The rabbit stick

[British Red]

I made a post recently replying to comment that mentioned rabbit sticks

I was raised on rabbit sticks - I still always have one around for fun and nostalgia. A rabbit stick to me is the perfect dimensions when its the diameter of the hole made by touching the index finger to thumb in an "ok" sign.



For length, if the arm is held loosely at the side, fingers curled, it should tuck into the armpit, held by the fingers.



As a 6' guy, my current stick is 2 foot long and oval in cross section an inch and a half across the long side.



I make them from blackthorn - its hard and really heavy.



Throwing wise they are normally thrown spinning, parallel to the floor - out to 20 yards they hit really, really hard. They can be thrown end on through foliage, but don't get the same force so its a shorter range.



Happy to show pictures if anyone is interested

Some people asked to see what I would term a rabbit stick, so here goes.

Please note that I am not advocating or condoning the use of these sticks as a hunting aid, not least because better options exist, I am simply showing what I know as a "rabbit stick".

I think "stick" evokes something twiggy. This is in fact a rabbit stick



It's made of blackthorn although hornbeam works well too. You want a dense, heavy wood, because it needs to be heavy



It has to be heavy because it needs to carry momentum when thrown .

Each is sized to fit the owner. I make them oval to fit my hand

For length it wants to be as long as your arm




It's honestly a utility tool. You could hunt with it by throwing it spinning parallel to the ground, but it could also serve many other purposes - from a carrier for barbed wire spools, to a way to use the broomstick method on chickens.
In many ways it's perhaps a more utilitarian shillelagh, carried tucked under the arm of the countryman (or boy) who had nothing fancier.

There's quite an art in launching one hard and accurately.

Hope that was interesting, happy to answer questions

Red

 

[Wildgoose]

It does look more shellelagh/cudgel than I had imagined.
Looks like a solid useful item.

 

[British Red]

It does look more shellelagh/cudgel than I had imagined.
Looks like a solid useful item.

When you think about how much momentum it takes to stun / kill a rabbit perhaps 50' away with a thrown stick, it makes sense.

 

[oldtimer]

Definitely an Oxfordshire Aunt Sally stick. "What me, Officer? Poaching? No, just off to the Kings Head to play Aunt Sally."

 

[British Red]

Definitely an Oxfordshire Aunt Sally stick. "What me, Officer? Poaching? No, just off to the Kings Head to play Aunt Sally."

I imagine that such a tool was fairly universal! Does anyone still play Aunt Sally? If so, any chance of pictures?

 

[Wildgoose]

I was in a pub last year that had the Aunt Sally set up, near to Reading I think.

Sticks seemed to be softwood dowel, probably advisable in these days of health and safety!

My great grandfather was a gamekeeper and carried a similar item I believe, obviously for rabbits…

 

[British Red]

I was in a pub last year that had the Aunt Sally set up, near to Reading I think.

Sticks seemed to be softwood dowel, probably advisable in these days of health and safety!

My great grandfather was a gamekeeper and carried a similar item I believe, obviously for rabbits…

Of course....rabbits...

 

[TLM]

I think Egyptians used throwing sticks for birding.

 

[British Red]

I think Egyptians used throwing sticks for birding.

On branches, that makes sense..

 

[TLM]

Not really my area but I have a faint recollection that it was used on water fowl. I would not bet on that though.

 

[British Red]

Not really my area but I have a faint recollection that it was used on water fowl. I would not bet on that though.

I could see that working...

 

[gra_farmer]

Elm works well too, I honestly cannot believe how hard elm is when green.

 

[British Red]

Elm works well too, I honestly cannot believe how hard elm is when green.

Would love to see your elm version, please put some pictures up

 

[JFW]

What a great thread, I used a rabbit stick when I was a boy, rabbits, birds and mates were fair game. I'm now going to check out what and how to play Aunt Sally. Thanks British Red. Cheers JFW

 

[Madriverrob]

Very interesting , I was aware of throwing sticks but really helpful to see one and hear such a clear description ...... part of our living history .

 

[Broch]

It's a while since I made one. Ours were bent or curved, about 24" long, usually slightly heavier one end than the other, and we 'shaped' the stick slightly to flatten it (it was supposed to 'fly' better but I'm not convinced). I think I spent more time decorating them than throwing them to be honest. I've still got my last one kicking around somewhere.

We would practice by throwing at a kicked football; I can't remember who taught us (my grandfather was a poacher but he preferred his .22 short), but we never aimed at a static object - always moving.

It should be pointed out that using a rabbit stick to hunt rabbit (or any other animal) in the UK is not legal (in the same way as stoning an animal is not legal). The way the law is written is a little ambiguous however.

 

[henchy3rd]

Similar thing here, I had a friend who had a kangaroo stick.. wow, that thing was like iron when he tapped it on my head for show.

 

[demographic]

Sounds like Mulhollands (off McKlevy) hornbeam stick.

 

[British Red]

Similar thing here, I had a friend who had a kangaroo stick.. wow, that thing was like iron when he tapped it on my head for show.

I haven't heard of those before - are they similar in design?

 

[Nic Le Becheur]

Definitely an Oxfordshire Aunt Sally stick. "What me, Officer? Poaching? No, just off to the Kings Head to play Aunt Sally."

- Or dance the Morris