Thread: Easter Bunny Hunt

So I'll be down the south island for a few weeks over Easter, have been looking into it and it looks like a bit of fun, does anyone usually go?
From what I understand there are teams that enter together, I'll be down with my partner visiting her family and don't really know anyone around otago

I haven't heard a thing bout it yet sorry

It has been cancelled due to the fire risk of the high dry grass down here.

Don't worry though I am still smashing them

Just been reading the article from today, thought it could have been a good social event

https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/centra...-risk-too-high

I did enjoy it to a point. Only once in the 6 odd times i went did our team ever get a semi decent block. we nudged 600 odd and got 3rd.
Most other times we were struggling our ass off to get anywhere close to 400 and usually a lot less. For 10 odd shooters over night and a bit of leg work during the day it wasn't always very productive. Since then that team has had crap blocks as well with some tallies below 200.
There was also always a sour taste in my mouth over certain teams always in the top 3. it was big enough of a concern that they even changed the ballot system to make it more transparent and honest.
Funny thing was one of the last teams to go one year happened to be around when one of these top teams came back angry after inspecting their block and demanded a better one. I don't remember their result but if there was a better block just for them why did other teams get crap blocks as well.
That was over 15 years ago. It may be better now
There was also always comments at the debrief to the team captains at the end of the shoot where the farmer would tell them that they'd either had pro shooters in or a large bait drop/poisoning campaign done with weeks of the shoot. I know they have to do their stuff but that's a disappointment.
Nothing against the farmers here I may add. Its their livelihood
It cost a bunch of money for me to travel down to it and shoot especially when you predominantly run shotguns, but honestly for the work and especially with the chances of a crap block involved I'd rather just do it as a get together.
Maybe use the 22 and do some low pressure sniping along with a little shotgun work for some fun bush stuff and not have to worry about picking them all up.
Then a few beers with everyone later on.
That would be great especially if we could get a good farm with decent numbers.

Originally Posted by berg243

The year we got a team together we got a block in the lindis .managed 500 plus after the farmer said he forgot we where coming and the farm staff had been shooting every second night for a couple weeks before we came and getting in excess of 200 per night and we got 24th out of 50 teams.would do it again but all my current hunting friends only want to shoot deer. Will try and find some blocks up central next year when I have more time to put in a decent effort and make a small dent in some rabbit numbers.

U might struggle up in the lindis now days rabbit numbers extremely low

We first shot the EBH in 1995 and during a quick dinner break in that event I proposed to my girlfriend. We were married later that year. We did the 1996 and 1997 hunts but after the virus was released we held off for a couple of years. We've now done every year since 2007... so some 13 or 14 events in total. For the last 4 events I've been the team ring-leader and while getting 10 people togehter is easy, getting 12 on board is like trying to herd cats.

My motovational speach to interested parties insists you go into the event with a clear understanding that you are not going to shoot thousands of rabbits. You are not going to shoot hundreds of rabbits either. Heck, if you're lucky you might shoot double numbers. No, the prime reason to attend this event is actually to enjoy some camaraderie, have a few laughs and to get to shoot on land not normally available to hunters. Over the years I've been back to the same farm a couple of times but generally its a new block each year and I'm always grateful to have been able to get onto these places and enjoy the landscape from viewpoints you would never otherwise get to see.

I play the game straight and to the rules. The best we ever did was 804 rabbits. Typically we sit around 300-400 and despite the genuine hard energy we put into the hunting we have never broken into the top three. If they're playing by the rules too then I take my hat off to the winners as there is no disguising the fact that it takes a lot of effort to get the numbers - regardless of how good the block is.

So go into the event with no expectations. Know that in doing so you're supporting the Lions Club who do great things for their community. Enjoy the private land you're privileged to be able to wander at will. Enjoy the company of your team mates. Shoot a few rabbits and laugh when your mate misses his. Do this and regardless of the final tally, you'll have a great two days on the hill.