Rabbit Hunting Near Southampton?

[Grendel]

I'm new to the whole hunting scene although regulary shoot HFT at tin targets and wanderd if anyone who regulary shoots Rabbit for food could take me along to show me the best way to do it. You could say i have all the kit but no idea so wandering firstly if there is such a thing as rabbit hunting season and if anyone would be willing to take me along one day to hunt with them since i have as yet never shot any living thing with the TX200HC air gun and would rather learn 1st hand from somone with experince. I know the priciples of shooting between ear& eye for clean kill but never shot, gutted or skind a rabbit before and would rather not make the animal suffer or waist the meat if i cocked it all up.

[Rod Paradise]

Good on you for asking instead of forging ahead. Hopefully someone will help you out & if you do OK at hft you'll be fine hunting.

[Everything Mac]

Hope you get permission mate!

I assume you are insured?

Andy

[Grendel]

OK after speaking to others I would like to join somone on a hunt to learn how to prepare fresh killed rabbits. I wont be shooting since have no permision or insurance yet just need to learn how to prep so your shooting permisions will be safe.

[andyc54]

Hi mate try the hunting life forum its not as friendly as here but they often have lads offering to take newbies out just make sure they have permision to use the land as some dont !!

[spandit]

That is my all time favourite air rifle - very jealous
Have you joined BASC?

[greenwood]

If you were closer i could take you out, although may not see much bugs bunny likes the dawn/dusk or night, some times in day time if not frightened and they don't like the rain, I'VE just skinned two rabbits, should of taken vid and showed you, rabbit Currie i made was nice.Have a look on you tube

[awarner]

I used to hunt years ago with air rifles .25 Supersport was my main rifle, but that was when I worked on a farm in Droxford. Around the east side of Southampton Botley, Swanmore areas it's hard to find somewhere to shoot now as it's quite a popular pastime if you were ever thinking of taking it up on a regular basis.
I presume you have found somewhere by now?
No idea what the price of insurance is and years ago something we generally did not use it, as it was more know the layout of the land know the law.

Shooting season though not really one as such from a pest control situation as the little buggers will breed as soon as the weather improves so a mild short winter can cause some fun for the farmer trying to control numbers.
One thing that can stop a lot of people from hunting again is finding the rabbit you just shot was a pregnant doe. A milky doe can also be a bit messy to skin but its all part of the deal.

As for skinning etc if you get stuck send me a pm and I can arrange to get some for you to have a go.

I have a real basic/fun "survival camp" for the scouts at the end of June and they will be preparing ans cooking rabbit as one of their meals. Scouting does not allow hunting which is a shame as if taught right it certainly helps them understand the food chain in more detail ;-)

[Grendel]

Have now joined Countryside Alliance so fully coverd by insurance just need someone and some where to shoot with to show me how to hunt and prep fresh kills.

[andyn]

Ian,
Theres an article on preping a bunny here: http://www.naturescraft.co.uk/articl...ringrabbit.htm

It doesn't cover paunching it but these are fairly easy steps to add in.

We can discuss it when you are down next weekend if you like. We also cover bunny prep on our Autumn hunter gatherer weekend.

[Grendel]

Thanks for that Andy. Will we be preping rabbit for the game stew Sat night if so can i have a go?

[andyn]

Pigeon this weekend I'm afraid, well not afraid at all, its lovely. We do rabbit on the hunter gatherer weekend in sept though.

[Grendel]

Pigeons good. As long as its wood pigeon not feral

[andyn]

Pigeons good. As long as its wood pigeon not feral

If there are fag butts and bits of burger in its crop then you will know its from the bus station lol.

[awarner]

Wood pigeon are taking over from the feral rock pigeon, lovely bit of meat.
Never bother plucking them just use the breast as its not worth the hassle, Canada goose is also well worth a try, ton of meat on that.

[Grendel]

Canada goose is also well worth a try, ton of meat on that.

Bit big to take out with a .177 air rifle though

[awarner]

Depends on how good a shot you are but a boom stick would be better ;-)

[Grendel]

Had a few offers now for hunting in Sussex and Dorset but there more wantng to hunt near anything that moves in the woods. Am i being a bit odd that i ONLY want to hunt things i can make use of and eat like Wood pigion and rabbits?

[bushwacker bob]

Had a few offers now for hunting in Sussex and Dorset but there more wantng to hunt near anything that moves in the woods. Am i being a bit odd that i ONLY want to hunt things i can make use of and eat like Wood pigion and rabbits?

You just doubled the quarry you are after. I thought it was just rabbits which are in short supply in the southern half of the county.
Pigeon are much more pleantyful which means you stand a better chance of an invite to shoot some.

[awarner]

Nothing wrong with only hunting what you intend to use or eat its what I do and most people here I would imagine would agree.
Pest control is another matter but again has a purpose, trying to shoot anything that moves sounds a bit reckless so I hope you misunderstood what you were being offered.

[Grendel]

I guess he means ALL pests like Squirel, Rats, Magpie, Crow, Ferral pigeon, Rook Ect.. None of which are of use or edible to me.

[awarner]

All of them are edible depending how hungry you are and how well you prepare it.
Squirrel is one I keep meaning to try supposed to be very lean.

[Grendel]

Well if you find some ground we can shoot on dont mind shooting it if we can eat it.

[Grendel]

Time for an update.

Been offerd a shoot in Lancing (1.5hrs drive away) but havent had the time to go yet so still looking for somwhere more local really. I'm after things i can eat like Wood Pigion, or rabbit although squirrel is edible but not keen myself.

[Everything Mac]

Squirrel is like rabbit, but less meat on it. Not as good a rabbit in my opinion.

Id take that shoot, hassle yes, but it will keep you sorted for a while.

Andy

[Grendel]

Went out on a hunt with a chap and his .17hmr so now got the bug to get my FAC and go the .22 rim fire route but Still need some permissions a bit closer to me in Hampshire really otherwise it will only get used down the range. Must admit made a nice bit of rabbit jerky out of the bunny he shot.