Hi!
My PAL and hunting license should be arriving any day now and I would like a recommendation on firearm for hunting Snowshoe Hare.
I have heard of people using both .22s and shotguns for hunting Hares.
Since this will be my first firearm I was leaning towards a .22 for cheap ammo so I can learn the sport. For Hare specifically - I was wondering if I should get a bolt or semi-auto rifle.
The biggest worry I have with getting a semi-auto is how well it can function at cold temperatures. It gets cold in the Yukon and I want something that is reliable.
The specific rifles I was looking at are a Savage Mark II or a 10/22.
Thanks!
Given the exponentially higher prices for everything up north, the 22LR is by far the more economical choice compared to shotgun ammo. Success will also depend on relative hare population density and how open the country is. Hunting with dogs, I have settled on the 410 bore shotgun and either #4 or #5 shot using my own reloads. Aim for the head and there's almost no meat damage.
If it's just you going for a hike in the bush with a hope of popping the occasional bunny, partridge or grouse at more longish ranges the rimfire rifle will work just fine.
Given the negative temps of your typical Yukon winter, a bolt action is a lot easier to keep running compared to a semi-auto, the Ruger included. The trade off is a slower second shot, so if you muff your first shot or there's multiple hares, the likelihood of fresh oven stew goes way down.
I also like the savage MK-II for rabbit hunting over my 10-22 just for the reliability factor in cold weather.
Don't forget the magazines....
X2 on the reliability issue, especially for new shooters! Having an extra magazine or two is also a blessing on those bitterly frigid winter days, because you can have them pre-loaded and don't have to fumble with frozen fingers and slippery 22LR cartridges. It's guaranteed you'll end up dropping a few in the powdery snow and then it's good luck finding them. Extra mags also come in handy if you lose the original or damage it during a hunt.
I've shot them with just about everything but would highly recommend a .22 and try for head shots. Aim for that black eye. They stink when you hit them with a shotty.
Good advice and a must when hunting with larger bore shotguns, especially the 12ga.
To the op ...ask yourself this, do you want to hunt and eat lotsa rabbits or do you want to hunt and eat a few rabbits???
If you want lotsa rabbits get a shotgun. If you want a few rabbits lotsa fun shooting at rabbits and practice your shooting get the rimfire... Get the 10/22 semi and ping away (safely) at them!! So much fun with an open sighted or red dot on a semi auto .22 rimfire.
That's pretty much the reality every potential hare hunter has to face.
If you do decide to pick up a shotgun later, don't opt for the 410 bore. A lot of new shooters get their introduction to shotgun sports with it because of the minimal recoil, but it's a mistake. The comparatively light shot charge and the all too common fixed full choke of most 410s will have a substantial negative impact on novice hunter success rates.
The 20 gauge is a far better choice, offering manageable recoil with almost as large a shot charge as the 12 and most guns have interchangeable choke systems these days. So one shotgun can work for a broad range of upland game and even waterfowl with the right loads. The major drawback is the cost of factory ammo and the limited selection at most local hardware stores, etc... I would imagine they're exponentially more expensive up north and harder to come by.
BTW, snowshoe hare can have a disease called Tularemia, which is transmittable, so it's a good idea to wear gloves when cleaning them. Just look at the liver. You should have no problem telling a healthy organ from diseased.
When training/running beagles, you cannot tolerate a dog who is a bunny eater. In addition to losing the meat, most hares and cottontails carry round worms. If your dog eats the raw gut pile or full bunny, there's a damn good chance he'll pick up worms.
