Question for the Aussie shooters

Hey Dave (and anyone else in Australia partaking in this trade)!  So I was in my conservation class (yuppie philosophy...mandatory for resource management)...and an example of australian animal control came up.  The example in question was a massive Bunny overflow that apparantly took place a handful of years ago, where shooters were contracted to kill wabbits.  My question is what was the outcome of the shooting?  Was this successful in managing the rabbit population? 

Whats up Adam,(Cottonmouth) I didnt see your car when i got home from work. but i see your on line.

WHat he steeling Booze again? we shoud hang him!

hey im about to go ride to the front, i'll swing on by when i get back home.

What going up front to dump his body? Na! just joking you can hide him at your moms on the couch they will never think nothing of him not moving unless your dad drinks a beer in front of him.

My introduction into the world of hunting was the Humble rabbit ! Then at 14 I was asked to leave school by the education department ! I was sent by my Father (who was a Pro shooter before me ) to learn the trade . This ment starting of as a Trapper/shooters off sider ! We would lay 400 traps per night & then start at the begining & check them ! On the shooting side it was ,as I still do for roos at night with a Spotlight . We would shoot approx 300-400 Rabbits per night & were paied the princely sum of $2.20 per Pair! I knew of one processor who emploied 11 shooters & was moving 48,000 Rabbits per month ! That was one small fraction of the market & then you had everyman & his dog hunted the damned things .With the introduction of Mixy it stemed their Numbers somewhat (Not many of the Aussies here would remember the Rabbit Plauges ) With the introduction of the Carlise Virus . It destroyed the Industry & put hundreds out of work ! But on the flip side of the coin it opened up a hell of a lot of land for Farming !

       As kids (11-12 yrs Old ) as country bred we spent our Fri& sat nights spotlighting for Rabbits & foxes . We had Old Utes & cars on the farm s that we learnt to drive & then we'd cut the rear of the roof off ,or stand in the back of the Ute ! In retrospect these things were death traps & brakes were often a optional extra ! We all had .22 single shots (Lithgow s) With the occastional semi auto ,pump or repeater ! Hell some of the Capitalists had Scopes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .410 single were popular as well ! Ferrets were something of a novelty ! I badly wanted some ,as my Uncle bred them ,but this went thriough the hoop when after begging my Old man for months to let me have a couple we went to my Uncles & Dad made the fatal mistake of sticking his finger in their cage ! My  Uncle was of the firm belife that a hungry Ferret was a good worker ! I had neglected to tell Dad of this small problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say I never did get to keep ferrets !

      Dave

molesting the wild life

    Hell the last time I was guilty of that was when Tracey told the Mother in law & I to kiss & make up !

   Seriously though (as if kissing your mother in law is something to joke about ) spot lighting is a way of life over here ! On saying this though, many years ago ,my then New Brother in law asked if he could come spotlighting one night ? I could'nt see a problem with it . He was about 21-22 at the time & had never been spot lighting (city bred ) I was about 17 -18 & had really just started working for myself .All afternoon he harped at me about what time were we going out & by everning it got to the is it dark enough stage ? Well I've been doing this for years & have been earning a living from it for several years by this time so there is no longer any novelty  for me ! I agree that he can have a few shots before I start to work for the night . The first Rabbit we pick up in the light is only about 25yrds off.I'm waiting for the shot ,the Rabbit is waiting . Nothing happens !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Turn to steve & ask .....What are you doing ? He answers ......what do you want me to do ?????????

      Dave

allan wrote:  im laughin so hard ive s&#t  myself dave !!!!!!!!

    Mate the sad part is over the Years he has'nt changed! When my Sister found out she damn near divorced him out of Shame ! Years latter I was shooting Roos & once again He asked to come along for the ride (I'm supprized as after all these years we quite often remind him of his first night shooting ) My Sister being the Evil minded Bitch that she is ! Made him promise to bring her home a peice of Roo skin to make a purse !!!! (to the uneducated .....The scrotum of a large buck is used to make purses ) Needless to say hopeing for Brownie points with my sister ,he asked ! I cut the ball bag off a big Red & threw it to him ! Proclaiming it had the family jewels already in it !......................................................Poor bugger ! Had a weak stomach & lost his dinner ! The copped a mouthful from my sister for (a) not bringing home her purse (complete with jewels ) & (b) for wasting perfectly good food by throwing up ! Strangely enough they've been marreid over 40 yrs now ! Even stranger his still warry of me !

     Dave