Rabbit numbers,

[Elmer]

Yup, bunny numbers have been very low where I go.
My premium patch normally holds between 60 to 100 did a head count yesterday and only saw 25.....I dont think any viruses have been through since I reckon the lack of rain for the past 2 years has decimated the numbers.
That's why I haven't been putting up any vids lately cos there ain't a lot to shoot.

[Peter988]

Place I shoot on in northern NSW was overrun with them in 2016/2017. We could shoot a couple hundred a night. Was like being back in the 60’s. The virus had no effect. Surprisingly though, myxo popped up again last year and decimated them. They are slowly coming back. Got 50 odd in a few hours spotlighting last week.

[ThumbNT]

been hunting down south near Wandering here in WA

last 3 trips we've seen 4 on a 250 acre property, shot zero.

heard some howling late pm/early am, my guess some feral dogs.

Was in Kalbarri in October 2018, got about 6 in half an hour.

[Cooper]

Hadn’t had many about. Went on the motorbike to check on the horses tonight. Saw 3 or 4 in a 1km ride. Hadn’t been seeing anying.

It is the the 1st of August and also saw a black snake out. Had frosts last two nights. Fairly sunny days. But was quite late in the evening about 5.30pm and the sun was down! Seems a bit early

[Stix]

Hadn’t had many about. Went on the motorbike to check on the horses tonight. Saw 3 or 4 in a 1km ride. Hadn’t been seeing anying.

It is the the 1st of August and also saw a black snake out. Had frosts last two nights. Fairly sunny days. But was quite late in the evening about 5.30pm and the sun was down! Seems a bit early

Mate that snake must be related to those magpies that arc up during the night...
Or he's in BIG trouble coming home from the pub that late...!!!

[Heretic]

Seen a couple in state forests but hardly any South or North of Sydney on private property.
Was only a few short years ago that I could fill a couple of eskys in an arvo, now won't shoot them and hope the numbers bounce back.
Calici virus AKA Rabbit Haemorrhagic Virus is very effective and has decimated rabbits in the Hunter region.

[straightshooter]

Only recently I saw a single young rabbit about 10 k's away from my place in the Young Cowra area of NSW. Otherwise I haven't seen any in the area for at least 10 years.
Hares yes, rabbits no.
But I have been told that not too far east in the Boorawa to Crookwell districts there are shootable numbers.
We still see many around Sydney but even daydreaming about shooting any of them would get a visit from the Tactical Response Group.
It's my suspicion that the calici virus will be very effective in some climatic zones and less so in other climatic zones.
I will probably be pushing up daisies by the time rabbits develop a resistance.

[Faedy]

Ive got a property near Boyup Brook in WA - perfect rabbitat, but lucky to see one or two out spotlighting. - the virus has nailed them

[bladeracer]

I will probably be pushing up daisies by the time rabbits develop a resistance.

Our rabbits have been decimated by calici, however, we have two, father and daughter, that seem to be immune to it. Another breeder brought out one of his girls to spend a week with our bloke, but nothing came of it. We have six youngsters now and we're hoping at least some mìght survive the next release.

Calici is a horrible death for them.

[on_one_wheel]

I will probably be pushing up daisies by the time rabbits develop a resistance.

Our rabbits have been decimated by calici, however, we have two, father and daughter, that seem to be immune to it. Another breeder brought out one of his girls to spend a week with our bloke, but nothing came of it. We have six youngsters now and we're hoping at least some mìght survive the next release.

Calici is a horrible death for them.

It definitely is.

Anyone who thinks that shooting animals for pest control is cruel should be made to watch animals die from poison and disease.

Normally you don't get to see the full effects of calicivirus like you did because unlike a pet rabbits or farmed rabbits, wild rabbits tend to die in their Warrens by bleeding from every orifice and drowning in their own blood.... nice

I'd choose the bullet thanks.

[Member-Deleted]

Declining numbers around the Euroa area of Vic, we would shoot up to 100 back in the late 90's to early 2000 after that it has become a downhill road, last year I took 3 during the whole season, or what I call a season Nov-Jan. But they are out there in pockets, a friend shot 80 on a 3 acre chicken farm down Gippsland, so they are about but only in pockets and those pockets are not where I hunted most of my adult life, very sad but the virus is definitely taking it's toll.

