• Welcome to The Bushcraft Forum

    You are currently viewing the site as a guest and some content may not be available to you.

    Registration is quick and easy and will give you full access to the site and allow you to ask questions or make comments and join in on the conversation. If you would like to join then please Register

Shooting at night.

Ystranc

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
11,569
Points
2,050
Shooting between one hour after dusk until one hour before dawn is prohibited for game in the UK but vermin are exempt. This opens up the wonderful pastime of bunny bashing to anyone with a rifle and a bright light.
I have seen that Mark Wilson has a lamp mounted on his scope and I have a couple of similar ones, also a de focused laser emitter that gives a small bright circle of light. Anything that illuminates the area in front of your scope will work, even a companion with a bright hand held torch.
Night shooting does raise some safety issues about backstops and target identification. It's important to walk the land that you intend to shoot over during daylight first so that you have the lay of the land in mind when actually shooting. It's also important to stay calm and not take rash shots, at night there will always be more bunnies so it's ok to wait until you see the target clearly and can get that perfect head shot. This avoids spoiling the meat and gives a clean kill.
Talking about spoiling the meat it's best to paunch the rabbits immediately. Gut them after giving them a little squeeze to empty their lower bowel and bladder. Cleaning them immediately makes the meat a whole lot more palatable and less stinky while cooking. Leaving the job of cleaning them until next morning makes a noticeable difference to the quality of the meat.
 
Bunnies are very tasty, we don't hunt them at the moment but I have my eye on a warren nearby. Currently it is the domain of one of our cats, he likes bunnies too.
 
Bunnies are very tasty, we don't hunt them at the moment but I have my eye on a warren nearby. Currently it is the domain of one of our cats, he likes bunnies too.

It's been many moons but I've shot, skinned and cooked rabbit. As hodgson mentioned, very tasty indeed and something that you can hunt with an air rifle. Monster size rabbits near my house and seem to be around quite a bit... I bet I wouldn't see any if I sat out with a gun though :)
 
Try it at night with no moon and a bright torchlight, you'd be amazed. If they're skittish with a white light then try a red or yellow filter, it can make a big difference.
 
Back
Top