Snow Shoe Hare in Ontario Frustrated

I used to hunt them alot and used to vary my approach depending on the terrain I was hunting. In thick bush we would space ourselves out and push through making alot of ruckus snapping branches, stomping on blowdowns etc. Invariably you move them unseen and it was usually your partner that got the shot or you if they pushed from his/her position. If one or the other saw one scoot off we would call out a heads up so the others would be ready.Most times snowshoes dont tend to do the flat out get me out of here that cottontails do, often they would run a few yards, stop keep an eye on us and get themselves shot in the process, lol. Time of day mattered too, still hunting quietly in deep snow alone I used to hunt early morning as they would still be using their trails moving around feeding and coming out to sun themselves. When there was little to no snow and they were turned white I always would look under low hanging conifers, I shot many moving the branches aside to look under the trees. Moving slow looking for an eye works but you must stop and look for long periods of time and look next to runs in feeding areas, most will be found alongside their trails in short growth like dogwood, raspberrry, moose maple, hazelnut etc or whatever bark they are feeding on in your area. Mid day will usaully find them in thicker areas of conifer sunning themselves along the outer edges where they can turn and slip back in and out of sight easily without being detected too easy.Hope this helps.....
 
They are frustrating to hunt, that is for sure. Except for my wife. She cant take 5 steps in the bush without seeing one. Shes shot more in the 5 years that ive known her on our property then i have in my whole life.
 
Only ever hunted them with hounds in the Huntsville area .... never far from big stands of cedar and hemlock ... not unusual for 4 of us to take 15-20 in a day of it. Hunting always seemed best on a slightly over-cast day, not too cold following a light snow the night before.
 
Cotton tails and snow shoes are not in the open. If you want to kick up rabbits it is more about covering ground, kicking brush piles, walking through black berrry bushes, going through the thick and being aware if one kicks out. It cpuld be in any direction. If you are not seeing any, move to the next spot and keep walking. Does not sound like there is many rabbits where are hunting. We use to walk all day.
 
There WAS a decent population of snow-shoe (varying) hare in the Cornwall area 15-20 years ago. Coyotes or Fishers, take your pick as to the culprit.

Without a dog it is now almost impossible to jump them. Try the perimeter of a swamp, cedars, smaller spruce/ fir plantations. Or old orchards around sunrise/sunset.

Be prepared to walk alot and look behind you, frequently.
 
Crazytrout said:
My girlfriend and I have been taking out the shotguns while going for hikes on our property trying to harvest some hares where we see many tracks all over the place.

Honestly, I have have never had any luck with snowshoe hares and have only shot one in the last ten years after many many attempts throughout Ontario.

I am walking slowly through the woods, stopping frequently, looking for two black eyes, but no luck. I understand that one snowshoe hare can make many tracks, however would love some advice on how you are succesfull.

Regards

CT
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I just snare the buggers. I know in S. Ontario you are not allowed to snare rabbits. Here in Northern Alberta, you can take them all year round.
 
Coyotes maybe eating to many? After weeks of rabbit hunting we got one yesterday. Ive got it in the fridge right now and its for dinner later on. Look for brush piles and logs and kick them. Or get somebody to jump up and down on them. This is for regular european rabbit though, I have never seen snowshoe hare in Southern ontario.
 
I have shot snowshoes just north of hwy 24 so that is southern Ontario that being said the coyotes have hammered everything in the last several years
When I us to hunt southern Ontario I used a shot gun and walked evergreen thickets and kicked anything (brush piles) that might conceal a bunny
In the north I use just a 22 walk slow and look for there eye ears or nose once you brain fingers out what to “see” you will wonder why you could not see them befor
 
Have to agree with q12. It's weird but when you see one or two your brain seems to catch on and you start seeing them from a distance more regularly. I almost stepped on one once. Didn't see it until it took off from under my feet. Thought I was gonna stroke.
After that I could see them a lot easier. Trick of the mind I guess.
 
kevguy said:
I just snare the buggers. I know in S. Ontario you are not allowed to snare rabbits. Here in Northern Alberta, you can take them all year round.
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This was going to be my advice. I've had sh*tloads of luck snaring the little buggers and only marginal success hunting them in the winter time. Check your regs and see if you can snare them. It's also a lot of fun to check trap lines to see what you've got.
 
My experience is that you have to be persistent, they won't run far before circling back. It seems that the first few times through the same (they like the thick stuff) bush they don't let you get to close before taking off but after a few hours they tend to hold and hide. Look for the black eyes or the shape of there ears...it's amazing how close they will let you get and still hold, a lot of your shots will be at less than 10 feet. I've shot hundreds of rabbits using this method with both rifle and bow.
Good luck hunting!
 
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