NIGHT SHOOTING OF RABBITS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29792, 7 April 1962, Page 8

NIGHT SHOOTING OF RABBITS

“Quickest, Most

Effective”

Night shooting produced the best results in the Plains Rabbit Board area, reported the inspector, Mr R. G. Heywood, at a recent meeting of the board. One man can quite comfortably patrol 2000 to 3000 acres in a five-night week, depending on the type of country to be covered. A man with dogs, if he could cover this area in a week, would not produce anywhere near the results,” he said. It was the quickest and most effective way of covering the country and one which met. with the approval of farmers as they could see what was being done, he said. Mr Heywood suggested that instead of employing two more men, the board should employ one more in the lower part of its area and equip him with a utility vehicle and spotlighting apparatus. The amount saved in wages for the second man would enable the board to purchase a second-hand vehicle which could be placed in the Springfield area Where it w’ould not do a big milage The vehicle could be replaced in 12 months.

This would give the board four working vehicles and five men. including himself, who could cover 80 per cent, of the board’s area by night shooting, said Mr Heywood. In February 664 rabbits, 49 nesters, 36 opposums and 42 hares had been killed. One man had trapped 59 rabbits and 21 opposums, a second 160 rabbits and 40 nesters and a third, by both gun and dog work and night shooting, had a tally of 211 rabbits and |34 hares. Mr Heywood said jhis own night shooting had resulted in 234 rabbits and ' six hares.