[Ricochet]

I'm just over the boarder from ACT, seen bugger all over winter, but have seen a few little spring bunnies popping up. If the damn licence aint approved soon I'll have to get the bow out.

[TassieTiger]

It’s funny - the vegans / animal cruelty brigade go ape s**t about shooting...yet you never see them protesting govt offices that release mexo or other similar viruses...they seem to think that they just drift off into an everlasting dream...as opposed to die ing a horrific, painful and slow death...

[xDom]

It’s funny - the vegans / animal cruelty brigade go ape s**t about shooting...yet you never see them protesting govt offices that release mexo or other similar viruses...they seem to think that they just drift off into an everlasting dream...as opposed to die ing a horrific, painful and slow death...

Don’t see them getting all tied up in knots over people going fishing!? How’s ripping a fish out of the water with a hook any different than shooting game?

[bigfellascott]

Ya don't see em getting upset when someone yanks a veggie out of the ground roots and all rendering it a slow agonising death on a supermarket shelf somewhere either, what the f***s wrong with em.

[bigfellascott]

Speaking of Rabbits, seen a good warren with about 20 young kittens running around on it the other day whilst out cutting firewood, I've been to this particular spot a few times over the years and it always seems to have good numbers of bunnies running around, yet anywhere else I go they have disappeared.

[marksman]

there's still plenty where I go and a few in places that were decimated by calicy years ago
problem at the moment is that you can't get to them because of the mud and it's too far to walk out with your rabbits in tow
this year it seemed to be big rabbits that are about

[bigfellascott]

there's still plenty where I go and a few in places that were decimated by calicy years ago
problem at the moment is that you can't get to them because of the mud and it's too far to walk out with your rabbits in tow
this year it seemed to be big rabbits that are about

Plenty of big rabbits should mean plenty of little ones sooner or later

[xDom]

Last couple of mornings I've been going out in my normal spot in central Vic. This place is extremely well known and gets a lot of visitors with guns so the critters are hyper vigilant.
Now I've got my thermal viewer I can see there are a reasonable amount around. I nailed a couple each visit.
A thermal imager, NV IR clip on and a set of shooting sticks.... What a combo!!

[John]

I’m seeing more than ever in the hunter valley nsw at the moment where I live haven’t been able to put a dent in them so far.
But what I am noticing and not sure why is there not burrowing holes anymore there all seem to be living in wood heaps and anywhere there’s a bit of cover if anyone knows why I’d like to know out of curiosity. I haven’t seen any signs of new holes or them using old burrows all so not seeing any hairs around ether not sure if the virus has nocked them out ether.
There definitely a pest that needs controlling but I’d hate to see them wiped out there so much fun to hunt and a great tool to teach the youngsters how to hunt and being good numbers it keeps them interested unlike hunting big game where it can take many hours of patience to find one and to get a shot on

[solarpak]

Maybe its time to let the rabbit breed up and the rabbit processing industry resurrect itself.........

I dont know how we will be financially after the COVID disaster but we need every bit of help rebuilding this nation of ours.........i shudder to think it will take 20 years to get back financially.

I dare say the govt will increase the retirement age !!!

C.

[Stix]

Maybe its time to let the rabbit breed up and the rabbit processing industry resurrect itself.........

I dont know how we will be financially after the COVID disaster but we need every bit of help rebuilding this nation of ours.........i shudder to think it will take 20 years to get back financially.

I dare say the govt will increase the retirement age !!!

C.

Bit late for a rabbit industry...

Unfortunately the many strains of virus are out there, & out there to stay...and its pretty devastating when it hits a populated area too...

[Ziege]

Been knocking off a few and cooking them up last few days, not tonnes around but evidence of a fair few... Ones were shooting have great condition, probably something to do with the 60 rolls of fresh hay next to the Warren haha

[Ziege]

Sadly yeah, of we are headed into another depression because of this covid ****** then the roo population and other furries are gonna get hammered, it was rabbit that got Australia through the great depression, almost every kid and family made a job of trapping and hunting them daily. My grandparents and almost every other persons grandparents would have starved if not for the over abundance of rabbit and its ease of access. As much as I understand the reasons behind using calici virus, I feel it's not a good thing going forward from this point on

[NTSOG]

G'day,

There are still no rabbits on my property [south of Ballarat] and there never have been in 34 years, but I know there are pockets of them in large numbers in surrounding areas not all that far away - pre-virus days. All I have is a mob of 'roos that increased after my neighbour whacked 30+ on his property and about 5 crazy hares.

