Thread: Black rabbits

Hi all, over the yrs and in different countries I seen lots of variations in wild rabbits , last few years around me was white but this I’ve seen more black rabbits than ever, south Auckland region, anyone else ?

yeah shot 22 over the last 2 weeks here in north canty and 10% are black still afew black ones on the neighbors place next-door always herd the black ones were from brother sister action

I usually see 2-3 pure black wild rabbits every year, and no its not the same one trying to fool me. No idea what it is or why, I have seen a pure white rabbit once.

2 brown and 2 black out there at the moment

Black rabbits are worth TRIPPLE POINTS on the shooting score!!

There always seems to be a few colored ones when numbers are high

Originally Posted by Carbine

yeah shot 22 over the last 2 weeks here in north canty and 10% are black still afew black ones on the neighbors place next-door always herd the black ones were from brother sister action

Heaps of black ones around your neck of the woods, we lived in Culverden for 6 years saw heaps of black ones

Originally Posted by mimms2

You out of ammo or what?
Hell, if I had rabbits that easy picking...

well, I wouldn't because they'd have learned...

theres a road by those trees so cant take a shot during the day with the 22 have to wait till tonight so i can see headlights if im going to use the .22
usually use air rifle but scopes abit shit past 12m waiting for replacement otherwise i would just use the air rifle

There were heaps around here last year. It started with one that seemed semi-tame. A bit later on and I would see litters of six or so with half of them black, half brown - I'm guessing the black male started mating with his own offspring. Only one black one regularly around our place now, but the missus saw 5 down the road last week.

Times seem to change and when I was a kid blacks weren't common. Likewise white deer. Shooting a black rabbit was considered good luck.

A few years ago i threw out a skin from one I shot as a kid and cured with baking soda and kerosene. Time had caught up with it ditto the owner

My father reckoned 1 in 12 this was Arrowtown/Queenstown years ago.
He said the best he did with a .22 was 35 rabbits from one spot.
My Grandfather did a lot and eventually bought a farm part of which was earnt from skins.
I guess they would have known the percentage and this backs up @Carbine 10%.

I didn’t know you get belted galloway Rabbits in the South Island tedz50’ that’s is a it different ,
The black ones are on the list to go, just playing with clip on night vision - they all look black through that !

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

Black rabbits are worth TRIPPLE POINTS on the shooting score!!

Yeah they're an instant "power up" if you get a head shot

I feel a bit sorry for the black ones and the white ones, they really stand out. No biological advantage at all in NZ. Unless the black ones are meant to be strictly nocturnal?

there are a couple of white hares in south canterbury....close to pleasant point which is funny considering it houses a very good taxidermist.

we used to see maybe 1 coloured rabbit per 100 brown ones....seen all black,all ginger,white patches ...if someone lets ol flopsy go as cant keep them at home anymore...you are going to get different colours.....some of the flemish giants released in strategic positions could make for interesting crosses...definately make the pet food side of things less bunnies per kg....