Only 7478 of the pests were shot by the 25 teams competing in the annual Alexandra Lions Club Great Easter Bunny Hunt, which finished at noon today.
The tally was one of the lowest in the 23-year history of the event. The winning team, Wabbit Warriors, from Waimate and Christchurch, bagged 769 rabbits on a farm near Cromwell, while the lowest bag over the 24-hour contest was 77 rabbits.
Hunt convener Dave Ramsay said it was the lowest number of teams for several years, as a shortage of blocks to shoot meant 20 teams, each comprised of 12 hunters, were balloted out of the contest.
It was fine weather for most of the event and hunters dispatched hares, stoats, wild pigs, turkeys and possums as well as rabbits.
Mr Ramsay said the low tallies perhaps highlighted the effectiveness of poisoning programmes and year-round pest control carried out by the farmers.
