Rabbits!

[JeffinNZ]

Team.

Just got back from rabbiting and MAN was there some rabbits?! CRAWLING! We were shooting them out of the windows of the house they are so numerous.

This is me at the breakfast table. Bella the dog was OK with the shot BTW.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/Outwindow.jpg

Got 140 odd all up including this one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/Whiterabbit1.jpg

Sorry, not cast bullets in that rifle but lead anyways.

I have never seen a white rabbit in the wild before. I have shot black, blue (black with white fleck), ginger and a tri colour but never white/albino. This the third off that property so it gives an idea of how high the numbers are. In some spots I was dropping bunnies fast as I could cycle the bolt on the Ruger. I was seeing 200 + rabbits each outing and the property has been shot recently by a professional night shooter and he has been getting 200 + per night!

My wife bowled a pair at 60 yards with my suppressed Martini .32-20. This photo was taken from the bedroom window. She is shooting at rabbits by the stump. Load is 311008 over 3.8gr Unique for just shy of 1000fps. VERY quiet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/SJ1.jpg

Here is the result.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/SJ2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/SJ3.jpg

I took a few with the .32-20 also but further out and using the high vel. load I have of a 311316 over 15gr H4227 for 1900fps. Forgot how much that FN at that speed messes up rabbits.

AND the photo of the weekend is this. Abby and the Ruger I am baby sitting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/Nevertooyoung.jpg

Not CB but my mate arrived with his .17HNR and it was a laser. I have never seen or used one and it is WAY impressive for a 17gr bullet. Bit costly though for someone as tight fisted as me.

We are going back at Easter. The Easter bunny is in for a nasty wee surprise. :Fire::-D

[EMC45]

Awesome writeup and pics. Keep 'em coming!

[klcarroll]

I love that Martini!!!

Years ago, I had a Martini in 45-70; ......It was one of the prized possessions that fell victim to my divorce! (Sob!)

I wish I could find another one.

Kent

[MT Gianni]

Nice outing. You are right about the photo of the week, We have a winner.

[Larry Gibson]

Jeff

Great hunt, great shooting and great family. Congrats on all!

Larry Gibson

[Glen]

Good stuff Jeff! That suppressed .32-20 looks like a handful. How much does it weigh?

[Triggerhappy]

Man! All those hoppers ought to be good eating. I grew up in a valley that was all alfalfa fields. Some years we were just overwhelmed with rabbits. Used to go pick up 6" irrigation pipe by one end and see half a dozen rabbits go running out the other end. Shot and butchered thousands and used the leftovers for coyote bait at night. Got the bounty on the coyote's to pay for the .22 shells. Great fun growing up. And great food too. Wish there were more rabbits around here.

Once had an old timer show me how to "clean" a rabbit by flinging it between your legs to squirt the guts out and have a cleaned carcass. Never got the hang of that but did make a big mess a couple of times. I still clean them the old fashioned way.

[superior]

I need to show these pics to MY wife! She loves to shoot (and eat game) but getting her to drop the hammer on a bunny may take some doing, but then again, maybe not. I wont know 'till she gets the chance. Around here in coastal Oregon I've seen maybe 5 wild rabbits in 18 years. I think the early settlers must have almost wiped them out and the coyotes probably take care of the rest. Good shooting! I like rabbits roasted in the oven with a wine gravy like my grandmother used to make in France. When ever we would visit, she would butcher a rabbit and cook it up. YUM YUM with canned mushrooms in the gravy.

[Bullshop]

Kewl!! I love it !!! Now you got ya some good sausage makins.
We made up 30 pounds yesterday. We mix about equal parts of wabbit, red meat (moose or caribou for us) and beef or pork fat. Grind well, add spice and let it age in the cooler for a couple days.
The plan for today is to smoke what we stuffed yesterday. We stuffed 2.5" skins that are about 24" long. We used a bologna recipe so we can have sandwich meat on hand for the troops when they come in hungry. Much better without the chemicle preservatives. We preserve the meat by canning it. After smoking we cut to length stuff in wide mouth jars and can at 10 lbs pressure for 90 minutes.
Then when ever you want bologna sandwiches just pop open a jar, slice and go for it.
No refrigeration needed this way. The only refrigeration we use here now is a well designed root celler. Dumping the frig dropped our power bill by $50.00 a month, can ya believe it???
Anyway looks like a wonderful day of family bonding and memory making. Congrats!!!
BIC/BS

[JeffinNZ]

Good stuff Jeff! That suppressed .32-20 looks like a handful. How much does it weigh?

Hi Glen. Haven't weighed it but I would guess 8lb. It is very handy and for the southpaw wife it works great.

I call the .32-20 Martini "Whispering Death". A bit crass I know but it sure is quiet.

[JeffinNZ]

For those with a good broadband connection here is the Google maps link to where I was shooting.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dunback+1744&sll=-45.338184,170.609688&sspn=0.00085,0.002736&ie=UTF8&ll=-45.338789,170.609884&spn=0,359.997264&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-45.341815,170.613842&panoid=AwiThFXGOVdYgYGF08gPvA&cbp=12,208.93114780930617,,0,0.4515444893442558

Looking SW into the paddock with the two sheep; at the right times there would be 20 rabbits along the fence by the trees.

Looking NE at the pines plantation; there were 100's of rabbits on the edges.

Looking NW at the cleared face of scrub I walked up the track onto the top and round the back shooting dozens.

Hope this gives you a picture.

[home in oz]

No small predators or birds of prey in New Zealand?

[Glen]

Jeff --

That rifle is 100% class act. I think you have named it well! Just keep shootin' cast in it. If I ever make it down to NZ, maybe you'll let me shoot it? (or do I have to ask your lovely wife? ;-) )

[runfiverun]

that google thing is cool...
the area remnds me of around here somewhat. except we are under 3+ feet of snow.

[JeffinNZ]

Jeff --

That rifle is 100% class act. I think you have named it well! Just keep shootin' cast in it. If I ever make it down to NZ, maybe you'll let me shoot it? (or do I have to ask your lovely wife? ;-) )

You don't miss anything I can tell. Yes, you'll need to ask "her indoors". Would be glad to take you after a bunny so you could try 'Whispering Death' out.

[Russell James]

Well done mate!
Nothing like the taste of the old "underground mutton"!
RJ

[Four Fingers of Death]

How long is the bbl on the martini hush puppy?

[JeffinNZ]

How long is the bbl on the martini hush puppy?

18 inches Mick. SMLE barrel so the wee girl with spin up to 240gr bullets EASY.