Mid Alberta/ Around Edmonton Rabbit spots
- Thread starter Matapatapa
- Start date
On the caveat that I have not hunted bunnies there, though I did live there for a few years, and even more years in Cold Lake.
It's a winter thing, or sitting near good bunnie eats in the evenings.
Look for really dense underbrush. Think in terms of if you did a mosh pit stage dive into the bush, it should be dense enough to keep you off the ground. Find that, and you have found the bunnies 'happy place'.
A cold day in late fall, if the snow has not come yet, and you will be able to see them (white) as the only light colors out there, otherwise it's creeping around in the really dense stuff, shots typically pretty short range, ten to fifteen yards, as they hold tight at the bases of trees or such, relying on their camo, and that they can be out of sight if you get too close.
I had a place in a rural subdivision north of Gibbons. With fresh snow, there were always fresh rabbit tracks around. In four years living there I never saw one! But I was always out walking my dogs. Not trying to creep up on them at their home.
It's a winter thing, or sitting near good bunnie eats in the evenings.
Look for really dense underbrush. Think in terms of if you did a mosh pit stage dive into the bush, it should be dense enough to keep you off the ground. Find that, and you have found the bunnies 'happy place'.
A cold day in late fall, if the snow has not come yet, and you will be able to see them (white) as the only light colors out there, otherwise it's creeping around in the really dense stuff, shots typically pretty short range, ten to fifteen yards, as they hold tight at the bases of trees or such, relying on their camo, and that they can be out of sight if you get too close.
I had a place in a rural subdivision north of Gibbons. With fresh snow, there were always fresh rabbit tracks around. In four years living there I never saw one! But I was always out walking my dogs. Not trying to creep up on them at their home.
Winter eh...I was hoping sometime late this or next month. Look for places with dense underbrush?
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yep. With lots overhead cover. Think dense stands of spruce and similar. Go slow. Look lots. Try three step three: walk three careful steps and look around for three minutes below, around you and under branches and ground cover such as fallen trees or logs.
Look for that rounded curve thier back and you will see white fur on thier feet, inside thier ears and under thier belly. Otherwise they have turned color now.
Mostly you shots will be close so a good 22 or shotgun with birdshot is just fine while striving for head shots.
I recommend medical gloves for cleaning the cavity and removing the hide.
It's warm now so your going to start experiences fleas. So best to wash all your hunting clothes in hot water forthwith. If it's impractical wash your coat or jacket hang it outside on clothesline as long as possible. Another reason for medical gloves those infected with internal parasites do better in the warmer months.
Trevj and myself plopped lots of bunnies this way.
That being said bunny harvests always better with two hunters a few meters apart. They notice more than one source disturbs them there's a few extra seconds of stillness before they bolt on the chosen escape route.
Their swivelling head is a sign of this opportunity of another 3-5 seconds stationary target.
When you are alone they just hop away because they hear or smell you before you spot them, often you don't see them escape.
Does not mean you are going away skunked if you hunt alone but alone bunny hunting is often less productive in my own personal opinion.
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Noted; I dont know anybody who would be interested in bunny hunting aside from me; so it would be a solo endeavor.
Would you suggest camo or orange safety overcoat for bunny popping? I am going to be using a 22 rifle for it.
What range do you think I should zero my rifle at for hunting here? Are the majority of shots at 35-50 yards? 100 yards?
Brutus introduced me to the art of enjoying bunny hunting.
He has had far more luck than I, at seeing and harvesting them under 'not snow' conditions.
But I would suggest that a 100 yard zero on a .22 is pretty optimistic anyway.
Chances are, unless you are sitting on a stump beside a cutline road or trail that sees some bunnys out on it at dawn or dusk, almost all your shots are going to be well inside 50 yards, and in winter, more like inside 20.
He has had far more luck than I, at seeing and harvesting them under 'not snow' conditions.
But I would suggest that a 100 yard zero on a .22 is pretty optimistic anyway.
Chances are, unless you are sitting on a stump beside a cutline road or trail that sees some bunnys out on it at dawn or dusk, almost all your shots are going to be well inside 50 yards, and in winter, more like inside 20.
Big bore dinosaur
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NORT OF COW.TOWN.EH
I also lived north of Gibbons.
Sturgeon valley estates ares, as a kid we would wonder down by the creek..
Should have luck down there. Or the old farmer south of the intersection..
Nice area in the 80's
Sturgeon valley estates ares, as a kid we would wonder down by the creek..
Should have luck down there. Or the old farmer south of the intersection..
Nice area in the 80's
I'm using a savage mark ii FV, with a 6-24x bushnell on it. It groups pretty well out to 50M, never tried it at 100.
Maybe I should invest in a bipod...
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Me thinks a bipod is not really needed. The best bunny spots are thickly wooded. This is offhand shooting with little forewarning for the best harvest numbers. Snap shooting at closer ranges just as Trevj mentioned here.
Bipod is best for gopher shooting on the prairies IMO.
Pretty sure Trevj had a 4x or 3-9 on his Ruger 10-22. Never seen him adjust the power ring while hunting. Matter of fact I am fairly certain Trevj never needed a second follow up shot. He is a great shot with that fine little carbine. You will do just as good with your Savage rimfire I am sure. I suggest you keep its power setting to the lowest magnification.
