Easter bunny hunt nets more than 15,500 rabbits

The Triple Bs & 4 Jaffas team killed 348 rabbits & had a great time. From left rear are James LLoyd (9), Mark Graham (11), Hamish Hay, Ryan Hodzelman & Paul Mattingley. From left front are Arnold Williams, Craig Gare, Ange Graham, & Max Hook & Terry Mason

A waiting game: From left, Geoff Graham, of Alexandra, Aaron Lloyd, of Milton, Michael Graham (15), of Dunedin, Mark Graham (11, in the blue) and Sabian Fletcher (14), both of Alexandra, spend time relaxing and waiting for the official tally.

Let me at it: Molly, owned by Stewart Craig, of Alexandra, takes more than a passing interest in the rabbits.

They came from both ends of the country to take part in the 16th annual Alexandra Lions' Great Easter Bunny Hunt at the weekend.

Thirty-five teams, each with up to 12 hunters, had from early Friday morning until 1pm on Saturday to kill as many rabbits as they could and get them back to Pioneer Park in Alexandra to be counted.

However, some teams were delayed by heavy traffic near Wanaka so the deadline was extended by an hour.

Project convener Dave Ramsay said the hunters shot 15,524 rabbits, 490 hares, seven possums, 44 stoats and 13 ‘‘others'', which included turkeys and magpies.

The West Coast Bunny Bashers won the event with 1411 rabbits and one stoat.

The Southern Hopper Stoppers, in second place, shot 1377 rabbits, one hare and seven stoats.

Team Hare came third with 834 rabbits, one hare and three stoats.

Mr Ramsay said he was pleased with the event.

As the event was oversubscribed this year, a ballot system was used to determine which teams could enter.

‘‘We will make sure the people who missed out this year get in next year,'' he said.