Wondering ...
 

I was wondering if anybody hunts rabbits anymore? I haven't seen anything posted about the Cotton Tail for a long time.

We have often talked about it here in southern KY, but have not gotten around to it. Too many other things get in the way, like deer, quail, and pheasant, I guess. I grew up on cottontails. It should would be fun to get back into it. Don't you have some beagles that you run on rabbits, Mike?

Dave

Robin Lewis and I have hired guides in northern New Hampshire and hunted snowshoe hare behind their dogs.
First time it was with Swedish Hounds which are much like beagles but with considerably longer legs. The guide said "While the other guides' dogs are floundering around in deep snow, my dogs will be hunting."
I was using my IJ Skeeter .410 and Robin used his AAHE 16.

The second time we used a different guide who had beagles and we were ALL floundering around in deep snow.





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We hunt Snowshoe Hares here in New Hampshire, which is not a rabbit but a hare. Our population of cottontail rabbits is endangered and only occurs in the southern part of the state. Spent many winter days chasing them in Pittsburg, NH with my buddies beagles. We have had a problem in the last several years with coyotes killing beagles as they run the hares, picking them off when they are on large loops. One of the problems is that January to March is there breeding season for the coyotes, and the males are very protective of there territories. We have been told by Fish and Game that this is partially the reason for the dog/coyote conflict here.

S till get out for Snowshoe up here in the UP of MI. Numbers have been way down for a long while but are starting to rebound. This spring while birding up at Whitefish Point they were everywhere. Many think that the Fishers were the cause of this decline as I feel they also have an impact on the grouse up here.

For years while grouse hunting I ran into an old guy running his beagles. He had a model 12 with not one spec of blueing left. We had many a pleasant chat on a sunny November afternoon. Sadly, I have not encountered him in a few years now. I miss seeing him and his beagles and sharing the cover with an old time rabbit hunter.

The only sound more intoxicating on a chilly morning than a pack of beagles running a rabbit is the sound of an elk bugling. I love hunting rabbits. I posted a story of one of the hunts here a while back. A fresh snow, a pack of dogs and a small bore Parker man I'm looking forward to winter already......well not quite:)

My first real hunting experience was behind a couple of beagles chasing bunnies with my Dad and his buddy using a Stevens 311 20. Don't have the beagles anymore but managed to keep the 311. Rich is correct about the sound of those hounds working a bunny but the sound of a Canada goose on a foggy morning on the marsh brings back some great memories.

Now that I found out my better half loves rabbit, I'll be potting some on my trip to South Dakota and during my local upland hunts. She grew up in the Ukraine eating rabbits fixed many different ways and boy can she fry up a mean bunny.

In recent years I have seen 2 Fischers in the UP while grouse hunting.

I do if they are in range of my garden. So far this spring I shot six rabbits and three ground hogs. Planning on starting on squirrels soon. They steal pecans. There appears to be a big crop of bushy tails again this year.