24 Apr 2011

Rabbit cull a success

5:44 am on 24 April 2011

An annual rabbit shooting event held in Central Otago on Friday and Saturday has culled thousands of the pests.

The convenor of the hunt, Dave Ramsey says nearly 23,000 rabbits and 1000 hares were killed in the hunt, which began on Friday morning and ended at midday on Saturday.

The target had been 25,000 animals but Mr Ramsey says hunters were hindered by rain overnight.

The event is held to help farmers control the number of rabbits and hares on their properties as they are required to do by Otago Regional Council.

Mr Ramsay says the event will also have helped the local economy, with about 1500 people visiting Alexandra for the occasion.