For anyone that hasn't seen a number of videos put together by one of the news channels by  Melanie Reid, it's worth a watch, some denied we had a building population, but it appears the penny has now finally dropped. Granted these are just pockets but given that they in or near townships, the options are limited for control. Punch in looming rabbit problem on face book & it should come up, well worth a look.

I remember as a kid going with my parents to visit a farmer relative over in the Wairarapa. I was eight or nine and remember the farm being somewhere alongside Lake Wairarapa.
His wife was home, and said her husband was up the hill with his neighbours doing rabbit control, so we walked the farm track and as we got closer to the lower slopes we could see ten or so men moving down the hill in a spread out line. Each man was beating on a tin and waving arms, and in front of them the hillside seemed to be moving ...... undulating - it was weird, didn't make any sense, but we could all see it.
We watched the men continue down the hill, then realised they were herding thousands of rabbits into a fenced area, two men at the rear closing the entrance to a large chicken wire enclosure.

Once all was closed, the men set about with clubs - and we moved away, it was a bit rough for us 'townies' .......... but that was around 1954 or 5.

And if I hadn't seen it - I'm not entirely sure I'd have believed it.

Edit -  looked online to see if I could find any mention of the above happening, and where and when.
And - I couldn't find any mention, but I did see what I did - and have a memory those men (farmers) went from farm to farm to deal with what was obviously a problem.

I remember we used dogs to "herd" them into fishing nets we had set up across the ground in Central Otago '72-'73.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/page/rabbits-its-as-bad-as-its-ever-been?fbclid=IwAR3...

In 1930, Rabbit Boards were set up with the stated view of reducing the rabbit population. People on unemployment were employed up and down the country to rid areas of rabbits and hares.
In 1955 the Rabbit Act was amended to allow the six South Canterbury Rabbit Boards to control wallabies.

In 1989, the administration of rabbit control was completely restructured. The Rabbit Boards were disbanded and Regional Councils took over the job.
Regional Councils then proceeded to publish some nice glossy booklets telling you what a rabbit is (with photos), and will offer advice to landowners on how to control them ...........

So - your Regional Council is now 'the wanker in charge' ......... of rabbits ........ and leaky sewage pipework 

Harry hare never worried me. Some farmers hate them esp when new trees are invoved. Dont breed like the rabbit. Sounds like a trip to Tekapo is in order. 😀

I'd be keen to help out lowering the numbers. Pretty hard getting access in the Mackenzie though. Owners may be changing their view if numbers are getting out of control.

Good to know HC. Does twizel doc do small game permits? Have had a few from Geraldine office but there's bugger all rabbits around in the area. Should add that I'm not looking for a job, just recreational.

Rumpy wrote on May 18^th, 2021 at 10:12pm:


Youd have to ask. I think they might. Or take a .223 with you and shoot everything. If we had a forum weekend hunt it would be private land for rabbits, hares, and wallabies.

Rabbits and Wallabies are going to become a lot less in the near future on the big chunks of the rougher country from the the far side of the Haka up to the north end of Lake Tekapo.  40000 hectares are being 1080ed with pellets for wallaby control. Its already started. Course they will come back pretty quick.. being pests, unless the affected stations start doing some real control work after the poisen op.

The thing is it will cost them money to keep people in the area shooting. Rec hunters generally dont like to have to work too hard for numbers in areas where there arnt many which is understandable. They are only getting the odd days shooting in and want it to be memorable. 

Headcase any details of this drop.? Cant find it on google.

Quote:


This is not DOC. It is Ecan. As its all on private land I doubt it has to be publicly notified. This might be helpful.

Wallaby programme funding
MPI is leading a national wallaby management programme.

The programme has $27.4 million of funding from 2020 to 2024. It is part of the Government's $1.3 billion Jobs for Nature Programme.

The programme will help support regional communities. It will create jobs and give extra work to businesses providing goods and services.

What we'll be doing
Surveillance and population control in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Canterbury, and Otago.
Building fences to slow the spread of wallabies.
Improving wallaby detection and control.

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/long-term-biosecurity-management-programmes/....

Went to poisen an area today with Liquid Pindone on carrot. In front of the truck and spreader there were waves of rabbits running out into the distance 2 hundred meters ahead. Like the bow wave of a big ship. The terrain was totaly buggered from years of high rabbit numbers. Big crumbling warrens the truck was sinking into. Not much more than rocks and moss growing. Where there was tussock it have been clipped off to lawn height.

Behind the truck just 50 meters back I could see rabbits emerging and getting stuck into the carrot. Must have been the sweetest juicy carrot they had ever tasted.

From the days of shooting.

I was told there are no rabbits in north canty.

Sounds good. What would you say is your fav. rimfire?  Im a fan of subs and .17 hmr.  My partner has just bought a .17 semi. A Volquartson. Looking forward to seeing how that works out.

Ive also just resurected my old 10/22 by having a kidd barrel put on it and an aftermarket trigger. The gunsmith did a great job of getting the mags to sit trim in it again.. All nice and straight now. The feeding problems have gone for the moment..

another pick from 10 years back. I dont shoot for petfood anymore. Its now search and destroy only.

Cheers

Some more old pics..

This one is the wallaby popsicle.. all frozen hard as nails.

Its agricultural art. Ill be rich and famous soon selling piles of dead sheep or cattle frozen together. Everyone will want one.

Just made a coffee 10 minutes ago and look what was on my lawn 6 mtrs from my kitchen door.His last afternoon smoko.Good slug gun.Very distracting tho watching beach volleyball.

Those brown babes look very tasty.

Ive had the jab twice Trout. I can see in the dark. Its like a ringing in the ears. Like radar. 

agree with that. Top Preditor on the block on a dark night. A game of cat and mouse.