Thread: Rabbits and Hares close to houses

Originally Posted by Jesse1122

I’m quite interested in an affordable night scope, just for rabbit pest control around a lifestyle block. Do you have any recommendations for where to start?

You want to take a look at nightvisionnz https://nightvision.co.nz/product/dn...nd-ballistics/

The DNT Zulus is perfect for rabbits. I use mine for both close range pigeons and rabbits, so it's quite a versatile unit.

Originally Posted by flock

I,m shooting Hares a bit further out of town so tree huggers not so much of a worry.

Using a low end inferay thermal to find them, with the colour menu I get a red glow to 60M which is the shoot able limit for my PCP air rifle. Shooting jsb18g pellets at 35flbs or 920fps, with pard night vision scope sighted in a 50M this rig shoots half inch. Shooting off homemade shooting sticks as where I shoot is flat & often has longer grass. Head shots are a must, puts them down no worries, Quiet & at night I'm not shining a torch all over the place.

I do them in a slow cooker with a Maggi slow cooker sashay, onions & parsnips, bacon & whatever takes your fancy. Lot of meat on a hare, well worth eating.

Sorry I was meaning to reply to you flock above. I’m keen to try out some night shooting and wondering where to start, either a dedicated cheap night vision scope, a clip on night vision that attaches to a normal scope, or a dedicated cheap thermal scope. Rabbits will be <100m away, using a 22lr.

Originally Posted by Jesse1122

Sorry I was meaning to reply to you flock above. I’m keen to try out some night shooting and wondering where to start, either a dedicated cheap night vision scope, a clip on night vision that attaches to a normal scope, or a dedicated cheap thermal scope. Rabbits will be <100m away, using a 22lr.

If you have a spare .22 that can accommodate the NV/Thermal scope full time, that is the best option. Thermal scopes are good but not much good without a thermal handheld as well. Once you already have the handheld, a good NV scope isn’t far behind the thermal unless you get a really good thermal, then it’s in a different class.

Originally Posted by longshot

If you have a spare .22 that can accommodate the NV/Thermal scope full time, that is the best option. Thermal scopes are good but not much good without a thermal handheld as well. Once you already have the handheld, a good NV scope isn’t far behind the thermal unless you get a really good thermal, then it’s in a different class.

Thanks longshot, @No good names left and @Pauly5, since I posted that I decided to go for a dedicated night vision/day scope (pard FD Compact), and just finished up my first shoot.

Took a while to get a scanning system going, as no handheld thermal to help with scanning, but came home with 6 rabbits all at 40-60yards in the dark, so not a bad start.

@ANTSMAN, you’re on the right track.

It’s pretty much been said but here’s my 2c on how to cover your bases well.

Check Satellite picture first.

Door knock the neighbours, this works better if the person you are shooting for, gives them a heads up that you will be doing so. When you speak to neighbours, it presents as professional and reassuring if you offer to give them a courtesy text prior to shooting activities. Often they will request your services as well.

Advise police via 105 each time you are shooting, (Don’t forget to advise them when you are finished)

Operate during darkness using thermal or NV sights, a small head torch for walking around doesn’t tend to ruffle feathers but a spotlight can. As an aside, any lighting device can upset the horses, so keep that in mind.

Using firearms/equipment that are suitable for the situation is a given.

Be prepared for the activities to be labour intensive as you are often limited in what you can shoot. As often as not, it’s a case of setting up with a safe angle and letting the rabbits come to you.
As woods223 says, you gotta be fucking sure of your shots, this actually applies at all times but in these situations it is less often that you can be and harder to boot.


Finally… if working in construction affords you access to a cherry picker/scissor lift, these can be used to effect. The easier but less effective option is gaining height from on top of a vehicle if you can.

Ummm if I remember correctly, law says firearm may not be discharged within 100m of a residence. True?

Originally Posted by Jhon

Ummm if I remember correctly, law says firearm may not be discharged within 100m of a residence. True?

As long as residents/general public are notified you’re reasonably safe.
From: Arms Legislation Act 2020
Section 48 replaced (Discharging firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near dwellinghouse or public place)
Replace section 48 with:
48 Discharging firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near dwellinghouse or public place
A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding $10,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, discharges a firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near a dwellinghouse or a public place so as to—
(a)
endanger property; or
(b)
endanger, annoy, or frighten any person.

Nor a public road, it all gets to hard, Ok back to my knitting.

Pindone for the rabbits may be the easiest answer, the pony club could do that themselves and depending on where they are the regional council may consider supplying it. Not the best answer in a hunting forum but possibly the most practical in the circumstances.
Not sure about the hares but horsey people don't like rabbit burrows as horses have been known to break an axle in them.

gas is better than pindone and easy to use - pindone to get a good kill needs to be used correctly otherwise failure - its not just lay it out once - needs very carefull preefeeding of non toxic bait first - liquid pindone can be very successfull when used with chopped carrot but not sure of availability of liquid pindone to public - honestly dont get to hung up with rules and regulations and neighbours until you go down the track of shooting and come up blank- if you do your homework as set out here by many you should be right - if in doubt use an air rifle - but combine that with gas - rabbits are hard to get rid of - quickly become damn shy bloody little survivors - I had to do a 10 acre reserve at Kaitaia to control likely 80-100 rabbits shooting was fun but gas did the job

Thank you everyone- there is a lot of info here, and I've learnt a lot, so thanks!

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Pindone for the rabbits may be the easiest answer, the pony club could do that themselves and depending on where they are the regional council may consider supplying it. Not the best answer in a hunting forum but possibly the most practical in the circumstances.
Not sure about the hares but horsey people don't like rabbit burrows as horses have been known to break an axle in them.

Yep that's what the lady said- broken horse ankles. Yeah I hear ya about the poison- thankyou for the response- if anyone dosnt like the chat, they can "read on"

no glad to give you info from those who have had the job of getting rid of bunnies' don't play if you are serious of getting rid of Mr rabbit - you face a difficult foe believe me they are survivors very adept at avoiding you

PCP air rifle vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCBWj1_r18k&t=7s

Originally Posted by flock

PCP air rifle vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCBWj1_r18k&t=7s

Hah- that's blardy brilliant!