Rabbit Hunting

7mmlefty said:
Hey footprint, rabbits are a whole lot of fun to shoot and eat.
Cottontails and snow shoes are two different rabbits and need different tactics to get.
Cottontails like higher ground and bed in areas with overhead cover and thicker cover.
Snows like more open cover but definitely near swampy wetland type cover. The snowshoes also depend on their white coat to help camouflage themselves against the back drop of snow and sit still thinking the hunter cant see them? and you could easily walk right by one 10 feet away and never know it.

You've really got to watch for the dark eyes and dark ear tops while they are sitting, very often in the open.:)
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sure wish we could hunt snoeshoes in ohio, but stupid things went and got themselves endangered, lol
 
The rabbits here on the Island are not edible (worms,parasites etc.) ,so I prefer to snipe'em with the 300 mag from 150 yards out. Then the crows come by for a feast and you have more sniping material.:sniper:
 
bullwinkle3006 said:
Snares are legal in Ontario anywhere north of the french and mattawa rivers under your small games license, as long as wire (copper or brass) is between 22 & 24 gauge. and the opening of the snare loop is 10cm (4") or less.
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thats why i mentioned it was illegal for snares in MOST parts of Ont.:)
 
Just wondering if there are restrictions in Ont. in dealing with lets say a mice infestation as well. :rolleyes:
Rabbits are still considered a rodent, correct?
 
any dog running around in the bush will get the bunnies running more than just humans.

rabbits use camoflauge to avoid predators. because of this, they will often sit tight to cover and just let the danger pass by. sometimes you literally have to step on them to get them running but other times they will run when you begin to kick a brush pile.

they are like most other critters we hunt when it comes to weather. high winds, rain, snow, etc will tend to hole them up for the day. its quite common for them to hole up or stay in the same brush pile for a few days after the storm which is why you will see zero tracks in an area. then all the sudden theres tons of them the next day.

heres the best shot ive ever made with my crossbow...38 yards, standing, offhand;)

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English Rook & Rabbit rifles:
I once had a single shot hinge action, 26 inch barrelled 360 # 5 calibre small game rifle, made by Lanchester & Son of London.
I had it re-chambered to .38 Special, and although it was no tackdriver, I could quietly dispatch several bunnies from one firing position in a relatively short amount of time. (short range@20-25 yards)
In one instance in Saskatchewan, I shot 5 snowshoehares in as many minutes, before any other forest creature, caught on that this lethal hail of lead, was actually from a firerarm.
(low powered, hollow base, 148 grain full wadcutter rounds)

I eventually made the mistake of bringing it to an outdoor rifle range. I found out that it's accuracy compared to many .22 rimfires was lacking, and I foolishly sold this low decible slayer of bunnies.
It was a very specialized, and it's limited range and marginal accuracy, led myself to let it go.

PS: Collectors please relax, this rifle was no showroom example!
 
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I used to snare rabbits all the time. We'd make slips with picture wire, and wehen we'd be checking the slips that's wehn we'd the rabbits that were on the move.

We'd set out 40-60 slips, then walk about 10 yrds away and throw a half dozen snowballs or rocks or sticks into the woods, next day we'd have a few bunnies.

On a well beaten path, logging road etc is where you'll find rabbits at dusk

That said I have not seen a rabbit yet this year, Not even dead on the road.

Where did they all go? Last year they were practically everywhere.

Damn cycles
 
all summer we had rabbits in the yard, my mini schnauzer/shi-tzu would run to the front window tail and ears up, not barking, still as a log, every time there would be a ribbit. next year I'll be taking trigger (my dog) out for a nice little walk at the farm for rabbit.

thanks for the tips.
 
Yes, tons of great advice on this thread, thanks to everyone. I only got out for a few hours this weekend but I kept everything in mind. Damn snow is pretty deep already though...needed my snowshoes ;)

Footprint.
 
Well ... how did you do? Even if you didn't shoot any i'm sure you learned something. Around here they weren't moving much. I'm predicting they will be all over tomorrow.
 
Anyone here follow Byron Ferguson's theory of feeding cycles of wild game according to moon rising and falling in the sky?(Professional archer who was a regular featured guest on the TV series, American Shooter)
(And No, I am not talking about nite hunting) Just moon phases.....he believes these moon phases have dramatic effect on thier feeding cycles.(hence more game movement)
Anyone who is serious about ANY game hunting should read his excellent book aptly entitled,
"Become the Arrow."
 
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I'm not sure about the moon rising and falling but just watch around a full moon and you will see alot of road kill on the road. Animals travel more around a full moon.
 
Hey Springer;

Didn't make out too bad...as you said, always something to learn! Didn't see any rabbits but I was able to put the advice into play as I was following tracks and thinking about their behaviour. The snow was pretty deep and had blown over recently so it was hard to put the push on them.
I'm just so pleased to have an excuse to be in the great outdoors, you know?

Like I said at the top of this thread, my wife and I just started hunting this year and its been amazing. A wild turkey in the spring, a few grouse, lots of ducks and geese, and two deer..one on my first day!? Its been such an amazing introduction to a fulfilling pastime, and these forums have helped us tremendously. Big thanks :)

Footprint.
 
Now you're catchin on. It's not just about what you shoot. It's the whole picture, guns are part of it but there are others too. Reloading, practise shooting ( skeets, targets , etc). Hiking and learning whats around you like edible plants, type of trees, animals, and their habitats. You can make it as simple or as specialized as you like it. Many of my favorite times have been just seeing a deer or owl or anything that amazes my kids when they are with us.
 
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