For some time there has been a specimen of Sylvilagus floridanus hiding out in some long oregano in my hunting concession. That would not be a problem, except it seems to like the leaves on my blueberry plants I've worked on and nurtured. This is bound to happen when a large animal excessively populates an area. I felt a problem animal hunt was in order.



The long oregano near the short grass is pictured above.

I am against high fence and canned hunting and my concession is all free range. The animal can run as far as it wants to; even to Kentucky or Tennesee.



The concession is pictured above.

I knew this hunt would not be easy. It was going to be spot and stalk all the way. There would be no shooting the animal from a vehicle. Also, from previous experience, I learned that Sylvilagus, being about the color of brush and oregano, could be very difficult to see.

I knew I would have to get fairly close to see the animal and would have to be ready for a charge. The selection of a proper weapon/cartridge combination was of paramount importance. Magnum "calibers" can of course "zip right through" doing very little damage so a magnum was out. Before thinking this through, I had thought of using a 500 S&W Magnum but knew the bullet would be going much too fast. A buddy of mine, used to have a 25/06 that would shoot it's bullets at "4,200 feet per second" so I knew that a 500 S&W Magnum would probably send its bullets much faster.

I had a 458 Lott available which I thought would be about perfect. It's set up for dangerous game with quick detachable Talley mounts and a Leupold 2-7X scope for close charges. I have been a bit confused about this cartridge since the case has a belt and the 500 S&W Magnum has no belt. I thought magnums were supposed to have a belt but no matter, the gun manufactures must know what they are doing and if they say it's a magnum I'm sure it's a magnum.

I knew the ammunition chosen would be of prime importance. I settled on 350 grain Speer Hot Core bullets. In retrospect, I should have used 500 grain Woodleighs. I was risking a bullet blow up and a superficial wound and I'm not proud of that.

I got my binoculars and stealthily set out on my quest. I carefully glassed the areas where Sylvilagus was known to hang out under trees and near bushes. I wanted a mature animal; a good representative of the species. Finally I spotted it in the long oregano; my worst fears had come true.

Now, I'm not one for just sniping away at game animals from 500 yards away but I wasn't anxious to get too close either. Then I thought about it. What better way to have a good hunting experience then to get close to a dangerous animal and risk death before it's capped? I'm proud to say that I stalked within 4 yards (actually about 11 feet) before I took my shot. I made sure I had extra cartridges ready to go in case of a charge.

I didn't use a range finder and I'm not proud of that either. If my calculations of trajectory weren't right, I could risk losing the animal. This animal did have good mass and length but, just to be safe, I decided on a head shot. I lined the crosshairs up and BLAMMM!!!



Sylvilagus was in the bag. It only went about 2 yards after the shot and a single shot was enough. I should have shot it again just to be sure it was really down but I didn't and I'm not proud of this either. Another error was that I didn't check for a corneal reflex with the muzzel of the gun before I got close but, in my defense, I couldn't see an eye to test. Fortunately, it really was dead so I wasn't injured.



A 458 Lott cartridge; notice the belt.



If I had to do this over, would I do anything differently. Probably. Since I took a head shot, the cape was ruined so I can't get a shoulder mount. On the other hand, no edible meat was ruined.

Nice! Be carefull out there as it can be dangerous. Looking at that loaded round, it appears you need work on your bullet seating.

No, the bullet seating is OK. When resized, the case is of course smaller than the bullet diameter. One ends up seeing a demarcation at the base of the bullet. The only way I can see to correct this is not full length size. The cartridges feed and work well so I consider this only cosmetic.

I've seen more distruction with a 22lr. LOL

Nice pics and good story.

That is a great story.....glad you survived the harrowing experience unharmed. You were lucky this time man.
Don't try to be a hero. Next time you might not be so lucky.

Great story,
LMAO

A challenging hunt !! However you might better tear up the oregano and plant rosemary instead .Rosemary is very appropriate when cooking silvilagos !

Damn ... somebody FINALLY got the Monty Python rabbit! Pays to use enough gun.

For your next attempt, may I suggest the "Holy Hand-Grenade" from Monty Python? Those wabbits are very mean and likely to go for the throat next time.

ONLY one comment . . . .


Use enough gun!

A story like that goes good with some coffe and whiskey.

Did you have to track it far?

