BushTucker said:
Can anyone tell me if it is still a legal practice to hunt rabbit in this country. It used to be and just wondered if any of you knew upto date law on this.
By hunting I mean catapult or humane snaire (no guns).
Cheers
Don
The law hasn't changed for sometime now.
Rabbits are protected by legislation, as are all wild animals.
You have to be an 'authorised' person to pursue and kill rabbits, by this I mean you must have permission from the landowner where you intend to hunt rabbits.
Catapults are legal, or I should say catapults have no legislation specifically forbidding use to kill rabbits.
Snares have plenty of legislation as do most other trapping methods.
If you live close to me, I'll get you started. Indeed if anyone on here wants to go and "shoot" a few rabbits let me know and I'll get it sorted.
This is about the best info your going to get on snares and the law;
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/snares/pdf/snares-cop.pdf
As for sling shots, well my own view is that they are not really suitable for rabbit control. You have to be VERY skilled to use them and be VERY close.
A good airgun, costing as little as £60 S/H is IMHO a lot better than a sling shot.
In my experience, you'll be hard pressed to find any landowners who will let you set snares, if you tell them your hunting rabbits with sling shots.
Just my 2'p worth.
John