I personally feel that the responsible use of firearms and air weapons are valid survival skills, which can be used to provide a regular supply of fresh meat, furs and feathers, as well as being a humane way of controlling vermin such as rats and squirrels. 

Another factor that I feel makes shooting a worthwhile pursuit is that it teaches us many of the same skills that our ancestors would have used during their hunting expeditions.

Wounding an animal is not acceptable. Don't be mean kill them clean!

Know your own limitations and those of your gun and shoot responsibly. As with any tool an Air rifle has the potential to cause serious injury and even death if it’s not used with respect, so gun safety is extremely important. Never shoot unless you are certain of your target and can see it clearly.

Rabbits are the largest Game I would consider taking with a sub 12ft/lb Air Rifle, other possible game include Pheasant, Grey Squirrels and Wood pigeons.

Did you know.......The “kill zone” of a Rabbit is not much bigger than a ten pence piece (I normally aim at an area just behind the eyes), so you need to be absolutely confident that you can achieve this level of accuracy before you take your shot.

pellet choice for hunting

There are numerous calibers (or sizes) of pellets made for air rifles, for the majority of us hunters we opt for either a .177 or a .22.  The argument over which is best for hunting has been ongoing for years, and both calibers have their merits.

When hunting with an Air Rifle, pellet placement is the most significant factor, and for most small game, a headshot is the only humane option.

• .177 pellet is lighter so it follows a straighter trajectory. it is also lighter so reaches a greater velocity and many claim that it’s more accurate.
• .22 pellet has more mass and a greater surface area so delivers more kinetic energy to its target on impact. This additional mass also means that the pellet will follow a more of a curved trajectory making range estimation more critical.

 With regular practice either caliber will do the job, so I’ll leave the choice up to you!

day or night?

Day and night hunting differs not only in the awesome visual presentation but in the actual hunts themselves too. Some animals only appear at night, while others "sleep."

The equipment needed to hunt during the day and night differs significantly too.

Daytime hunting requires a standard scope, where as shooting at night requires torches, night vision or thermal scopes.

Gun silencers & moderators are a great piece of kit as they will suppress the noise of your air rifle.

Shooting in the day can be more challenging as your more visible to the prey your hunting. I find camouflage and concealment is often the key. I wear camouflage clothing and use pop up or make shift hides to conceal myself. Shooting downwind will also help minimize your scent and alerting your prey.

Night time hunting  has it advantages but you do requires the extra equipment listed above to make it possible. To increase your chances of success, you should always scout the location before a night time hunt during the day, your get a lay of land including obstacles and be able to see the animal tracks.  

One of the most effective methods of shooting Rabbits is “Lamping” which is done at night and requires the use of a bright light often attached to the scope of a rifle.

When a Rabbit is caught in the light its eyes are illuminated and it normally stops still long enough to allow a clear shot.

Walking towards the direction of the wind will reduce the possibility of Rabbits scenting you before you get close enough, silence is also critical, so no talking, and tape down anything that can make a noise.

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