You must see a copy of Wallace& Gromit in 'The Curse of the Were Rabbit' !!! One of the best hunting movies I've seen !

A FEW years ago I had to stop a charge with my 45-70 using some hand loads with 550gr hard cast lead.
I was going to go to my range and do some testng when I jumped the animal and took it by surprise. I fired the first round out of reflex and all that did was confuse it or make it mad. All I know is it chose fight over flight. AS it came at frightening speed at about 8 feet I got off a shot that went over its head but my elevated position allowed the round to impact the center spine after missing the head. Without hesitation I paid the insurance.

I REALLLLYYYY hate those red squirrels.
If they were the size of bears no one would ever go into the woods again.

Is the 458 Lott big enough ?? www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,243221,00.html

Seem's to me you should have it mounted. Just do the body with no head! Hang it proudly in the livingroom!

Did you wear your short britches while on the stalk?

What was the chronographed velocity of your handloads? You didn't use the new Hornady bullets, did you?

Finally ...

Don't you feel a double would have done a better job and been safer?

This may very well be the greatest hunting story ever posted on AR.

Great story! Glad you didn't get hurt, people often underestimate them, much to their peril. Next time use a solid for a boiler maker shot and mount the head.

Red

And you did this without a PH to back you up? You are either very brave or very foolish.

Great story but the bad thing is that it will be almost impossible to top the thrill of that experience.

Now, if only Jimmy Carter had the skill and expertise as you; surely his secound term in office woulda' been in the "bag". So to speak.... Shoulda, had your .458 Lott insteada' that doggone fishin' pole!!!

Rabbits are VERY dangerous !! www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNQmtSi0O94

Yes, this animal has been known to commit desperate and wanton acts of violence, including the aforementioned attempted presidential assasination of Jimmt Carter.

For those with short memories, or who wished the rabbit succeeded:

assasination attempt

This thread is totally lacking in what has become the norm on AR, so here goes:

- I suspect fences not far from the kill
- Most probably shot from a truck or blind in spite of statements to the contrary.
- No recovered bullet so bullet probably failed
- Improper twist rate on barrel
- Hunter was told he would be on a different concession and litigation is now under way
- I suspect PH took the shot rather than the client
- Obviously undersized trophy and serious effect on survival of the gene pool, may even be a female


But I do have one last question: "While waiting for the trackers to catch up with you after night fell, did you use a Surefire flashlight to scare off the lions?"

No, these bunnies are dangerous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXJjc0nfXw

Thank God you didn't attempt to slay the beast with a 45-70!

How did it cook up? It doesn't look like there was much extra for the gun bearers. How were the accomodations? Great job, Gianni.

" be veeeeeeewy qwiet.....we,re hunting wabbits" Bawana Fudd

Wink,
You left off the inevitable debate - was that gun a push feed or Mauser? or - solid or soft first?

Further - what did you tip the pH and his staff?


Great Story !

...and are you going to clear the shipment yourself or do you have to use a licesed customs broker to get it past USF&W due to the zoonotic potential of Pasturella.

Any idiot can see that it was photoshopped...just like that "New World's Record" elk last month! Seeing the photo though brought one thing to mind: I wonder if Elmer Keith would have approved this round for such a dangerous animal, or would he have wanted you to use something larger? Or perhaps at least a solid rather than a soft point?? Think on it and get back to me.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
was that gun a push feed or Mauser? or - solid or soft first?

It may have even been a lever action and a lead cast bullet. Another yahoo trying to push the envelope.

who was the guy that took the numerous Sylvilagus floridanus with the 7x57?

No desire to switch to a 45-70 on your next hunt?

quote:

I wonder if Elmer Keith would have approved this round for such a dangerous animal, or would he have wanted you to use something larger? Or perhaps at least a solid rather than a soft point?? Think on it and get back to me.

I think Elmer would have been fine with a 458 Lott as long as it was chambered in a revolver; with 500 grain bullets of course. Would he ever have dreamed that his 44 Magnum would become a wimp cartridge?

Let's face it guys, it's not possible to be overgunned. that is just a term coined by anti's to make us look silly and like a bunch of rednecks. I believe a CZ 550 (CRF)to be perfectly adequate for rabbit and even better for feral cats. You should have gone to the irons for sorting out the beast in such close quarters and next time go to 500 solids for penetration- just in case. That scope will get you into harm's way if following up a wounded pussy.