A couple quick Q's for U (Now W/Pic's!)

[jfwlb]

I am visiting my parents in Nebraska until the 9th of July and have a couple of questions for you Mid-West folks out there.

First: Rabbits. They have rabbits that they want to get rid of. Wild rabbits that are eating the bark off their trees.

I said just let me shoot them, but my mom is a little hesitant. Does anyone have another way to get rid of rabbits besides shooting them? I am going to try and convince her to let me pop them with a J.C. Higgins .22 my dad has, but I promised her I would see if there was any other way.

Second: My Dad has a Marlin 39A that was given to him because it was broken. No stock or forearm, and it was partially disassembled. The thumbscrew and what looks like the cartridge cutoff screw are missing. I could get it to semi-function by using tension on the rebound strut,(mainspring is also missing) but by looking at the blowup of the rifle in the Marlin manual that there is a piece missing. Specifically the carrier.

I will post pics as soon as I can, and I am hoping you can tell me what is missing.

I know you need pictures, and I will upload them as soon as I can find the right cable in this 1/2 horse town.here

Here's the Pics I promised. I hope somone can help me out.










Thanks Everybody!

John

[O.S.O.K.]

Rabbits - I would suggest hiring Elmer Fudd. He has experience with them.

Seriously, if the issue is their death, then trapping is an alternative - and then relocate them - but don't let the people that live in the relocation area see you releasing them

You may also try putting up some animated hawk decoys - the more realistic, the better - and they would probably have to be moved around regularly to be effective...

They could also get some cats and keep them around.... cats are bad on rabbits - will find their nests and kill all of the young.

[FWiedner]

I said just let me shoot them, but my mom is a little hesitant. Does anyone have another way to get rid of rabbits besides shooting them?

Only two solutions to rabbits. Get rid of the rabbits food source or get rid of the actual rabbits. You can try trapping but it will be an endless job that you wil never get in front of. They will outbreed your trapping effort. A waste of time with rabbits in my opinion, unless you are using snares.

The only positive solution to rabbit overpopulation is eradication. That means killing rabbits. You can poison them or you can shoot them. With poison, you take the chance of poisoning other small ground animals as well. Most of them are pests but not all of them. With shooting, you pick the one and kill the one, and if you want to you can save the meat. Not so with poison.

I'd recommend just getting down to business and breaking out the .22.

[dr walker]

Maybe you could contact the Forest Service and they could reintroduce wolves or something.


sorry I dont have any actual suggestion

[shawn_c992001]

Bow and arrow, air rifle, I could send you my dog (He's a rabbits worst nightmare), snares, Hav-a-heart traps, .22LR, .22Mag, .32-20, .25-20.

Don't forget they go great with biscuits and gravy too!

[Rusty]

CCI CB longs in the J.C. Higgins.

[.45]

The best way is going to be the .22.
Do your parents live in the city or a rural area?
If in the city the cci cb longs will do the trick.
Just don't let Game and Parks see ya doing it. We do have a rabbit season. Wouldn't want to have them ruin your trip.

[O.S.O.K.]

Make sure and wear latex/vinyl gloves when processing your hassenphefer though - they do get summer feaver - this is killed during cooking - the reason rabbit season is usually after the first frost up north. (that kills the sick rabbits).

[Hobie]

She can either fence them out of the yard OR practice the 3 Ss (shoot, shovel, shut-up). OR they can let the destruction continue. Eventually the population will crash due to lack of food. Sounds like they are almost there.

Don't use poison, you'll get the predators that must be moving in by now to get at this bounty. You need their help.

As to the Marlin, PLEASE repost that in a separate topic. jdad, Vall and others will be able to find and suggest fixes. MOST parts can be purchased to bring the gun back. First thing is that you need the serial. Might be you could send it to Marlin to be reconstructed.

[jdad]

Here's my suggestion on the 39A.

It's new enough for Marlin to work on it. It's a "Golden" and the serial number "letter" prefix looks to be "AC".....1967.

I would send it to Marlin and ask to have it reblued, worn/missing parts replaced, and new wood fitted. It will probably cost about $200, but the rifle will be back to safe factory spec and look like it did when it was new.

Call Marlin for the shipping instructions. Once they receive your rifle they will send a letter or call you, within 7-10 days, with the total charges including return shipping. Once they receive payment or you use your CC they will turn the rifle around in another 7-10 days.

[Hobie]

That's the equivalent of a new 39A for $200 or so. What a deal!

[jfwlb]

Thanks for the replies, everyone,

O.S.O.K.: good suggestions. Funny you should mention cats. They have three of them, and a barn cat from next door. I thought the same thing, but for some reason the cats don't go after the rabbits. Go figure.

FWiedner: I'm with you! Thanks to all the replies here, I think I have Mom convinced to let me shoot them wascally wabbits.

shawn_c992001: thanks for the offer on the dog, I might have to take you up on that!

Rusty: I agree. Dad says he has some already, so a trip to the store isn't even needed!

.45: Yeah, thats the problem on both counts. Mom says that they are just barely inside the city limits, but also that this city (Rushville) doesn't have a firearms ordinence. We'll see. As to the season, isn't there a depradation clause in the state of NE. ? I'll have to check that out.

Hobie: I agree with you on the poison, but also I don't want any predators around either. Coyotes would bring a whole new set of problems for my folks. I will take your advice and post a new thread on the Marlin this evening when I get back from some sightseeing. I will also try to take some better pics. I have to run now, Mom the tour coordinater is telling me it's time to leave.

Thanks everybody!
John