Rodent Problem

[PoormansMachinegun]

Getting into the cooler months I tend to get an over abundance of cotton tail rabbits that destroy my yard. My wife wants me to dispatch them when I see them because we cant get them to go into a trap. Does anyone know if I would need a permit to shoot them with an air rifle, or a Ruger 10/22 using 22CB short ammo on my property?

 

[THard6]

is your yard that important... rabbits are pretty "harmless"?
here may be a place to start.. yahoo does it again...
DNR: Hunting & Trapping Guide

 

[bass pro]

What are you using to bait trap. An apple (1/4 cut) always works for me in an old school rabbit box.

 

[karl77]

would build an owl house.

 

[Hookeye]

Rabbits are not rodents.

 

[Caldad]

I thought this thread was about the rats in DC. My mistake.

 

[billyboyr6]

Shoot em. And eat em.

 

[jrogers]

Rabbits are not rodents.

Maybe the OP means squabbits?

edit: I just had an idea! Rabbits are nature's socialists. Try reading the entirety of Howard Roark's speech into a microphone, then set up speakers in your yard and play the recording on a loop. Those collectivists will flee posthaste!

 

[hooky]

Shoot em. And eat em.

^^^This^^^

Ingredients
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup red wine
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
4 scallions, halved lengthwise
4 garlic cloves, halved lengthwise
3 dashes of Tabasco
3 bay leaves
2 sprigs rosemary
1 sprig flat-leaf parsley
1 sprig thyme
1 tablespoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon whole juniper berries
1 3-pound rabbit, cut into 8 pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
All-purpose flour (for dredging)
Boiled potatoes or cooked noodles

Bring first 15 ingredients to a boil in a medium pot; turn off heat and let marinade cool. Place rabbit pieces in a glass jar or baking dish; pour marinade over. Cover and chill for 48 hours.

Remove rabbit from marinade; strain marinade through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside; discard solids in sieve.

Heat oil and butter in a large heavy pot. Place some flour in a shallow bowl and dredge rabbit in flour, shaking off excess. Working in batches if needed, cook rabbit, turning once, until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer rabbit to a plate and discard drippings from pot. Pour reserved marinade into pot and bring to a simmer. Add rabbit pieces, cover, and simmer gently until rabbit is tender, 1 ½–2 hours. Serve with boiled potatoes or noodles.


Read More Hasenpfeffer: Recipe: bonappetit.com

 

[Hoosierbuck]

That recipie sounds really good. I just can't bring yself to mess with them that much. I quarter them, marinate overnight is some boxed zinfandel. Then I dredge in flour/salt/pepper and pan fry just to brown the outsides...then toss them into the pressure cooker with a cup of water for about 20 minutes at pressure to cook and tenderize. EZPZ.
HB

 

[Hookeye]

I have two under my shed. Better go to the shop and order some Judo points

 

[singlestacksig]

Getting into the cooler months I tend to get an over abundance of cotton tail rabbits that destroy my yard. My wife wants me to dispatch them when I see them because we cant get them to go into a trap. Does anyone know if I would need a permit to shoot them with an air rifle, or a Ruger 10/22 using 22CB short ammo on my property?

how picky are you about your yard? Rabbits seldom do that much damage unless you have very specific flowers, which would be going dorment soon..
build a owl box, or other habitat to promote raptors.. take rabbits during hunting season...

 

[IndyDave1776]

You have heard of S.S.S. (shoot, shovel, shut up). I would think there is merit to the implied suggestion further up-thread, T.C.S. (trap, cook, shut up).

 

[92ThoStro]

I see rabbits coming out of the field never seen any property damage from them though.

 

[Richwon4]

Don't know your neighborhood but I have had great luck shooting them with either a 22 shorts, but mostly air rifles. Rabbits are very destructive to the garden. Here is the cruel method though. You have to know were they nest and have the babies. Communicate with neighbors IF they have the same sentiment for rabbits as you. You know the rabbits are everywhere in the spring. But suddenly you stop seeing them. Why...because they are nested up having babies. Take a fourth of july smoke bomb...the good kind. And kill them via smoke inhalation while they are nested up with the young ones.

 

[vwarren]

I still just coat those little boogers legs in some flour and introduce them to some crisco! salt/pepper

 

[singlestacksig]

rabbits are true grass eaters.. they can live on just grass .. they do not really do much damage other than eat some garden plants & bark off young trees..
if something is tearing up your yard it probably is not rabbits..
if you have spots where the grass is torn up and earth dug into you may have skunks around.. they would be digging just under grass looking for grubs..
Turkeys also will dig down some..

 

[IndyDave1776]

rabbits are true grass eaters.. they can live on just grass .. they do not really do much damage other than eat some garden plants & bark off young trees..
if something is tearing up your yard it probably is not rabbits..
if you have spots where the grass is torn up and earth dug into you may have skunks around.. they would be digging just under grass looking for grubs..
Turkeys also will dig down some..

Well, at least two out of the three work on the stove!

 

[Mark 1911]

Compound bow. Great practice for archery season. Neighbors won't hear the shot either!

 

[PoormansMachinegun]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I called DNR and was told as long as it's rabbit season, and I am shooting them when they are on my property, I do not need a permit. If out of season I would have to get a nuisance animal permit.