Moor End

I took a quick trip out after tea on an Easter bunny hunt.

I left home @ 5.30 and drove to a local permission, as I went through the gate, 3 rabbits were sat on the banking less than 10 yards from me.

I slowly slipped my rifle from its case, and popped in a magazine.

As I raised the rifle to my shoulder, 1 rabbit bolted and went into a hole nearby.

I changed my aim, and the 2nd rabbit bolted as I scoped him, he dived straight into the same hole.

The 3rd rabbit then made a dash for the hole, but he paused too long and became #1 for the pot.

I headed towards the main warren, but didn't get 20 yards before I spotted a rabbit sat tight in a cattle footprint. I raised the rifle and she became #2.

I carried on towards the main warren, and as I crept into the crater I saw rabbits hopping about all over the place. One popped out of a hole, raised himself onto his hind legs and stood staring at me. He wasn't standing for long, as the pellet made him #3.

Rabbits were everywhere and running for cover. Those that went into the main warren wouldn't be seen for a while, so I walked round the field looking for the ones that didn't know I was there.

As I walked up the crater banking, I spotted a rabbit just hopping through the gate into the next field. I know there isn't a warren in that field, but I often get the odd one sat out feeding.

I crept to the wall, and peered through the gaps to spot him, sure enough he was sat feeding. I crept along the wall to get within range, and kept checking through the gaps as I went. I slowly peered over the wall with my rifle ready; the rabbit was about 20 yards away. I squeezed the trigger and the rabbit rolled over kicking. I lay my rifle on the ground, and stood up to climb over the wall. As I did, the rabbit got on its feet and set off running. It ran through a gateway and then approx 150 yards straight down the field to a rabbit hole that goes under the boundary wall into a large warren next-door (I'll be knocking on his door soon).

I headed towards the 2nd biggest warren in the field, and spotted 4 rabbits sat out. I used a small mound as cover, and crawled across the field to get a clear shot. I peered over the mound, and scoped a rabbit sat less than 10 yards away. I clicked my tongue, and 7 heads popped up to see what the noise was, then #4 was in the bag.

The rabbits dived into the warren, but I could still see a pair of ears sticking up.

I re-cocked my rifle, and slowly stood up to get a clear shot. I could see his eye just over the edge of the rabbit hole, so placed my shot and squeezed the trigger. The pellet hit the ground and the rabbit disappeared underground.

I headed back to the car and as I got near I spotted 2 rabbits sat out (probably the same 2 that were out as I entered the field) I took my aim, and #5 was in the bag. The other rabbit ran straight passed me and went into the same hole it did earlier.

As I collected #5, I spotted 5 young rabbits in the corner of the field; I've never seen rabbits in that corner before so I went to have a look. There were 2 holes, and it was obviously used as a nursery chamber. I went back to my car, and was home again for 6.30.

When I dressed the rabbits, 2 does were milky, and were carrying embryos. What I thought was a total of 5, became 17. Many disagree with killing rabbits at this time of year, because of the young. But when a farmer wants the rabbits kept under control (which by law he has to) he is kept happy by a large cull, which in turn keeps you happy because it means you keep the permission.