My 1st time hunting

gregisthegreatest

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I went up to my gf's cottage yesterday for some rabbit hunting. I saw nothing (not even a squirrel) but fresh deer tracks, lots of them, in the 3h I was out before dusk. I went out again this morning in the nice warm weather for about 2h's. I saw a ton of fresh rabbit and deer tracks. The rabbit poop and pee was everwhere. I saw my 1st rabbit and I missed. Im thinking that it scaring the crap out of me had something to do with it. I saw a tracks leading into a brush pile so I went up to it with my gun up. Sure enough my rabbit pops out. I shoot and I think I hit it and it scampers into the bush. I didn't see any blood so I continued on. about 30min later I come across some tracks with blood on it. I follow the tracks and it is though some serious thick bush. I muscle my way though only to break though ice with water up to my knees. I go around the brush and was not able to locate the bloody tracks. I missed 2 today and am kinda pissed. Ill get em next time.

The 2 things I learned today is:

1. It sucks not having a dog to hunt rabbit.
2. The new barrels on the 870 second as an excellent saw.
 
####ty luck. have killed dozens and dozens of bunnies, never needed a dog ;)

anything chambered for an 870 is MORE then enough for bunny, me thinks more practice at the range?
 
Here's what ya do, find tracks, (suns out is nice) walk into small clearings or where you can see a bit through or under the brush. Look for those black tips, and eyes, the rabbit will come to life in front of you , its cool. Go slow , and stop often or you just get to see long tubes of white streaking across the ground.:D
Stolen from Pounder
IMG_1428.jpg
 
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Hey gregisthegreatest. What kinda choke are you using? you might wanna try a Improved Cyl if your not already using it, just a tad easier to hit with.

I'm sure you'll get a cotton tail soon. :dancingbanana:
 
I was out this morning too. Got to rabbits just like the pic. Had a hell of a time cleaning them. I tried to follow the previously posted no muss no fuss way but it sure didn't work. Ended up skining it much like a deer. Cut out the back strap and back legs. Hope to make either a stir fry or stew for sunday supper. Couple quick questions. How concerned are you guys with the silver skin around the muscles. I tried to get rid of most of it but the hind legs sure do have a lot of it. Another question I have is when you shoot a rabbit do you bleed it out? I noticed on mine today that while I was cleaning the meat of the bone alot of it was full of blood and it was no wear near a wound. Also what does rabbit taste like....just curious what to expect.

I used a 22 for my two rabbits today. Flushed them and let them hang up at about 70 yrds. Then took a couple shots at them.

You'll get em.
 
buck feaver with a rabbit????????? is it possible?good on getting out though..my hilite of the day was taking the garbage out

Hey - you never know! It could have had a knife! Or, like, one of those carrot peeler things. Those are nasty.

Haven't you ever seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"?
 
Foxer said:
Hey - you never know! It could have had a knife! Or, like, one of those carrot peeler things. Those are nasty.

Haven't you ever seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"?
i hope gregthegreatest gets to get his rabbit...only reason i called it buck feaver......
well figure it out:p ..whats a male wabbit called?

BTW..........greg when you get the bunny post a pic eh..
cheers and happy hunting
 
I can't wait to get out again. I was using a modified choke on the gun. There wasn't much of a clearing anywhere where the tracks were. As for the black tips with eyes coming to life, only cottons there in thick bush. I will try going alot slower next time. I got excited seeing all the sign of rabbit and went too fast. If only I could get a shot at them with my 17hmr........

What size shot do you guys use in a 12 gauge for rabbit?
 
Foxer said:
Hey - you never know! It could have had a knife! Or, like, one of those carrot peeler things. Those are nasty.

Haven't you ever seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"?

Darn straight. Never underestimate the bloodcurdling menace those lop-eared fiends pose to the innocent and unsuspect them.

In fact, I'm so cranked up just thinking of those horrendous, vicious monsters preying on defenceless children that I'm going to head out and defend humanity from the bunnies a bit...
 
Interesting reading here.......

I find that domestic rabbit tastes a fair bit like chicken, but would not say that of cottontails and definitely not for snowshoe hares. I find that it tastes like rabbit, kind of like deer tastes like deer. etc.

I use #6 shot for rabbits, have used 7 1/2, have used 4s for jackrabbits. Shot one a long time ago with 00 Buck since that is what I had with me.....

Good luck there Greg, I have missed lots of bunnies over the years and expect I will continue to do so.....

Doug
 
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