls royce of air-guns.
sadly 850 squid with another 250 for a scope that does it justice.
@India, decided against air-rifle, I don't want to risk just wounding them.
Anyone know where to get an affordable thermal scope that can be mounted on a crossbow?
Fisherking
12-23-2010, 12:55
Sure!
Just check out amazon. I saw one for only $19,995.00
Sure!
Just check out amazon. I saw one for only $19,995.00
That kinda makes things complicated, k scratch thermal scope I'll just shoot a flare ad rectum first
@India, decided against air-rifle, I don't want to risk just wounding them.
Well, it's really your decision, but a well placed shot to the head with a .22 cal always kills.
Sarmatian
12-23-2010, 15:13
@India, decided against air-rifle, I don't want to risk just wounding them.
Get to a heavilly wooded area and call Osama bin Laden (1-800-AIR-OSAMA). Start insulting him (beard and Islam jokes work best) and eventually a 747 will crash in the forest, resulting in massive rabbit casualties. Works every time.
The added effect will be that the rabbits will probably join war on terror and with them on, America can't lose.
Fisherking
12-23-2010, 15:27
A crossbow actually has better accuracy than a .22 up to 300 m.
If it is legal to hunt at night then there are some other night vision sights that are less expensive than thermal.
Only use sights if it is for night. In daylight it is too much trouble to aim. You need to shoot quickly and not at long range.
Easier said than done, he hasn't returned my calls ever since, and I was only jesting.
Furunculus
12-23-2010, 20:12
lol, why not squat on top of a rabbit burrow and then ring a random number in pakistan whilst shouting; "jabber jabber bin-laden jabber", then all you need to do is wait for the drone of a predator overhead. surefire way to screw some rabbits poop up........ possibly with your poop.
seriously tho, if you aren't willing to take the risk of wounding an animal you should not be hunting, likewise, if you aren't willing to put the time in to become proficient at shooting you should not be hunting.
get a .22 and practice, the only safe alternative is laying C4 at the entrance of the burrow having filled it with vapourised petrol.
Strike For The South
12-23-2010, 22:15
Poaching is bad
If you are going to hunt on private land ask first
mmmmkkkkkk
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