Myself I use an older Burris Fastfire 3 MOA dot. Zero magnification but in low light my older eyes appreciate the easy viewing.
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Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Not required in Alberta. And if you are bunny hunting alone there's even less risk of being accidently shot.
Just dress for the expected weather and your comfort is probably more important.
35 yards is going to be a longer shot than usual in the best bunny forest. Trevj is absolutely correct 20 yards is more like it.
Six power is really going to limit your ability to pick up your target at the ranges you are like to see. 6x24 would be a great gopher fields scope, but for close in bush work, a little over powered.
I used a 3x9, and would have been happy if it would have been able to drop down a bit lower. Have since changed up to a 2x7, and would suggest that to anyone looking to go after rabbits if irons are not your thing.
I like the idea of the FastFire, and have been eyeballing them as they go by on the EE. Always seems that when I think I want one there are none around, and when I don't then there are...LOL!
A bipod is still a good idea. I usually stick a short Harris on whatever I am running with, not so much for the support, but because the convenience of being able to sit the rifle down on the ground about anywhere and pick it up quickly, without having to lay the rifle in wet grass or such. I figure the convenience is well worth the weight to carry. If I was worried about the weight of a bipod, I'd lose some myself!
Just head out into the bush and explore.
Rabbits will be found where you find them.
From underfoot to yards and yards out there.
The real question will be can you spot them first and secondly can you hit them
Tight Groups and Good Hunting.
Rob
Rabbits will be found where you find them.
From underfoot to yards and yards out there.
The real question will be can you spot them first and secondly can you hit them
Tight Groups and Good Hunting.
Rob
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
For rabbit hunting you'll likely be better off using iron sights instead of a 6-24x as the field of view will be too narrow to allow for moving shots. Even a 3-9x on lowest power will be too much scope for most shots. Either sit and wait where they hangout, still hunt and shoot them on the move or after they've stopped, or stomp brush piles and hope to see them stop.
Have you considered the time of year? Around here at this time of year the majority of rabbits (cottontails and jackrabbits) seen will have rough looking coats, the result of nesting and raising a litter of kits or from males fighting for breeding rights. While the season may be open in your area, keep in mind that any shot rabbits may be a lactating female or full of unborn kits. I understand to some this is more of a "two birds with one stone" deal, but to most it's not a nice feeling having a bunch of unborn fetuses squirming in the gut pile or seeing you've just killed a wet female and have left a litter to starve.
What are the seasons and bag limits like out your way anyways? For us the rabbit and hare season is from Oct to Feb, I believe 5 a day.
Have you considered the time of year? Around here at this time of year the majority of rabbits (cottontails and jackrabbits) seen will have rough looking coats, the result of nesting and raising a litter of kits or from males fighting for breeding rights. While the season may be open in your area, keep in mind that any shot rabbits may be a lactating female or full of unborn kits. I understand to some this is more of a "two birds with one stone" deal, but to most it's not a nice feeling having a bunch of unborn fetuses squirming in the gut pile or seeing you've just killed a wet female and have left a litter to starve.
What are the seasons and bag limits like out your way anyways? For us the rabbit and hare season is from Oct to Feb, I believe 5 a day.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta no closed season and no limits on rabbits be they cottontails snowshoehares or jackrabbits.
It's an agriculture thing.
Edit: however I am unsure regarding the arctic hares on the Hudson Bay of Manitoba.
It's an agriculture thing.
Edit: however I am unsure regarding the arctic hares on the Hudson Bay of Manitoba.
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Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I mentioned before regarding post hunt washing your clothes. I should reinforce this statement with the addition you don't want to bring home ticks.
If you don't wash your clothes in hot water and into hot dryer, always wear latex gloves handling game, turfing that skinned hide forthwith and hanging your hunting jacket on the outdoor clothesline for several days, you run the risk infesting your household, pets and yourself to ticks and fleas.
Lyme disease is one possible hazard.
If you don't wash your clothes in hot water and into hot dryer, always wear latex gloves handling game, turfing that skinned hide forthwith and hanging your hunting jacket on the outdoor clothesline for several days, you run the risk infesting your household, pets and yourself to ticks and fleas.
Lyme disease is one possible hazard.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Got three late in the afternoon. The first one was taken in a usual spot of denser trees along a cut line known as the green wall. His upright sitting form just barely discernable white fur inside his ears and white sock feet.
The other two were munching grass and easily taken at 10 and maybe 14 yards.
That was a surprize these two.
Three makes for a worthwhile trip.
Footnote: the third one harvested was half white. Kind of unusual this late into springtime.
The other two were munching grass and easily taken at 10 and maybe 14 yards.
That was a surprize these two.
Three makes for a worthwhile trip.
Footnote: the third one harvested was half white. Kind of unusual this late into springtime.
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Noted.
Just recording all of this for when I go later.
Since the realistic ranges will only be 20-30Y, should I stick to CCI stingers or drop down to subsonics? I've tried subsonics at 50Y at the range; for my rifle at least the accuracy was horrendous. Maybe some other non CCI subsonic brand...
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Whatever is most accurate for you friend.
Keep to headshots only is my only other advise.
Got it.
To read between the lines here...does this imply that the noise of the cartridge is not that much of a big deal? At least when it comes to rabbits?
