cymaz Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Just had a very heated club meeting.....the subject of rabbits came up. We have been having rabbit problems for several decades. In the last few years the amount of damage caused by them digging shallow scrapes in the field landing strip has become intolerable.. We have several options Rabbit proof fencing around the entire boundary Regular shooting Putting down a smelly deterrent I have read that ground coffee waste is a good way of stopping rabbits moving onto land. Has anyone had the same problem and did the coffee waste help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 We have loads of them and hares, moles are the worst though, fencing sounds very costly n there's laws you need to read first (sure you've researched it all), guns n ferrets sounds the best way, must be some locals that would jump at the chance ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Good luck with that one ! We have had regular visits from shooter who lamp the rabbits and take away loads but it hardly makes any difference. Tried loads of smelly deterents .............they don't work either. We used to have loads of stoats but they disappeared . Best of luck . PS if you find something that works please let us know. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Thomas Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 If you look on various air gun sites and forums you will find plenty of people who will shoot and take them away for free, all they are after is the practise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksboy Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 We had exactly the same problems. We tried everything we could find, garlic based stuff as used on golf courses, chilli powder mixed into the top soil that we filled the holes with, nothing worked. We had regular work parties to fill the holes in, men with guns came to shoot the rabbits, nothing worked. Our solution was to lay an Astroturf runway. Expensive but it works and is very popular. We were given as much Astroturf as we wanted when a school replaced their hockey pitch. Old Astroturf is like old tyres, very hard to recycle so they were pleased we took some. We had to pay to move it and lay it but it was worth it for us. We've now got a smooth, all weather runway which is of no interest to the rabbits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 Thanks, it's a real nightmare of a problem. We seem not to be the only ones. AstroTurf might be an alternative there is plenty of second hand on the web. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Jefferies Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 +1 for ferrets....... Also hawkers. Try to find a local field sports enthusiast, they are always looking for new places to hunt. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Shooters are prepared to PAY to shoot rabbits. . Just contact any shooting club (shotguns or air rifles) and they will be queuing up to have a go. It could give a boost to club funds too. B.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 It's funny but we have lots of rabbits on the airfield (though they seem fewer lately) but we've never had a problem on the grass patch at the side of the hard tarmac. I have seen stoats a couple of times so perhaps they're keeping the bunnies in check. Buzzards are also common - do they predate on rabbits? The main problem on the grass is motorcycles who ride on some of the old airfield and stray onto our bit sometimes when we're not flying. Unfortunately, shooting isn't an option in that case Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 Club chairman likes the idea of astroturfing. The bunnies are welcome to try eating that. Hopefully it would bung their insides up , then they would burst.... Edited By cymaz on 14/10/2017 12:20:58 Edited By cymaz on 14/10/2017 12:25:40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Yes,Buzzards do take rabbits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Simple really..... **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert baker Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Get a Acme Roadrunner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Got two, called whippets. You have to do the mantra in the UK I believe, "honest officer, as God is my judge, I did not think they would catch a rabbit. What, a whippet chases a rabbit, who would have thought it. But officer, after the fist pair, I thought they would be tired, dear lads." And so on. Mind, get a bloke with a gun in. A good whippet can do 400, 500 rabbits a year. That is the output of a very lazy bloke with a 410 shotgun. But the dog caught stuff is without lead when eaten. Stewed with apple, or prune, Devine. But Cymas, make your strip a bit bigger if Astroturfed. Has less rolling resistance than grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Posted by J D 8 on 14/10/2017 16:35:44: Yes,Buzzards do take rabbits. We have Buzzards at our site , the problem is the rabbits do the damage at night ! Perhaps some European Eagle Owls could help on the night shift !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight1 Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 The strip cymas is talking about is already 20m wide and 100m long, thats a lot plus there is a cross strip for tangent wind days of about 25m of that. and it is well dug by the rabbits and getting worse each year, Astroturf is a goood idea but i think the size might need to be shrunk a bit, since the sheep have been removed from the field a few years ago this is become a factor. I vote for astro turf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 Posted by flight1 on 14/10/2017 20:00:04: The strip cymas is talking about is already 20m wide and 100m long, thats a lot plus there is a cross strip for tangent wind days of about 25m of that. and it is well dug by the rabbits and getting worse each year, Astroturf is a goood idea but i think the size might need to be shrunk a bit, since the sheep have been removed from the field a few years ago this is become a factor. I vote for astro turf Rich, Mike also thinks the astroturf is a winner, does he? Edited By cymaz on 14/10/2017 20:12:49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight1 Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Posted by cymaz on 14/10/2017 20:11:42: Posted by flight1 on 14/10/2017 20:00:04: The strip cymas is talking about is already 20m wide and 100m long, thats a lot plus there is a cross strip for tangent wind days of about 25m of that. and it is well dug by the rabbits and getting worse each year, Astroturf is a goood idea but i think the size might need to be shrunk a bit, since the sheep have been removed from the field a few years ago this is become a factor. I vote for astro turf Rich, Mike also thinks the astroturf is a winner, does he? Edited By cymaz on 14/10/2017 20:12:49 YUP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetenor Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Ferrets and stoats love rabbits .Ferrets can make good pets too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Flying off Astro turf is like going off tarmac. Bit more drag, but predictable. Lovely surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Bite the bullet and go for some of the black stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksboy Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 We tried all these approaches but they all take up too much time. No-one wants to go to the club field everynight for an hour or two to shoot rabbits or chase them with ferrets. We spent a fortune on proprietary anti rabbit products, even buying a purpose made spreader to drag behind the mower dispensing whatever it was. Everything failed, this was over a series of years that we tried, all without success. The AstroTurf is not cheap to lay but it is maintenance free, the rabbits go elsewhere, we get a fantastic surface to fly from and our flying has improved now there is a definite target to land on. Small foams with their tiny retracts love the surface. Nothing damages the surface, big glow powered props make no impact on it at all. After a couple of years we extended the area because we liked it so much. The downside is the costs to fetch it from your donor and have it laid I'm afraid. Edited By Bucksboy on 15/10/2017 19:32:48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted October 15, 2017 Author Share Posted October 15, 2017 I will mention this at the AGM. Thank you for the options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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