Hunting rabbits?

Question

I've heard you shouldn't hunt rabbits (in the UK) during any month with an "R" in it. What is the basis for this rule?

I suspect that it has something to do with the rabbits having young at certain times of the year, but is there anything else I should know? Does this actually relate to ALL months with an R in the name?

Do you have links to any web pages about this?

Any info much appreciated.

Answer 1

This was alwasy a princable followed by people who choos to use ferrets.
Months without and R in them are genraly the time of year when rabbits breed, there for they have kits down in there borrows.
When ferriting, this can cause alsorts of problems, a ferret that kills down the whole, will genraly eat its kill or eat its way through the kill to free its self , since the rabbit is then blocking the entrance, and afterwards they can lie up and have a nap, kits are easy pray.
In this time your waiting for it to come out.
Things have changed alot in time thoug, now there are locaters that are atached to the ferrets coller, as well as the climate and the fact that alot of animals as well as plants,crops ect are all breeding, blossoming or ripening alot earley than decades ago.
When there is a huge population of rabbits, and they are been nothing but a pest then there is nothing you can do but cull them, if there is not then you should respect there breeding season Once the rabbits are grown then there is more sport for you since you have give them the chance to breed.

sites that may be of help.
http://www.countryside-alliance.org.uk/
http://www.basc.org.uk/

Answer 2

You can hunt rabbit all year round it is the method that changes.in the winter when the breeding has stopped I use ferrets a very effective way of dealling with them, in the summer I like to be more selective and use 1 of my 3 rifles so I only take the adult stock and leave the young to grow. Ferrets in the summer is indiscriminate , killing young and old alike. Rabbits are still a pest all year round and control is essential.

Answer 3

My suggestion is to use a BB gun for targets and plinking and your air soft gun for whatever air soft guns are intended and use your .22 for rabbits. Whenever you shoot something, you have an obligation to kill it cleanly not injure it and let it crawl off and die a slow death. If you want to shoot rabbits with something like a machine gun, look at Cabela's latest catalog. They have a device that will hold two Ruger 10/22s side by side and a crank that attaches to the triggers in such a way that when you turn it, the guns fire rapidly like a machine gun. I think it was a little over $400 but then you have to buy two Ruger 10/22 to go in it. Forget the BB guns and airsoft guns for rabbits.

Answer 4

Most Hunting Seasons for rabbits are September, October, November, December, January, February**......This is the best time to harvest them**...

Answer 5

i think you'll find its the other way round
you shouldnt hunt when there is NOT an R in the month.
that is from May to August as this is the prolific breeding season for them.
but as rabbits actually breed from february to october and if its really warm into november then you cant really follow these rules. there is always the myximatosis problem that is worse in the summer months.

the same rule applies to shell fish as the warmer weather promotes an increase in algae and bacteria that can poison us.

Answer 6

You've got it back to front. It's the months WITHOUT an 'R' in that you are not supposed to hunt and eat rabbits. But as they are considered a pest you can hunt them all the year round. Farmers do!

Answer 7

the rule where i'm at (southern USA) is to only hunt after the first frost, usually november and until february or so. the reason being the cold weather kills off many of the parasitic worms that rabbits can carry.

Answer 8

I was told never to eat rabbits in month with an "r" in it because of the mating times of the rabbits. I know rabbits gestation period is approximaty 30 days and i think they say to eat em in summer because maybe its to hot to breed so they dont and only breed in summer

Answer 9

There is a similar saying about oysters harvesterd in June July and August these months don't have the letter in them.Iforget the details

Answer 10

You should wait tail after the first frost. That kills the rabbit fever They carry "Believe It Or Not"
Happy Caving Carroll