ShootingTimesUK's video: Rabbit shooting at night: The Invisible Man

Fieldcraft is an art, learnt in the field. It can't be bought, and learning to understand intimately your target species' movements has always been the key to success. This year, my hand has been forced by the wettest winter on record, which has all but curtailed my drive-by night-time forays. Nights out, with one person driving while the other shoots, are a distant memory for me, with the ground so wet to take my vehicle off-road would do more damage than the rabbits I would be controlling. So I've had to adapt my shooting set-up. My black Great Wall Steed was like a chameleon in the darkness as I crept towards the field. The wind was blowing towards me, and I was set up for some shooting with my air rifle and night vision. I had informed the local police incident room, my local force, the farmer, the keeper and security, so that they would all be aware that I was out shooting. I had also previously used my rangefinder to measure the distances between gates, ditches, rabbit hotspots and fencing, a useful exercise to prepare. Technological advances mean that we can now take advantage of the one thing nature isn't afraid of and can't hide from — the darkness of the night. In this situation it seems we've gained the upper hand — a sort of positive evolution. The site I'm shooting on is close to stables, buildings and a busy road, and the last thing anyone wants is a light flashing, upsetting the locals and horses. Covert rabbiting operations such as this are nothing new. A lot of my shooting is practised alone at unsociable hours, so I have established a system of operating that is similar to a military exercise. Though I'm using equipment Wallace and Gromit would be proud of, this in no way replaces fieldcraft, nor does it provide a fast track to success, unlike what many would have you believe. http://www.shootingtimes.co.uk/features/542384/Rabbit_shooting_at_night.html