Green woods, white rabbits

[Doug]

I reckon it isn't really fair, but the woods have no snow in them at all up around my hunt camp in Southeastern Ontario, and the snowshoe hares are all white for the winter. So they stick out like dog balls........

And so we went for a little bunny hunt this past weekend and for once these old eyes were actually picking up the little beggars. Of course, white on green in a cedar swamp is quite the contrast. I shot one Saturday and two on Sunday, all with the 28 ga shotgun. One is already eaten (in a soup with deer and moose meat also - Road Kill Soup) and the other two are in the freezer for a feast of Georgian Bay Apple Honey Bunny!

A couple fellow Gun Nutz joined me, and swamp dropped in with his wife for dinner and drinks on Saturday night, so it was quite a pleasant little hunt. Gerry (gj169) also shot a snowshoe, but was blanked on his coyote calling.

Doug

(And yes, I know the real name for them is varying hare, and they are a hare not a rabbit or a bunny...)

 

[MadDog]

They sure don't have to worry up here anymore buddy, was a green forest right up until Monday and we've gotten well over a foot now in the last 2 days.



Haven't even taken a shot out of the 28 ga I got last year yet, wondering if maybe it's time though.

 

[Doug]

Joe, the load I have been using in my 28 that it REALLY likes is Federal Premium Hi-Brass #6 copper plated lead shot. (3/4 oz of shot)

I can't see ever going back to a 20 ga for upland game.......

Doug

 

[stanway]

Green woods are usually what we have around here this time of year, but not this year.

Thanks for sharing the story Doug, and I am glad to see you are enjoying your new hunting cabin. Keep the stories coming.

James

 

[bill c68]

I am going to load some 3/4 ounce for the 20... cheaper than buying a 28!!!

There is very little snow here as well, we had some for a few days but most of it is gone. Worst part is, we found a melanistic hare (all black, doesn't change colour) when hunting with beagles last week... we have been back but he has been difficult to spot. Oh well, next snowfall and he is mine!!!
We picked up 9 white ones in the meantime!!!

My buddy was in NB a few weeks ago and got 20 in two hunts!! just with an old cooey .22 (that the bolt falls out when you open it) walking through alders.

 

[Doug]

I think there are a lot more rabbits/hares down East. I have spoken with lots of transplanted "down homers" who shot (and snared) dozens of rabbits every winter. And I have had the pleasure of eating bottled rabbit and canned rabbit from down home. Delicious! But I am going to have to put a few more into the freezer before I could think of doing up a canner load.....

Doug

 

[Canuck44]

I would add something on the green wood thing but I can't! If it is not raining up here it is snowing. YOu guys probably have been golfing too!

Take Care

Bob

 

[bill c68]

I think there are a lot more rabbits/hares down East. I have spoken with lots of transplanted "down homers" who shot (and snared) dozens of rabbits every winter. And I have had the pleasure of eating bottled rabbit and canned rabbit from down home. Delicious! But I am going to have to put a few more into the freezer before I could think of doing up a canner load.....

Doug

East , other than PEI... we are having a phenomenal year this season but it is far from the numbers we see in NB, NS, Quebec and NFLD. Could be due to the fact that there are no real natural woods left on PEI.

 

[Doug]

back to bill c68.........

Yes it seems to me that New Brunswick and Newfoundland were the two places that most fellows were from when I was talking about down homers. But a buddy of mine called Spud Leclair, who hailed from a certain province famous for potatoes and a fictional red-headed girl, was one of those who brought me some bottled rabbit from home.....God bless him!

Doug

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Might be white up at your camp now Doug. White here anyways.

 

[MadDog]

Joe, the load I have been using in my 28 that it REALLY likes is Federal Premium Hi-Brass #6 copper plated lead shot. (3/4 oz of shot)

I can't see ever going back to a 20 ga for upland game.......

Doug

I'll see if they have some at the gunshop.

Been using the 410 side by side and the 20 ga O/U this year for birds, haven't even done any hard bunny huntin yet.

 

[blargon]

I would add something on the green wood thing but I can't! If it is not raining up here it is snowing. YOu guys probably have been golfing too!

Take Care

Bob

Yeah, one of the local courses is still advertising 9 holes @ $15