Hunting rabbits?

You should consider yourself very lucky that you have this history of tradition.
Since Trevor left for further west of here, it's nearly impossible to interest anyone in the same.

When you hunt them alone, there is a slender chance you might see one trying to out circle you.
Lots of runners way out there and very few hiders in close.

You should come for a visit. I'd love to show you and Trev some insanely good spots. Put in the effort and there's a good chance of limiting out (10) and that's just 1 guy and a .22.
 
Photos of this season's kills will have to suffice, I guess. Just need to get my server back online so I can start posting pics again.

Best of luck this season.
 
Bunny Tips?

1) Look farther ahead. You'll often see an eye if he's not moving. Especially on a winter (white) snowshoe hare.

2) When you find a deadfall, jump up and down on it. Wabbits like to hide under the trunk and branches. Any clump of stuff is worth jumping on vigorously!

3) If your dog (any dog) chases the bunny, you should sit down and wait. Chances are that the bunny will come back, as they tend to run in wide circles!

4) Biggest tip..... Walk ten steps and pause for ten seconds. If a rabbit sees you he will often stay put, hoping you didn't see him. When you stop, he will get nervous. Have your gun ready, because he will flush as soon as you start again. He now thinks you've seen him!

5) ....or just buy a pack of Beagles!

Good luck
 
My most recent foray I actually got to see one but I shot much too late. It was a fair distance out at around 35 yards. This is unusually very far in this spot as Trevor can attest to. The area is festooned with coyote sign and they caught one rabbit on the edge of an open clearing, right next to what we tend to call the green wall. An 15inch circle of mostly fur and a bit of blood. Looks like the coyotes comb this area frequently between my visits and they have been marking at the foot of many trees. Got my outdoor exercise though.
 
Went back to my usual spot on Saturday, but branched out to a new area that I haven't checked before. It turned out to be a honey hole. Shot 9 of them in a matter of about 2 hours.

That brings this season's total to 62.

I made an incredible hare and mushroom risotto last night. Used all back-strap meat. My family raved about it.

BTW, all of the tips in this thread are 100% true and valid, but there is no substitute for finding a good area with a high population of hares.
Once you find the area, it is often a simply matter of plodding along and looking for hares. When you see one, shoot it. Repeat.

Another tip: When you shoot one, don't just go racing over to it. Continue to hunt when plodding slowly over to where the dead hare is. 3 times on Saturday I was able to nail another hare before arriving at the dead one. All three times, I noticed the other hares randomly. One of them was through a shooting lane at least 50 yards long and I just caught it in the corner of my eye as I was making my way to pick up a dead one. I was able to snipe him right at the base of his skull. Another one was hiding in plain sight about 10 yards away. I was focused on remembering which tree the dead one was beside, but I had to look down to traverse a log and I happened to glance to the right and there it was, just staring at me. Blam! Another one in the bag.

9_hares.jpg
 
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