Walked-up rabbits

Rediscovering the Art of Rabbit Shooting with Dog and Gun

Once a common countryside pursuit, rough shooting with a dog and shotgun is now a rare and nostalgic activity. The thrill of walking hedgerows at dawn or dusk with your trusty spaniel, hoping to outwit a rabbit or flush a pigeon, is a deeply rewarding experience rooted in tradition.

Why Fieldcraft Still Matters in Modern Shooting

In today’s world of high-tech shooting aids and game farms, traditional fieldcraft is a skill few modern shooters master. Yet, understanding your quarry—its habitat, habits, and escape routes—is essential for success in rough shooting.

Hunters of the past lived and breathed fieldcraft. Modern equivalents like pigeon shooters and wildfowlers still read flightlines, study wind direction, and adapt decoy patterns accordingly. Rough shooting demands similar knowledge—plus quick reflexes and a reliable, steady dog.

Training a Steady Spaniel for Rabbit Shooting

Your dog is your hunting partner—and for rabbit shooting, a steady spaniel is essential. A dog that charges at the first sight of a rabbit will often ruin your chance at a shot. Your spaniel should hunt close, stop to flush, and respond immediately to the whistle.

In Wales, I recently visited a friend, Jon, whose 40-acre smallholding is tailored for gundog training. His well-constructed rabbit pens are ideal for honing a young spaniel’s discipline. Although wild rabbits are scarce in this part of Wales, even a short walk can provide ideal training opportunities.

A Memorable Rabbit Hunt in Wales

One warm evening, Jon’s son James joined us for a walkabout. We planned our approach over a cup of tea, deciding to work the boundary hedges with the wind in our favour.

James ran one of his Welsh-bred working cocker spaniels—perfect for pushing through dense cover. Meanwhile, I worked my young dog, Percy, along the edge of a lake where Jon had recently spotted rabbit activity in a patch of sedge.

Percy flushed a rabbit that bolted just as I stepped forward. I managed a shot before it disappeared into the rushes. Percy took a confident line, launched into the lake, and returned with a clean retrieve—his best yet. It was a textbook example of dog-work and fieldcraft coming together.

The Challenges of Shooting Along Hedgerows

Later, we tackled a thick hedgerow. James worked one side while I walked the other. In this kind of cover, rabbits often run along the hedge rather than break into the open, making shooting safely a challenge.

James’s dog flushed a rabbit, but it darted along the hedge line, never offering a safe shot. This reinforced an important point: safety always comes first. Shooting rabbits over dogs is one of the most dangerous forms of shooting—never take a risky shot.

Finishing a Successful and Ethical Hunt

As the evening drew on, James managed a clean shot on a rabbit that made the mistake of running into open ground. With two rabbits in the bag and the dogs performing admirably, we decided to call it a day. In line with ethical shooting practices, we took only what we could eat.

There’s a well-worn saying in the countryside: “You can only shoot them once.” It’s a reminder that shooting is not just about numbers but about the experience, the training, and the respect for the land and animals.

Conclusion: Preserving Traditional Shooting Culture

Rabbit shooting with a spaniel is more than a pastime—it’s a blend of history, fieldcraft, and companionship between human and dog. In a fast-paced world, a mooch with dog and gun reconnects us with the rhythms of nature and the values of ethical hunting.