Jim

[TassieTiger]

I live on 5 acres and I’m in reasonable close proximity to some large sporting grounds - every year, I receive a notice in the mail box advising that the council is deploying calici virus to prevent sportsman from tripping over diggings in the ovals, etc.

Some rabbits have seemingly learned to stay away from their “areas” and most look fat and healthy and breed quickly but then some of those end up head butting low velocity .22’s...leaving one or two on the go constantly.

[Stix]

Sadly yeah, of we are headed into another depression because of this covid ****** then the roo population and other furries are gonna get hammered, it was rabbit that got Australia through the great depression, almost every kid and family made a job of trapping and hunting them daily. My grandparents and almost every other persons grandparents would have starved if not for the over abundance of rabbit and its ease of access. As much as I understand the reasons behind using calici virus, I feel it's not a good thing going forward from this point on

Yes Zeige...im not a fan of the virus...not from a shooters point of view, but from an economic POV...

I showed an Asian run retail meat seller (marketed as a butchery, but they dont have the foggiest how to butcher up meat, they get it all cut for them), a pic of 20 dressed out bunnies on my phone couple of years ago...should have seen their eyes light up...!!
They wanted as many as i can get & were willing to negotiate on price...

And as for the depression...youre spot on there mate...!!...thats ultimately how i got into this shooting caper...chasing bunnies was a given for couple of generations of grandparents i had, & my ol'man ended up a big time ferreter & trapper, with a love of shotgunning too...so hence, i grew up standing over warrens as a wee takker with a single barrel 410.

I alsolove my chasing foxes under spotlight & that is mostly what i do, & i can tell you without any doubt, the areas with no or very few bunnies, are hardest hit with brazen foxes come lambing time...this time of year is easy pickings as it is for foxes, but float around a flock dropping lambs with little mallee scrub & no bunnies & fill the boot with orange fur in no time.

I rekon the bunny has its place in our environment now...its replaced the natives we had that have been decimated by cats & foxes...I shoot couple properties where cats are "admired" for their apparent bunny & mice busting abilities, & the empty life on one farm ATM due to these cats is very sad.
With no cats & a few foxes to keep bunnys in check, there are lots of wildlife about...frillies, blue tonges & sleepy's & low level birds everywhere....
But now that cats are in the sheds, there is nothing anywhere....

Anyway...bit off track...bunnys are a part of our ecology now, & the useless goodie-tooshoes conservation busters should be focusing their efforts on cats...not the humble bunny...but try tell that to lefty biology or agri uni grad now... ...nope bunnys are the baddest of news...

I think they just target them because that virus is easy to work with & genetically modify, so once theyve wiped out bunnys, they can praise themselves to take away the focus on the cat problem we will be left with...
They claim the young ones build an immunity to to strains out there & thats bulldust...!!...each strain they claim they'll nail all bunny's but all they succeed in doing is pumping more future problems out there.

Anyway...the humble roo will now replce the humble bunny for a staple if this current virus caused depression gets any worse...there is already an influx of mixed mince available in shops now (roo/beef combo)...so i rekon we wont have the numbers problems with roos come this time next year...not down here anyway.

[Stix]

I like the look of "Spunky"...would make a nice little tea cosy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnW3ciLBmJk

Each to their own eh...good on em...

[on_one_wheel]

Been a while since anyone posted a numbers update.

I reckon the rabbits are having a great disease free season my way.
Only spotted one sick rabbit so far this year (mixy)
Today I found a whole mob, at least 30 of them in one tight bunch happily grazing on wheat grass between downpours.
Took a couple home, might head back later tonight and clean up.

.22lr subsonic hollow point

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[animalpest]

Stix - young ones do build immunity of sorts. They actually have a degree of immunity from the colostrum in their mothers milk.

Letting the same strain of virus go in the same area every year is a poor idea.