Otago Great Easter Bunny Hunt postponed for the year

K5 rabbit poison postponed the Great Easter Bunny Hunt this year.

The Great Easter Bunny Hunt, postponed in March because of the release of the K5 rabbit virus, will not take place this year.

Convener Dave Ramsay said the virus was scheduled for release in Central Otago by Landcare Research and the Otago Regional Council the same week as the bunny hunt - at Easter Weekend - and organisers wanted to ensure the virus had the best possible chance to work.

However, following a meeting last Thursday, they decided not to hold the hunt at all this year.

"It is now planned for Easter next year,'' Mr Ramsay said.

He said competitors, especially those travelling from throughout the country, needed a three-day weekend to be able to attend.

"Labour Weekend was the only one left [this year] but that did not work for our farmer client base and we want to keep them as happy as possible.''

He had heard the late postponement of the big rabbit shoot had meant some shooters were not able to cancel their April trip and several made the trip anyway and spent the weekend in Central Otago "and had fun''.

The competition attracts dozens of shooters from throughout the country each year.

In last year's hunt, more than 7600 rabbits were bagged.