Hunting with Snowshoes Question

Douglas_Gunner

Douglas_Gunner

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Hello all,

I recently bought a pair of snowshoes to wear while hunting snowshoe hare around Thunder Bay, ON. I noticed today that the snowshoes made an exceptional amount of noise as I walked, which I suppose was to be expected. There were tons of hare tracks but I had no sightings unfortunately. I have seen hares before when I slogged through the knee-high snow in a pair of regular hunting boots. What I wonder is whether or not the noise of the snowshoes caused the hares to flee rather than hunker down? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Also, I am new to hunting snowshoe hare and understand that a hunter can't expect to find game every day.

Thanks
 
What kind of snowshoes do you have? I used the traditional Faber brand wood / rawhide type. I think the tubular metal type might be too noisy.
 
There making noise how ? When they break threw the snow ? The bindings are Squeaking? Noise from contact with brush ? If you take the time and tap down a trail so that it freezes ( game trail ) the rabbits will use it and will be close by . Use boot grease on your bindings . There are many different types ( designs) of snow shoes may be they are not the right ones for what you need . Set up a trail camera so you will know when they are most active ( early morning or later afternoon). The easiest hunting times are just before they change to winter white or to spring browns . Habitat is a big part of how you hunt , lots of ground cover or open spaces. Get out there and study the environment and habitat , lots of tracks or just here and there, what are they feeding on ? Predators tracks , scat feeding traces ( striped bark, buds ?) Snairs could be a better opinion .
 
buzzmagoo said:
There making noise how ? When they break threw the snow ? The bindings are Squeaking? Noise from contact with brush ? If you take the time and tap down a trail so that it freezes ( game trail ) the rabbits will use it and will be close by . Use boot grease on your bindings . There are many different types ( designs) of snow shoes may be they are not the right ones for what you need . Set up a trail camera so you will know when they are most active ( early morning or later afternoon). The easiest hunting times are just before they change to winter white or to spring browns . Habitat is a big part of how you hunt , lots of ground cover or open spaces. Get out there and study the environment and habitat , lots of tracks or just here and there, what are they feeding on ? Predators tracks , scat feeding traces ( striped bark, buds ?) Snairs could be a better opinion .
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The only noise that I'm complaining about is the sound from breaking through the snow. The snowshoes are aluminum and plastic and work decently well. My hunting area is a trail with woods on either side and plenty of snowshoe hare tracks running across the whole length of it. Also I am only able to visit my spot on weekends and wouldn't be able to check snares regularly.
 
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Part of the thrill of hunting is that you don't know what you'll see and have a chance at . For the noises get a trail tapped down to minimise the breaking through or you could try skies alot faster but not as stable or as maneuverable , snow is snow once it freezes ,the quietest is new fallen . Hey rabbits got big ears for a reason , all the better to hear you with ! Enjoy the chance and the Trek .:wave:
 
I have plenty of experience hunting snowshoe hares in the winter. Have always used snowshoes (the modern metal kind, from MSR).

Some days are good and I can limit out (10) in 2-3 hours. Some days I get skunked (not very often :) )

"The ####in' way she goes..."
 
All you can do is be as quiet as you can, no matter how careful you are your always going to make some noise. The main purpose of the snowshoes is to let you cover more ground with less effort, therefore increasing your chances of seeing a Hare.

Try walking ten or fifteen feet at a time slow and easy and then stop and look carefully around for hares, after a while you will get a rhythm going and it will become second nature.

Some days hunting you don't see anything to shoot and some days you see lots, remember they call it hunting not getting. You need the days you that get skunked to make the days you did well memorable.

Keep going out and snowshoeing through the place with lots of tracks and sooner or later you will connect with a few hares. Good luck.
 
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Any noise at all spooks the hares, but there are always dumb ones and curious ones and some that choose to sit still even though they are scared. You will increase your odds by hunting with a dog or a partner, but don't give up just because some days you don't see 'em.
 
Hunting the great white rabbit. On snow shoes in a world of white can be a struggle sometimes. Best suggestion is buy a beagle and let them hunt for you. They are way better at it than any of us ever will be. They are your best friend and always want to go hunting.

If the dog is not in your life plan at the moment then enlist the help of a friend. Trekking down your tail make a nice path. Then each of you take turns looping off the main trail and try to drive the great white bunny across the trail where you are waiting for them.
The key will be a length of trail with good visibility and the stander keeping as still as possible. Look for spots where there are lots for bunny trails crossing your walking path ( usually the thickest cover) Be ready for fast shooting as the white ones often times are across in a flash. But if the snow is deep they will sometimes hit the trail you broke and run up or down it offering an easy shot. Two friends shareing the work will allow you to hunt longer with better success.

PS: I'd trek in and loop back towards the truck. Less distance to carry your game bag when you're pooped out from chasing the whities. Bring some water and some hi calorie snacks. Or make a full day of it and pack some Weinnes and beans make a campfire at lunch and enjoy a whole day in the woods.

Good luck.
 
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HChammer said:
I find the only time you see a large number of hares/rabbits is in the fall when the start to turn white before the snow.. they run quietly through the snow and they have some good camo!
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Ah yes the white rabbit in a world that has yet turned white....easy pickins! A January thaw will fill your game bag fast with white rabbits. A semi auto .22, a pocket full of shells and an hour or 2 will get you a limit.
 
I rarely rabbit hunt, but I do spend a lot of time on snow shoes. There is no doubt the traditional wooden snow shoe with leather bindings and the traditional webbing is much quieter than the aluminum frame designs, or plastic.
But even the traditional ones will be noisy if the snow does not co-operate.
Original designs require maintenance, (varnish) and they hate salt. Get them off before you cross a salted roadway. The webbing will rot if not maintained.
Modern designs are pretty maintenance free by comparison. Wipe them down, inspect, and store them.
I use a traditional design made of Magnesium alloy with wire mesh for most of my bush work, as they are free of problems, and not as noisy as aluminum. (milsurp)
For deep new snow Or heavy loads I have a 60" wooden pair of Algonquins.
I have about 6 pairs of assorted designs here. Even a 'traditional' design with a sheet of heavy plastic where the webbing should be. That pair is slippery as hell on slopes, and very noisy in crusty snow.
 
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