Hunting Rabbits
- Thread starter Drachenblut
- Start date
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
For coyote I was thinking going oldschool with some 6.5 Arisaka. It should still be considered legal in Ontario I think? Anything 6.5 mm or under is legal for coyote if I read the laws right?
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
Besides. I used to collect skulls as a kid... and predator skulls are much nicer that bunnies 
It's unfortunate that rabbits and hunting laws here are so different to those in England. We used to drive round at night on the back of a truck, hanging over the sides with lamps on the rifle barrels. Shot them by the hundred with .22s. I've probably shot quite a few hundred in my time, maybe broaching the thousands. We would get 30+ in a night doing pest control for the local farmers.
Nothin' better than smacking one in the head with a .22. Anything else and they squeal or run down their hole to die later.
Nothin' better than smacking one in the head with a .22. Anything else and they squeal or run down their hole to die later.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
I usually see more at dusk but the last one i seen in the morning basically performed a Kamikaze charge at our Argo, by the time I was out with a shotgun he did a 180 a few feet in front of me and sped off back down the trail where he came from....of course I missed the running shot. I figure for him to run at us like that he probably had a predator on his tail.
I've only ever shot. Probly bout 15 rabbits snared hundreds of them. All mine were with my 870 wingmaster checkin my trapline haha. But i found it was easier to spot them and shoot them sitting still
I've used a rimfire and a shotgun to hunt rabbits. Bagged more with the shotgun, but enjoy the rimfire more. I'm weird like that. My sister, who doesn't hunt but enjoys the meat, comes with me. She spots em, I shoot em. She has good eyes like that. I swear she can spot a hiding bunny over 75 yards away. Look for rabbit tracks, keep both eyes out, and either try to spot them and shoot, or shoot them when they retreat. Cleaning is easy, but be warned. The stench is terrible. You may want someone to teach you how to quickly clean a rabbit. Trust me, the faster you clean them, the better. I think this is the only animal where I don't take my time making sure to get rid of the fat, sinew, etc. Their are a few good cleaning videos on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaj3-t1z8Xo To get you started. Cooking, just look up recipes online, or even on CGN. I usually take all but the back leg meat and make it into a nice stew. Add in some other small game like squirrel, and it's delicious. The back legs, I coat in butter or olive oil, add some paprika and pan sear. Eat them similar to how I would a chicken leg; with my hands. The fur/pelts, can't help with that. I throw them away. Sometimes will make mitts, hats, slippers, etc, but rarely. Though it is warm, as soon as that fur gets wet it seems to be ruined.
bluemike807
CGN Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
Sounds good Slithery - thanks for the advice, I hope Im lucky enough to get to try those recipes
What gauge of shotgun would you normally use?
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
Well, this is excellent. Thank you for the responces. Basically, we plan to sit in deerstands above the field/hedgelines near one of my cousin's properties, and watch for the rabbits around dawn and dusk. We will be using 2 .22's with a 12 gauge for backup. The hope is to save the furr and not annihilate the rabbit. It will be really fun!
Thank you again,
D
Thank you again,
D
I just did some rabbit hunting in the haliburton area this past week, my friend and I just strap on snowshoes and take a walk through his bush. There are so many rabbit tracks in the snow its hard to follow them all so we just hope to find some still hiding under a tree hoping not to be spotted. Not the easiest way to do it, made alot of noise brushing up against the trees and falling down in the snow (my first time on snowshoes and the snow was deep) managed to bag myself one bunny and had a great time outside, didnt freeze my ass off like I do when ice fishing.
After about a week of having snares out, several misses, I finally got me a rabbit.
Finding rabbits is easy with snow, hunting rabbits is a pain the but.
Gutting and skinning was rather easy, might of been easier cause it was mostly frozen, just used an axe and a paring knife. It is pretty amazing how little there is in a snow shoe rabbits foot for the size.
Finding rabbits is easy with snow, hunting rabbits is a pain the but.
Gutting and skinning was rather easy, might of been easier cause it was mostly frozen, just used an axe and a paring knife. It is pretty amazing how little there is in a snow shoe rabbits foot for the size.
We used to hunt them wih Jack Russels which I believe are the best...used them in falconry...now we just take six grandchildren out with brush beating sticks ...tromping brush piles etc., go out at sunup and watch the east side of willow thickets they'll be out there sunning. willow thickets are the best especially immediately adjacent to bullrushs. Just myinput also go to abandoned campgrounds that are snowed in....always find a few there. Good luck
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