00 buck jackrabbit

[Brutus]

Western jacks are a far different species than the introduced european hare of Ontario. For one they are truly native to Canada, not an introduced species. As full grown adults they are smaller than the eastern jacks and like a varying hare(aka snowshoe) they turn white in winter as well. They also are nowhere near as wary as the eastern variety and tend to run very short distances and stop to watch what spooked after only a few feet or yards most times. We have them in our yard almost daily once winter sets in but rarely have them around once spring turns to summer. The fellows I know who grew up on the prairies say they ate them occasionsally in their youth and claim they are known for having worms and are horrible tasting table fare. I cannot confirm or deny that claim as I've never killed or eaten one since living here. I did shoot a few in my teens while working in Calgary one summer with a guy I worked with who did taxidermy. He used to shoot them and make jackelopes with them to sell.

During my years in South Saskatchewan I used to quite often shoot and eat the Western jackrabbit. Those that describe it as terrible smelling and tasting are often refering to its internal body organs. As far as worms they are no different than the snowshoehare regards health. When it's a high cycle year yes they tend to become unhealthy. But no more or no less than any other rabbit or hare.
Yes most certainly jackrabbits can be tough. Hence the popularity German Haspenpeffer recipe.
24 hours in a marinade high in white vinegar.
Stir fry also a great idea once fully deboned.

Talking to vets at the clinic once you observe one bug they say immediately burn or bury it. But you speak with older trappers they say just clean internal cavity as good as possible then cook the hell out of it.

 

[Gun hog]

I shot one a few years ago that was wintering near an oat pile. Was the best roast wild rabbit I’ve ever had.

 

[Old Ranger]

When I was a teenager growing up in SW Ont market hunting for Europian Hares (AKA Jackrabbit or Johnie's) was legal. For a lot of us farmboys it was our source of spending money (along with muskrat trapping), Buck a piece was the standard price. Jack's were only taken in the winter when there was snow on the ground. Usually from Christmas till end of Feb. My best harvest was 10 one afternoon.
The standard jack harvester was a 12 guage loaded up with the old paper purple #2 Imperials. Most hardware stores had an open box and they could be bought singularly (12 cents a piece) if I remember correctly. No tax and no Firearms Lic required. Life was simple then

Although I moved from SW Ont more than 50 yrs ago I understand that jacks are not common now. Game and Fish Act was changed in early 70's banning the sale of the big bunnies.

Coyotes and changes in farming practices are probably responsible for the decline in populations. Our harvest didn't seem to impact the population much. Population was somewhat cyclic.

Those were good times.

 

[brybenn]

I still use those old paper imperials. The smell is amazing. Unfortunately ive lost nearly all my sense of smell i can still remember it

 

[farmer47]

When I was a teenager growing up in SW Ont market hunting for Europian Hares (AKA Jackrabbit or Johnie's) was legal. For a lot of us farmboys it was our source of spending money (along with muskrat trapping), Buck a piece was the standard price. Jack's were only taken in the winter when there was snow on the ground. Usually from Christmas till end of Feb. My best harvest was 10 one afternoon.
The standard jack harvester was a 12 guage loaded up with the old paper purple #2 Imperials. Most hardware stores had an open box and they could be bought singularly (12 cents a piece) if I remember correctly. No tax and no Firearms Lic required. Life was simple then

Although I moved from SW Ont more than 50 yrs ago I understand that jacks are not common now. Game and Fish Act was changed in early 70's banning the sale of the big bunnies.

Coyotes and changes in farming practices are probably responsible for the decline in populations. Our harvest didn't seem to impact the population much. Population was somewhat cyclic.

Those were good times.

i have witnessed buyers for jacks at livestock auctions in Kitchener Ont. they had perhaps one hundred on a pickup. the country was full of jackrabbits at one time.

 

[Amelio]

Use to see them often when I first started hunting 20 year ago. In Haldimand area. Not many anymore i seen one a few years ago. Would never shoot one with the population decimated.