Poor bunnies ...

[Harbourone]

I thought more about the pregnant thing. Not to get into a debate whether its right or wrong , but any female you kill is going to be a potential mother whether she is pregnant then or not. Furthermore , we shoot late season deer who are presumably pregnant if you take the does , just because they arent far along doesnt mean they aren't pregnant. Same goes for the bunnies i think. I dont know their gestation period but i would guess at what 2-3 months. Anyone who knows correct me but if that is accurate then the prime winter bunny hunting is killing ones that are just pregnant. What all of that is getting at is that really when you kill any adult animal in the population you are taking some reproduction away whether they are far along or not even pregnant yet. That being said I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with doing it or not. Idk maybe i could be way out to lunch on this one

Thats why there is an ethical debate to doe hunting unless they are dry or its pre rut. Keep killing does and the numbers will continue to fall.

 

[hoytcanon]

I thought more about the pregnant thing. Not to get into a debate whether its right or wrong , but any female you kill is going to be a potential mother whether she is pregnant then or not. Furthermore , we shoot late season deer who are presumably pregnant if you take the does , just because they arent far along doesnt mean they aren't pregnant. Same goes for the bunnies i think. I dont know their gestation period but i would guess at what 2-3 months. Anyone who knows correct me but if that is accurate then the prime winter bunny hunting is killing ones that are just pregnant. What all of that is getting at is that really when you kill any adult animal in the population you are taking some reproduction away whether they are far along or not even pregnant yet. That being said I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with doing it or not. Idk maybe i could be way out to lunch on this one

You are correct... killing the female in the fall, before it is pregnant is the same as killing it in the spring after its pregnant... my comment is NOT an ethical statement or a game management statement... it was simply a statement of what I am "personally" uncomfortable with... I am not projecting that on anyone else and not judging those that want to hunt any game via fair chase, during an open season.

 

[ryan32]

You are correct... killing the female in the fall, before it is pregnant is the same as killing it in the spring after its pregnant... my comment is NOT an ethical statement or a game management statement... it was simply a statement of what I am "personally" uncomfortable with... I am not projecting that on anyone else and not judging those that want to hunt any game via fair chase, during an open season.

Sorry if it came across as directed at you. I posted in the very beginning of this thread about how i shot one that was prego, and i said that i wasn't too happy about that. I'm just not sure on my position on it personally whether i care that its pregnant or not. As i said and you said , do what you want if its legal i'm not trying to start an ethical debate either.

 

[blasted_saber]

I thought more about the pregnant thing. Not to get into a debate whether its right or wrong , but any female you kill is going to be a potential mother whether she is pregnant then or not. Furthermore , we shoot late season deer who are presumably pregnant if you take the does , just because they arent far along doesnt mean they aren't pregnant. Same goes for the bunnies i think. I dont know their gestation period but i would guess at what 2-3 months. Anyone who knows correct me but if that is accurate then the prime winter bunny hunting is killing ones that are just pregnant. What all of that is getting at is that really when you kill any adult animal in the population you are taking some reproduction away whether they are far along or not even pregnant yet. That being said I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with doing it or not. Idk maybe i could be way out to lunch on this one

One difference would be that the rabbits are about to give birth, and have carried almost full term vs a doe which has just been impregnated. Theirs a far greater chance the doe wont give birth due to miscarriage then the rabbit which is almost a gurantee at that point.

But in the end it doesnt matter. Its legal so have at it. I dont do it, but I wont judge those who do. I just dont relish the thought of pulling out 90% formed baby rabbits whilst cleaning.

 

[trevj]

Thats why there is an ethical debate to doe hunting unless they are dry or its pre rut. Keep killing does and the numbers will continue to fall.

Around this neck of the woods, the population is such that if the hunters don't take the does, the contractor in a helicopter is gonna.

Population densities were about double or more what the Biologists are happy with around here, for both moose and WT deer.

Funny thing about that whole 'ethical debate', when the same folks that think they will save their deer by leaving the does, will quite happily take away all the breeding males.
It takes balance.

Brutus, tea tonight?

Cheers
Trev

 

[Brutus]

Around this neck of the woods, the population is such that if the hunters don't take the does, the contractor in a helicopter is gonna.

Population densities were about double or more what the Biologists are happy with around here, for both moose and WT deer.

Funny thing about that whole 'ethical debate', when the same folks that think they will save their deer by leaving the does, will quite happily take away all the breeding males.
It takes balance.

Brutus, tea tonight?

Cheers
Trev

Yes sounds great Trevor.
After supper friend.

Cheers!

 

[Superbrad]

Around this neck of the woods, the population is such that if the hunters don't take the does, the contractor in a helicopter is gonna.

Population densities were about double or more what the Biologists are happy with around here, for both moose and WT deer.

Funny thing about that whole 'ethical debate', when the same folks that think they will save their deer by leaving the does, will quite happily take away all the breeding males.
It takes balance.

Brutus, tea tonight?

Cheers
Trev

Yes... but one buck can impregnate several does over a rut season.... whereas a doe can only get impregnated once.....