Let's just say Peter Rabbit won't be nibbling Mr McGregor's lettuce patch any time soon.
Looking at Alexandra's spacious Pioneer Park today, you would not know on Saturday 324 shooters lined it with their kills for counting in the 25th Great Easter Bunny Hunt.
The 27 teams from all over New Zealand were sent to blocks of farmland across Central Otago and near Wanaka on Friday to chip away at the local rabbit population.
This year, hunters killed 9680 rabbits, up on last year's haul of 8439.
Shooters also dispatched 331 hares, as well as possums, turkeys, stoats, goats, pigs and magpies.
The team Down South, made up of members from all over Otago and Southland, recorded the top number of kills for the second consecutive year.
Its tally was 887 rabbits, two hares and two possums on an Ida Valley property.
Team member Chris Bell, of Dunedin, said it had entered the competition for six years, becoming more organised over the years.
"The first time, we just grabbed guns and started shooting. Now, we split into groups and come together at night.''
The lack of sleep led to strange conversations among members, he said.
"Yeah, it gets a bit weird.''
Hunt convener Dave Ramsay said the event did not make a significant impact on the overall rabbit population, but it was about fun and educational.
"The hunters learn that they need to keep going out shooting to keep them under control.''
It was perfect hunting weather, although it could have been cloudier at night for moon cover, he said.
The smell of carcasses baking in the sun was not nice for Alexandra boy Tait Payne, who described it as "yuck''.
Lucky for him, the Alexandra Scout Group picked up the dead animals after they were counted, so they could be disposed of in a pit on rural property.
The event is run by the Alexandra Lions Club, which will this year give the money raised to the Friends of Dunstan Hospital.
A total of 297,359 rabbits have been killed over the event's history.
