The best air rifle for hunting rabbits is the dream of all men, especially for people who do not want to get a gun license. Since this type of pellet gun is driven by air, the effective range is not very high, which mean stealth and skill is necessary as a trade-off. That is why airgun hunting is a challenging and engaging sport, yet much more fun and rewarded.
All you need is a great pellet rifle, some good hunting gears and a hunting field. Remember to check local air gun laws before doing anything.
Choose The Best Pellet Gun For The Hunt
It is obvious that that you will need a good pellet rifle. You need have an air rifle that has enough power and accuracy to kill the target, or you will waste both of your time and the game. There are many best pellet rifle and gun reviews which worth reading, however the term “best air rifle” is a personal thing. Read and choose the pellet gun that suits you best. Read the tips to choose the most suitable airgun here: Click to read
Air Rifle Scope And Pellets
Most scopes that come with the airguns from the purchase are only suitable for target shooting. You should buy another good pellet gun scope for hunting. The best air rifle scope for hunting is the one that have the magnification setting ranges from 3-9. This combination will allow you to check the field with lower power settings and switch to higher setting for the final shot.
It is essential to choose a suitable type of pellet for hunting. Most hunters will agree that round headed pellets (also called domed head pellets) are great for all-around shooting because of their aerodynamic properties. In hunting, they give great knock-out power which help you have more chance to get the kills. It is not necessarily to buy the top-notch pellets, but make sure to buy proper ones. Benjamin Marauder Pre-Charged Pneumatic Air Rifle is one of the best versatile one.
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Perfecting Your Aim And Shooting Skill
It is important that you practice your aim before going rabbit shooting, and this is mostly the main factor you will need. Even equipped with heavenly equipment, unskilled shooters can only come back empty-hand most of the time. Of course good tools give you advantage but without proper aim, you earns nothing. That is said, go practice before engage in real situation.
Before you even think about shooting at a live animal, it is essential that your practice your aim. The best way to do it is to print or buy a target.
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Find a place that is at least 50 feet away from a road for practicing. Be extremely careful: make sure there is no one around your training field.
It is best to put the shooting target at floor high and to shot it lying down to get the rabbits easier. Begin with the target about 30 yards away because this is the best shooting range. You can move further away when your aiming is improved. When will you be able to hun? Once you are capable of hitting the center of your target 5 times in a row from 30 yards (groups of 5), you are a hunter now.
Hunting gears
A good set of camouflage is very useful while hunting rabbit with pellet rifle. Another important factor when stalking rabbit is clothing. You should choose the type of hunting clothes that are both durable and blend in the environment, even rabbits do not have good eyesight. The camo color of the clothing will help break up your “human shape” and make the rabbits less cautious. It is a recommended to cover up all of your skin and face by wearing gloves, hood or hat. If possible, camouflaged your exposed skin, too. In short, cover all of your exposed skin except a small slit for the eyes.
Remember that rabbit have good hearing (just you see, their ears are not for show). Choose the type of clothing that does not make rattling or crisp shuffling sound. Most water proof clothing was covered in wax or sort of plastic outer which are noisy. It is best to go with something soft and comfortable, for instance, like cotton.
The last thing to be considered is smell. A neutral smell is good. A muddy, dirty and smelly hunting clothe is ok, too. Just do not perfumed yourself with deodorant or soap before going air rifle hunting. Also, do not wash your clothes unless you really have to. If you do, make sure to air dry them so the soap smell goes off completely.
Journey On The Field
If all things are set up, it is time to go hunting. You have your airgun, calibers, gears and a good aim. You have to find a field with bunnies and ask the land owner’s permission first. The best time for air rifle hunting is in the late afternoon (when rabbits feed) and a few hours before sunset.
You should already know the approximate position of the rabbits. You can use your scope or if possible, a binoculars to check the area. If you spot a prey, it is time to play the hunter game. Check wind blow and try to move upwind side, even if it takes longer to the chosen place. This action will cover your scent and reduce the noise you make.
As you enter a decent range, get onto the ground and crawl slowly using your elbows and knees. A careful, steady and silent approach is the best way to get close to rabbits in order to make an accurate shot. Be patient, slowly and carefully approach the tasty bunnies. Do not crawl around hedgerows or under trees because you will snap dried twigs and crush leafs.
The best shooting distance for pellet gun is around 30 yards. Once you enter this range, move very slow, hold onto the air rifle and be ready for a shot. Do not stiffen your body. Instead, relax and focus on the shot. Zoom your scope, aim for the spot just behind the eyes, between the eyes on the front (or between the ears from the back). Yes, you are aiming for the brain. Once you are ready, pull the trigger to take your shot. Normally, the best pellet gun shot would kill the prey instantly. However if the impact is not enough, finish it with a second shot or with a knife. Once the bunny is downed, rush over to the animal to do a finish blow if necessary. Sounds brutal but it is one of the most humane way to catch the rabbits without any suffering.
If you are unable to find a chance to shoot or fail to approach to the bunny, it is possible to find their holes wait for them to get out. This is a slower and less fun method, but it can help you catch a bunny. It is better than nothing! Keep calm and happy air rifle hunting!