2020 rabbit/hare season

Butcherbill

Butcherbill

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How’s everyone’s rabbit and snowshoe hare season looking so far? Out in B.C. things opened up on Aug 1st and in my neck of the woods it’s looking real good.

I’ve been coming home with 3 to 4 pretty much on the regular, as well as seeing a bunch more that bolt into the thick bush. I’ll post some pics once I get things loaded onto imgur, I’m about to make a batch of Italian sausages out of the 10 I’ve deboned so far. I hope the grouse season starts out as good as the hare season has, I’m trying to hit the small game hard this year. The .22 has been getting a good workout so far.
 
Butcherbill said:
How’s everyone’s rabbit and snowshoe hare season looking so far? Out in B.C. things opened up on Aug 1st and in my neck of the woods it’s looking real good.

I’ve been coming home with 3 to 4 pretty much on the regular, as well as seeing a bunch more that bolt into the thick bush. I’ll post some pics once I get things loaded onto imgur, I’m about to make a batch of Italian sausages out of the 10 I’ve deboned so far. I hope the grouse season starts out as good as the hare season has, I’m trying to hit the small game hard this year. The .22 has been getting a good workout so far.
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We saw lots of hares out spring bear hunting north of you. I'll be heading up into the hills this weekend - good to hear there are still lots.

Very few grouse in the spring. I expect the first couple clutches died of hypothermia with the cold wet spring we had. Hoping the last batch are now healthy and running around.
 
Paul_T said:
We saw lots of hares out spring bear hunting north of you. I'll be heading up into the hills this weekend - good to hear there are still lots.

Very few grouse in the spring. I expect the first couple clutches died of hypothermia with the cold wet spring we had. Hoping the last batch are now healthy and running around.
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Lots out, the most I’ve seen in the last 4 years combined actually. Have been seeing a bit of grouse as well along the roads and trails, hopefully they’re just hiding from the crazy heat we’ve been having. Good luck and happy hunting!
 
Going out hunting for them next week! Saw lots in the spring when hunting bear, so should be able to bag a few of them.
 
I don't know if it's the Covid thing or not. But this year it seems there is more than usual interest in rabbit hunting to fill the larder. We are so lucky to live in a country rich with natural land and resources.
Good luck folks.
 
Some pics of the Italian sausages we made up, 10lbs or hare meat and 10lbs of 60/40 pork gave us 70 sausages. I’ve been averaging 1-1.5lbs a hare bone in, took 11 rabbits to hit the 10lb mark deboned. Largest rabbit so far weighed in at 1lb 13oz’s, I just deboned another 7 to grind for burgers.

It’s started to cool down in the early evening a bit and I’ve started seeing more grouse coming out from the thick bush, so here’s hoping we have some alright numbers after a wet spring. Have had some nice views in the evening, love it in the mountains at dusk.

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Butcherbill said:
How’s everyone’s rabbit and snowshoe hare season looking so far? Out in B.C. things opened up on Aug 1st and in my neck of the woods it’s looking real good.

I’ve been coming home with 3 to 4 pretty much on the regular, as well as seeing a bunch more that bolt into the thick bush. I’ll post some pics once I get things loaded onto imgur, I’m about to make a batch of Italian sausages out of the 10 I’ve deboned so far. I hope the grouse season starts out as good as the hare season has, I’m trying to hit the small game hard this year. The .22 has been getting a good workout so far.
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When did "regularly" change to "on the regular"?
 
Canuck1977 said:
Just up in Vernon myself. Was thinking about making rabbit sausage. What kind of fat did you add to the rabbit meat?
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Pork, I went to my local butcher and he made me up a batch of 60/40 pork. Belly or shoulder will do, I ground it up. We did 10lbs rabbit and 10lbs pork/fat this time. I think last year when we made rabbit breakfast sausage it was 70/40 rabbit to pork ratio, or maybe that was the burger mix. I used a slab of smoked bacon for the burgers.
 
Very nice! I haven't had much luck hunting rabbits so far, but always wanted to spend more time on it. Not a lot of opportunity for them close to home though... Saw one camping a week ago up the Fraser Canyon, but it was on the drive in and the guns were buried in the back of the truck.

My buddy has a place north of Kamloops. They haven't had good hare numbers up there the past few years, maybe this year will be a good one in that area too!
 
Suther said:
Very nice! I haven't had much luck hunting rabbits so far, but always wanted to spend more time on it. Not a lot of opportunity for them close to home though... Saw one camping a week ago up the Fraser Canyon, but it was on the drive in and the guns were buried in the back of the truck.

My buddy has a place north of Kamloops. They haven't had good hare numbers up there the past few years, maybe this year will be a good one in that area too!
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Last year was my first successful year with them, once you find an area you know they’re in it’s just a matter of being there at first or last light. I have had some mid day success in the spring time snowshoeing around higher up as well.

This year seems like it has some good numbers in the couple area I’ve been so far, have a spot or two that I haven’t checked yet that always has a bunch. Would like to stock the freezer with them as this year, grouse have started showing themselves more since it has been cooling down in the evenings.
 
Butcherbill said:
Pork, I went to my local butcher and he made me up a batch of 60/40 pork. Belly or shoulder will do, I ground it up. We did 10lbs rabbit and 10lbs pork/fat this time. I think last year when we made rabbit breakfast sausage it was 70/40 rabbit to pork ratio, or maybe that was the burger mix. I used a slab of smoked bacon for the burgers.
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Awesome thanks. I was thinking of using chicken thighs and bacon to bring up the fat content. Generally in the fall I butcher a couple pigs, going to save some pork belly and back fat for sausage next year if the rabbit sausage turns out as expected. Going to take your advice and use Pork meat/fat for this batch. I think the thighs won't be fatty enough. Nothing worse than dry sausage.

5 rabbits in the freezer, now its out to get more for sausage. I find making less than 10 lbs of sausage at a time is a waste. Ideally 20-30 lbs is a good batch, and takes as long as making 5 lbs!
 
Canuck1977 said:
Awesome thanks. I was thinking of using chicken thighs and bacon to bring up the fat content. Generally in the fall I butcher a couple pigs, going to save some pork belly and back fat for sausage next year if the rabbit sausage turns out as expected. Going to take your advice and use Pork meat/fat for this batch. I think the thighs won't be fatty enough. Nothing worse than dry sausage.

5 rabbits in the freezer, now its out to get more for sausage. I find making less than 10 lbs of sausage at a time is a waste. Ideally 20-30 lbs is a good batch, and takes as long as making 5 lbs!
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Yeah I hear that, rabbit def needs fat added to keep it from being dry as hell. Making small batches isn’t worth it when your making them at home, I try to keep it between 10-20lbs at a time. Sort of the perfect amount for the work it takes, so worth it though.
 
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